Crowds lapped up a platter of food, wine and art as Orange turned on a feast for the crowds at FOOD Week on the weekend.
About 1500 people walked through vineyards sipping, tasting and chatting as the eighth year of Forage delivered a fun paddock to plate experience.
And a new event, Sculptures in an Orange Garden, also proved a winner with the crowds excited about the 183 works that ranged from a giant Iron Horse, elephants and a pipe-work bull to replica flowers, sheep and a lady lounging by the pool.
FOOD Week president James Sweetapple said it was memorable year for the festival and for a signature event, Forage, on Saturday.
“Another huge success,” he said.
Mr Sweetapple said the sell-out capacity of 1500 tickets for Forage had proved the correct number.
“I think 1500 is working right at the moment,” he said.
We’ve done that for the last three to four years.
“Its the eighth year, we’re building it quietly and slowly.”
He said the addition of the sculpture event was another string to the FOOD Week bow.
“We have many different events of many different sorts,” he said.
“The word is out about Orange and people are coming. They’ve heard about it and we are delivering.
“We are appealing to many, many different people.”
Alaina Brown of Canberra was among the 1500 for her first visit to Forage.
“I found it really enjoyable, I’ve never done anything like Forage before,” she said.
“The highlight for me was tasting the produce from the local region and speaking to the vendors and hearing the background behind it.
“There was a beetroot soup that was delicious at one of the vendors, I’ve never had a beetroot soup before.”
She said the crowd was spread out consistently to ensure there were no big hold-ups at food and wine stations along the way.
“I didn’t feel I was being rushed through stations, the stations were far enough apart,” she said.
“I would most definitely come back.”
The sculptures at Rosemont attracted a steady crowd across the weekend.
Organiser Ellen Fisher said there had been strong sales of the artworks from when the exhibiton started.
The event proved popular with families as many children were entertained by the array of artworks.
David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
