3:57p.m. 14th May 2008

Hundreds of foodies flock to Noosa each May to treat their tastebuds at the Celebration of Australian Food & Wine.

After humble beginnings five years ago, the annual festival has grown to include events such as cooking classes with Australia’s top chefs, food tastings from Noosa restaurants, wine tastings from leading Australian wineries, and a culinary exhibition showcasing the latest in gourmet foods, cooking appliances and cookware.

There is also an associated open-air concert, that has attracted top Aussie musicians such as Vanessa Amorosi, James Morrison, Deni Hines and Marcia Hines.

Noosa chef Jim Berardo and his business partner Greg O’Brien took a bold gamble when they bankrolled the first Celebration of Australian Food and Wine.

Jim says the inaugural event involved a tent-load of foodies paying homage to local producers, after special cooking classes held at Berardo’s in Hastings Street the day before.

“Putting on that first celebration was terrifying, especially on the bank balance, but it proved everyone wanted to come here to meet the upper echelon of food people like Greg and Peter Doyle.”

He says there is no other food-producing region like Noosa anywhere in Australia, “where the produce is so close from the farm gate to the plate ... or the boat to the plate.”

The three-day celebration has become the biggest event of its kind in Queensland, but Jim, who oversees the whole extravaganza, knows the magic still works because the festival is made up of lots of small events which maintains the intimacy.

“We don’t want a festival held in large (hotel) conference rooms where everything is impersonal,” Jim said.

“It can be nerve-wracking, very frustrating, but on Friday morning when the gates open it’s just magic.”

For full program details, visit www.celebrationofaustralianfoodandwine.com.au .