Festival Programme 2010

After a day on the slopes, not much compares to gourmet food and wine from Victoria 's North East.

The annual Mountain Fresh Festival celebrates Alpine gastronomy, with an exciting program of food and wine experiences held at Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain.

Wine and beer tastings, master classes, regional tasting platters, pampering sessions, live music and tapas – all this and more. The Mountain Fresh Festival is your opportunity to experience local gourmet fare in an unforgettable snowy setting.

Programmes are available at Mt Hotham RMB and Dinner Plain Visitor Information Centre, along with businesses in both villages.
You can also download the programme.

EVERY DAY DURING THE FESTIVAL!

6:00pm-7:00pm
Wagyu Beef Burger & Beer @ Blake's
Once you've had a Wagyu Beef Burger there's no going back! Try it with Bright Brewery beer and you'll be a certified convert. Check it out yourself, every night of the festival - $28 per person. Sensational!
Venue: Blake's @ Zirky's Hotham Village MAP REF: C2 Enquiries: 03 5759 3518

A Focus on Feathertop Wines
Mt Hotham's Chill Bar presents a focus on Feathertop Wines. Each menu item offers an accompanying wine from this Alpine Valley based winery.
Venue: Chill Bar & Cafe Hotham Village MAP REF: D3 Enquiries: 03 5759 3313

Graze @ Graze
Graze restaurant at Rundells, Dinner Plain, showcases the best the region has to offer with a 6-course regional degustation menu by Head Chef Gareth Newburn. This special event features ingredients from the Alpine Valleys and showcases local produce matched with local wines including All Saints Estate winery. A vegetarian degustation menu is also available. $89 per person or $132 matched with half glass wines. Bookings must be made 48 hours in advance.
Venue: Rundells Alpine Lodge, Dinner Plain Village MAP REF: 17. Enquiries: 03 5159 6422

Friday 23^rd July

5:00-7:00pm
Grand Opening @ Jack Frost
Festivities, food and fun are on the agenda tonight at Jack Frost. Blues musician Ben Smith sets the tone to a backdrop that includes sensational tasting platters of local produce, local wine and local beer. Lucky door prizes include one of two Bollé snow goggles! Not to be missed!
Venue: Jack Frost, Mt Hotham. Hotham Village MAP REF L5. Enquiries: 03 5759 3586

5:30-6:30pm
Mountain Kitchen, Kitchen Table
The recently opened Mountain Kitchen is a hub for regional produce. This special event provides those with a penchant for good food and wine to sample products from around this great region, and also be in the running to win a bottle of locally produced wine and a copy of The Real Food Companion by author Matthew Evans. Admission is FREE.
Venue: Mountain Kitchen, Shop 1, 1 Big Muster Drive Dinner Plain. Enquiries: 03 5159 6560

7:00pm
Cool Wine Challenge (NEW for 2010)
Take two wine regions, a hot chef, a unique location and you have the Cool Wine Challenge. This wine duel features a formal four-course dinner, prepared by Tsubo’s talented Hamish Nugent that showcases produce from the Alpine Valleys. Each course comes with two mystery wines from the Alpine Valleys and Tumbarumba. Guests sample both, pass judgment and vote for their favourite. By the evenings end, votes are tallied and a winner declared. This fun, gastronomic event is not to be missed!
Venue: Tsubo, Dinner Plain. Cost: $130 per person Bookings Essential. Enquiries: 1300 734 365

Saturday 24^th July

4:00-6:00pm
Brandy Creek Food & Wine Tasting
This FREE food and wine tasting event showcases an assortment of local delicacies.
Venue: Br andy Creek Café, Dinner Plain Village MAP REF: 1912. Enquiries : 03 5159 6488

4:00 – 6.30pm
Chill Out on Feathertop
Join Feathertop Winery's Janelle Boynton for a talk, taste and tipple at Chill Bar and Café. Accompanied by delicious local nibbles and cool climate Feathertop Wines, this is a great way to get up close and personal with a local vigneron.
Venue: Chill Bar & Cafe Hotham Village MAP REF : D3 Enquiries: 03 5759 3313

4:45pm
Sparkling Sunset Tour
Enjoy the Hotham sunset from the summit - take the ride up in a snow groomer where you can then enjoy Amulet Wines and local produce platters with a 360º view!
$45 per person or $15 for under 18s. Departs 4.45pm sharp, returns 6.30pm. Up to 8 people per tour.
Bookings at Guest Services @ Hotham Central or phone 03 5759 4470.

