Party time

The good old Australian beach barbecue was raised to a whole new level yesterday when the 2016 MRGE presented by Audi got underway. The opening party, held on breathtaking Castle Bay Beach, saw guests and a host of celebrity chefs from around the country and indeed the world, sample the laid back hospitality of Australia’s west, right next to the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean and with the pure WA sand between their toes.

Local chef, Dany Angrove of Leeuwin Estate had the honour of putting together the opening meal of what is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed food and wine festival that attracts guests, chefs and wine makers from all corners of the world. No small task then, particularly when the assembled crowd included the likes of Peter Gilmour (Quay and Bennelong), Frank Camorra (MoVida), Guy Grossi, Rick Stein and this year’s featured guest, Nigella Lawson. 

Audi’s own Guillaume Brahimi was also in attendance, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying Angrove’s mouth-watering fare ahead of his own stint to create the ultimate Audi Beach BBQ on Saturday night.

Brahimi is passionate about the Margaret River region and has loved the area and its rich produce and wine culture since arriving in Australia more than two decades ago.

Held over three days at vineyards, restaurants and other stunning venues around the beautiful Margaret River region (including onboard Kimberley Quest II), food and wine lovers are treated to a veritable feast of wonderful food, wines and boutique beers at more than 55 different culinary events.

To get things underway, guests arrived to the sweet sea breezes on Castle Bay Beach and were treated to cocktails made with artisan gin made specially for this year’s MRGE. Platers of burnt eggplant crackers with lacer spice and fried Shark Bay prawn legs with avocado and chilli peppers were crowd favourites, follow by grilled Mt Barker chicken roll with sweet and sour chilli and ranch slaw. But Dany Angrove and his team were only getting warmed up.

Yallingup wood fired bread with local olive oil, Harvey Bay oyster blade with chimichurri, barbecued Arkady lamb cutlets, ribs and coal fired Arkaby lamb sausages put the very distinctive taste of Australia on the plate – and for those with a sweet tooth, the banana choice ice cream sandwich was… well the icing on the cake.

For guests it was a tremendous way to start the year’s event and Nigella Lawson, enjoying her first MRGE, was blown away by the venue and the tastes of the region.

The stage is set for the biggest and most successful MRGE yet, with more than half of the events sold out before the first prawn hit a hot plate or the first of many bottles of wine were even opened.

More information: Margaret River Gourmet Escape presented by Audi.