Showcase of region on top chef’s menu

Spanish-born celebrity chef Miguel Maestre says he is looking forward to cooking with local produce as he headlines Taste Great Southern, which began yesterday.

Maestre, who co-hosts Channel 10’s The Living Room, will feature at the Rockliffe Night Market and Lunch by the Lake events while in the Great Southern for the region’s premier food and wine event.

Maestre said his two headline events would be jam-packed with quality local food.

“The Rockcliffe Markets, we’re cooking with the beautiful Anna Gare, so that is going to be plenty of fun,” he said. “At the Lake House, we’ll be doing the most amazing cheesecake, we’re doing paella with local marrons and a little bit of seafood that we find around town — some mussels, a little bit of salmon.

“I think we’re going to cure the salmon to do a really cool little entree with some really nice local vegetables and flavours.”

The Sydneysider is well known for his love of fresh, local and seasonal produce, which has led to him featuring at some of the country’s top food festivals. “It’s just amazing to see all the wonderful local produce and meet the producers, put a face to these people that grow all this food,” Maestre said

“It’s just brilliant.

“It’s really exciting to see the passion people have for home-grown produce and you get to see the real face of our food.”

Maestre will kick off his Taste campaign tonight at Rockliffe Night Market, where he is set to put on a cooking demonstration, accompanied by local celebrity chef Gare. Lunch by the Lake will be hosted by Maestre on Sunday at Lake House Denmark as he brings his worldly cooking experience to a four-course lunch using local produce.