Farm Follies: Food Barossa Group for Barossa Valley Style Cuisine

In the tranquillity of the Barossa Valley behind Angaston, this 1840's farmhouse is slowly being transformed into a food factory. This is Farm Follies, where Jan Angas and others involved in a new co-operative called Food Barossa are whipping up a storm. For Jan its her range of chutneys made from fresh Barossa produce, while Jane Ferrari samples her latest batch of olive oil, again sourced from native trees growing in the valley's many creeks. The Barossa Valley is known throughout the world for its wines. These people are determined to promote what they describe as unique Australian regional cuisine developed over 150 years. "Luckily even winemakers have to eat so the marriage between the two is marvellous." Jan says modern Barossa cuisine draws its inspiration from the old German tradition in which literally nothing is wasted but experiments with fresh herbs, spices and produce taken and used when the seasons permit. "You preserve them so in times that the seasons are not good for producing you have them on hand in the great big freezers." Food Barossa involves about thirty local produces whose retailers range from David Jones to small outlets like Aaron Penley's store in Angaston. Again heres the emphasis is on local where that much sought after baguette known as the Barossa Beauty sandwiches years of tradition. You can sample Aaron's wares and more from the Food Barossa Group at this year's Harvest Market which is part of the Barossa Vintage Festival. The Market will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Yalumba Winery, keep and eye out for the Gruenburg Ladies Guild's home-made pasties, their legendary in the Valley! For more information you can email info@postcards.sa.com.au for any further enquiries.