5:00-7:00pm
A Slice and a Glass
Speciality pizzas with local toppings, a selection of beer from Bright Brewery and an assortment of local wines – what more could you want? This child friendly event embraces the true meaning of “local”.
Venue: Dinner Plain Hotel, Dinner Plain Village MAP REF: 551. Enquiries: 03 5159 6462.

Sunday 25^th July

4:30pm
Gruesome Tales and Shanties
Join local gold historian Andrew Swift for shanty tales from Hotham's history. Feast on damper, stew and a local red in the atmospheric Wire Plain Hut, while Andrew thrills you with stories you have to hear to believe!
Venue: Howard's Wire Plain Hut, Hotham Village MAP REF: 1 P (opposite Wire Plain Car Park, accessible on the free Hotham Village Bus) Enquiries : 03 5759 3550

5:30-6:30pm
The Brewer & The Critic
Do you love beer? Then this event is for you. Join Greg Duncan Powell, author of Beer: A Gauge for Enthusiasts and local brewer Scott Brandon from Bright Brewery, for a FREE beer and a laugh. With his usual dash of humour and laconic wit, Greg will talk about his passion for beer, while Scott will discuss the art of brewing. Greg's 2010 version of his Beer book published by Murdoch Books, will also be available for sale.
Venue: The General Store, Hotham Village MAP REF: J5 MAP: Enquiries: 03 5759 3523

Monday 26^th July

3:30 – 5:30pm
Home Spa Remedies Masterclass
Learn how to pamper yourself at home using Alpine Valleys produce. Enjoy a demonstration with the manager of the DP Onsen Retreat and Spa where you can learn how to make your own home spa recipes to use for body care and pampering. Bookings essential – maximum 30 participants. Admission: $10 per person (includes a goodie bag).
Venue: Onsen Retreat and Spa, Dinner Plain. MAP REF: 4023 Bookings : 03 5150 8880

4:45pm
Sparkling Sunset Tour
Enjoy the Hotham sunset from the summit - take the ride up in a snow groomer to the summit, where you can then enjoy Amulet Wines and local produce platters with a 360º view!
$45 per person or $15 if you are under 18 years of age. Departs 4.45pm sharp, returns 6:30pm. Up to 8 people per tour.
Bookings at Guest Services @ Hotham Central or phone 03 5759 4470.

6:00 – 8:00pm
Tastings & Tapas @ Jack Frost
Join the new owners of Jack Frost for a tasty plate of tapas made with local produce and tastings of delightful Alpine Valleys wine.
Venue: Jack Frost, Hotham Village . MAP REF L5. Enquiries : 03 5759 3586

6:30 – 8:30 pm
‘Meet Your Maker' Masterclass & Dinner
One of the highlights of the 2010 festival, this special event packs a punch! It includes a master class, a wine matching dinner and a book signing. The event, hosted by wine critic Greg Duncan Powell, brings together industry leaders to discuss “new varieties” in Australian wine. Vignerons include: Rutherglen Estates, Pizzini Wines, Dal Zotto and a range from Alpine Valley Vignerons. This discussion and sampling session is followed by a 3-course dinner that is served with wines from these Victorian wineries. Greg Duncan Powell's book A Rump & A Rough Red (Murdoch Books, 2010) will also be available for sale. Bookings essential – great value @ $90 per person
Venue: Blake's @ Zirky's, Hotham Village MAP REF: C2 Enquiries: 03 5759 3518

7:00pm
Two Australians Walk Into An Izakaya...
Awarded a chef's hat and the award for Best New Country Restaurant from the 2010 The Age Good Food Guide, Michael Ryan of Provenance brings his take on contemporary cuisine to the Mountain Fresh Festival. In collaboration with Hamish Nugent of Tsubo they will cook a six course degustation dinner bringing together their knowledge of local produce and their recent experience of travelling in Japan and visiting as many izakayas (Japanese pub/bistros) as can be done in two weeks. The dinner will be matched with local wines, sake and Japanese beer.
Bookings essential - $85 per person (food only) or $135 per person with matched drinks.
Venue: Tsubo Bar & Restaurant, Dinner Plain Village. Enquiries: (03) 5159 6622

