New Taste Bundaberg Festival Ambassador chef Justine Schofield is excited to be fulfilling a bucket list dream when she visits the region for the festival in September.
In her first visit to the area, Justine will demonstrate her expertise on the Taste Bundaberg Market cooking stage and host a sold-out Masterclass for aspiring chefs and home cooks.
As the presenter of popular daytime show Everyday Gourmet on Network Ten and author of four popular cookbooks, Justine will also be mingling with the crowd and signing copies of her books at the market.
“I lived in Queensland for a year and always wanted to visit Bundaberg but never quite got there,” Justine said.
“When the opportunity to be involved in the Taste Bundaberg Festival came up, I thought it was meant to be, I just had to make it happen.
“I’m totally excited, especially on the food aspect, with the area being such a big food bowl for Queensland.”
Justine will spend a few days in the region before her public appearances, meeting with local farmers and visiting iconic Bundaberg landmarks.
“I’m going to jam pack as much in as I can, doing some food demonstrations, but also going to see a couple amazing places like strawberry farms and the distillery,” Justine said.
“I’m also excited to experience the Taste Bundaberg Festival itself.”
When it comes to cooking, Justine is passionate about using fresh, in-season ingredients.
“I really enjoy letting the ingredients speak for themselves, letting the flavour shine through, so you can taste how they actually taste,” she said.
“Seasonality for me as a cook, or any cook who is passionate about food, it’s like a celebration of the food itself.
“I want to empower people to cook with what’s local, what’s seasonal.”
At the Taste Bundaberg Market on Saturday 7 September, Justine will demonstrate recipes from The Weeknight Cookbook showcasing attainable dinners that everyday cooks can achieve.
“I’ll be making sweet potatoes with chorizo sausage, baked in jackets, which is a great weeknight dinner.
“I will also make penne pasta with a zucchini crema, which can be adjusted to what’s in season.”
For dessert with a flair, Justine will demonstrate crepe suzette, flambéed with Bundaberg Rum.
Justine will appear on the Taste Bundaberg Market cooking stage at Alexandra Park on Saturday 7 September.
Find more information about the Market and the full Taste Bundaberg Festival program here.
