Fresh from winning a spot on TripAdvisor Best Islands in the World list, Kangaroo Island will again invite visitors to experience its gourmet delights while meeting the people behind the produce.
“Here on the island, we’ve got so many fantastic characters – people we socialise with all the time,” says Sumner, Kangaroo Island’s Food and Beverage Ambassador.
Married to a six generation KI sheep farmer, Sumner has been living on the island the past 10 years and has been instrumental in FEASTival’s diverse yet unpretentious programme. A host of ‘Wildnerness Events’, inspired by Mother Nature, have been designed to show off the island’s natural assets; from wading knee-deep for fresh oysters at the local shellfish farm, to an Argentinian-themed beach barbecue with renowned chef Matt Moran (which Sumner describes as “Mad Max meets the circus”), to a nostalgic 1930s country garden-style lunch with national cooking treasure Margaret Fulton – Kangaroo Island’s pristine wilderness will be on centre-stage throughout the five-day event.
Another highlight of the programme is the return of the popular Table Surfing events.
“There’s such a diverse range of people who live here,” says Sumnmer. “They’re basically opening their homes up and saying ‘come and have a drink with us and we’ll cook you dinner.’ So it’s like being a local for a night – it will give you a taste of what it’s like to live here. We’ve got South African doctors who live here on the island who are hosting an intimate dinner, where they’re making their own cheese (they’ve got their own goats). And then you’ve got others who are opening up their beachside houses and utilising all the beautiful seafood here.”
Also on offer are pop-up events including ‘Pollen Ate’ – a six-course honey-inspired dinner hosted by Southern Ocean Lodge chef Tim Bourke; Meet The Makers will again support local cellar doors, restaurateurs and cafes by giving visitors a chance to meet the personalities behind the produce; and FEASTKI will feature a number of interactive stalls, cooking demonstrations and competitions.
“It’s not just another food and wine festival; its really tapping into those characters who make it all happen.”
FEASTIVAL is happening from Thursday 24 April until Monday 28 April. Tickets can be purchased at www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/kifeastival.