Tuesday 27^th July

12:30 – 1:30pm
‘Chef With a Hat' Masterclass @ Tsubo
Join chef hat awarded Michael Ryan of Provenance, Beechworth as he shows you how to achieve the most from our abundant local produce. Bookings essential.
Venue: Tsubo Bar & Restaurant, Dinner Plain Village. Enquiries: (03) 5159 6622

3:30 – 4:30pm
Snowshoe Shuffle
Guided snowshoe tours topped off with a hot drink and snack while you are out exploring the surrounds.
Advance bookings preferred but not essential! Call into Hoys Ski Hire to book your space!
Venue: Meeting Place: Hoys Ski Hire, Dinner Plain Village. Enquiries: (03) 5159 6488

4:00 – 6:30pm
Chill Out on Feathertop
Join Feathertop Winery's Janelle Boynton for a talk, taste and tipple at Chill Bar and Café. Accompanied by delicious local nibbles and cool climate Feathertop Wines, this is a great way to get up close and personal with a local vigneron.
Venue: Chill Bar & Cafe Hotham Village MAP REF: D3 Enquiries: 03 5759 3313

5:30-6:30pm
Mountain Kitchen, Kitchen Table
The recently opened Mountain Kitchen is a hub for regional produce. This special event provides those with a penchant for good food and wine to sample products from around this great region. Admission is FREE.
Venue: Mountain Kitchen, Shop 1, 1 Big Muster Drive Dinner Plain. Enquiries: 03 5159 6560

4:45pm
Sparkling Sunset Tour.
Enjoy the Hotham sunset from the summit - take the ride up in a snow groomer to the summit, where you can then enjoy Amulet Wines and local produce platters with a 360º view!
$45 per person or $15 if you are under 18 years of age. Departs 4.45pm sharp, returns 6.30pm. Up to 8 people per tour.
Bookings at Guest Services @ Hotham Central or phone 03 5759 4470.

6:30 – 7:30pm
The Beer Necessities Masterclass (…that's cheesy!)
Cheese lovers are invited to attend this FREE master class that discusses the art of combining cheese with wine and beer. Hosted by Greg Duncan Powell (Masterchef Australia ) it includes Milawa Cheese platters, Rutherglen Estates wine and Beechworth Brewery beer. Don't miss your spot at this great event – a fantastic pre-dinner kick-starter. Hang around for dinner and take advantage of the Masterclass Dinner Special available to attendees only!
Venue: The General Store Village MAP REF: J5 MAP: Enquiries: 03 5759 3523

Wednesday 28^th July

2:30 – 4:30pm
Turning Japanese…
Chef Hamish Nugent from Tsubo will show you how to prepare a range of Japanese styled finger food matched to regional wines. Hamish, recently invited to participate in TV's Iron Chef, definitely knows his Japanese fare. Don't miss this fabulous opportunity to speak to an expert in his field. Bookings essential and limited to 20.
Venue: Tsubo Dinner Plain Village MAP REF: 4023. Enquiries : 03 5159 6622.

3:00 – 5:30pm
Top Chef Challenge Award Presentation
The Top Chef Challenge has moved into Top Gear for 2010. During the course of the festival, Mountain Chefs battled it out with their competing Mountain Fresh dishes and now's the time to unveil the winner! This exciting event offers a swag of prizes for the winning chef, but also includes a lucky door prize from festival sponsor Murdoch Books. The Real Food Companion by Matthew Evans is up for grabs and so is a FREE glass of wine! The Top Chef Challenge Award Presentation is a real festival highlight.
Venue: Rundells Alpine Lodge, Dinner Plain Village MAP REF: 17. Enquiries: 03 5159 6422

Festival Programme 2010

After a day on the slopes, not much compares to gourmet food and wine from Victoria 's North East.

EVERY DAY DURING THE FESTIVAL!

Friday 23rd July

Saturday 24th July

Sunday 25th July

Monday 26th July

Tuesday 27th July

Wednesday 28th July