Good Food Month Spring Picnic, Centennial Park

Muffins from Shepherd's Bakehouse

After checking out the Danks Street Festival on Sunday morning, it was a quick hop onto a bus heading towards Centennial Park for the Good Food Month Spring Picnic.


Mandarins await juicing at Parker's Organics

I'm not sure whether it was the overcast weather, the freezing cold temperatures from the day before, lack of publicity or just a spreading out of (more) stalls, but numbers seemed considerably down compared to last year. Admittedly it was a sunnier day last year (although a little blustery, as I remember having to hang onto my som tham salad) when the crowds were out in force, and many stalls had sold out of everything by lunchtime.

This year there was barely a queue at any stall, with arrays of untouched offerings looking rather forlorn and neglected. There was no Tabou this year either, no Formaggi Ocello, no Asian ice creams and desserts, no Spice I Am, no friendly piadina man.


Parkers Organics sparkling

There were more stalls this year, but as always it was the ones emanating delicious aromas and the enticing sound of fat sizzling, that were the most popular.


Venison sausage rolls


Fruit from Grima Brothers


Jam donuts


Chorizo from Mojo Picon

I just caught the end of the cooking demonstration by Matthew Evans, the former Sydney Morning Herald restaurant critic, who was spruiking his new cookbook (Matthew is a qualified chef who had to give up the kitchen due to injury).


Matthew Evans and Helen Greenwood


Matthew Evans

Lunch was char kway teow from Singapore Quo Tiao King who had had a regular stall at the Night Noodle Markets. Despite visiting the noodle markets three times, somehowI never actually ate any noodles. Sunday's weather provided the perfect conditions for noodle cravings...


Sweet soy being added to rice noodles


Char kway teow


Char kway teow with chicken $7.00

Soft ribbons of rice noodles were doused with sweet soy sauce and fried until slightly caramelised. Strewn throughout were little morsels of tender chicken and paper-thin shreds of omelette. A handful of chopped green onion added bite and warmed-but-still-crunchy bean sprouts gave refreshing moisture and a contrast in texture.


Apple and cherry pithivier from Beb $8.00

Dessert was an apple and cherry pithivier from Beb patisserie. A pie of sorts made with two discs of flakiest puff pastry and filled with a moist but light frangipane almond cream filling.



This year's Spring Picnic was held on Sunday October 22, 2006 at Centennial Park in the Brazilian Fields.

Tagged with: gfm06 or check Rebecca's wrap-up

Related GrabYourFork posts:
GFM 2007: Sugar Hit #2 at the Sofitel Wentworth
GFM 2007: Sugar Hit #1 at the InterContinental Sydney

GFM 2006: Good Living Growers' Markets
GFM 2006: Hats Off dinner at Becasse
GFM 2006: Night Noodle Markets Week 3
GFM 2006: Night Noodle Markets Week 2
GFM 2006: Night Noodle Markets Week 1
GFM 2006: Spring Picnic
GFM 2006: Sugar Hit #4 at the Sofitel Wentworth
GFM 2006: Sugar Hit #3 at the Intercontinental Sydney
GFM 2006: Sugar Hit #2 at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
GFM 2006: Sugar Hit #1 at the Park Hyatt Sydney
GFM 2006: Sydney Food & Wine Fair


GFM 2005: Good Living Growers' Markets
GFM 2005: Night Noodle Markets
GFM 2005: Spring Picnic
GFM 2005: Sydney Farmers' Market
GFM 2005: Sydney Food & Wine Fair

GFM 2004: Twilight Trail: Cocktails and Sugar Hits