Celebrity Chef Josh Emett Rides High In North East Victoria

30 August, 2011

Celebrity Chef Josh Emett Rides High In North East Victoria

‘My Kind Of Place’

SATURDAY 03 September, TV1, 7.30PM

Celebrity Chef and MasterChef New Zealand judge, Josh Emett rides his way through Victoria’s High Country on a gastronomic adventure in this episode of ‘My Kind of Place.’

Josh’s high country adventure begins just 2 hours from Melbourne in Mansfield. From this country town, Josh travels the short distance to the farm of Michael Watson, a heritage farm and home to Adventure Victoria horse riding tours which includes the ‘Man from Snowy River’ horse trail, and includes a view down the impossibly steep incline which was the closing shot for the movie of the same name.

With cattleman having farmed the region since the 1870’s the region is steeped in history and folklore, as well as spectacular scenery and vast valley scapes. A self confessed novice when it comes to riding, Josh described cantering as one of his most challenging moments of the trip but was “absolutely amazing, and such a great way to see this part of the world.”

Riding across a pristine mountain stream and arriving at Howqua Dale, Australia’s first gourmet retreat and cooking school was a sight to behold and the more familiar surrounds of the kitchen lay within reach.

Guests can now enjoy self-catering or bed and breakfast accommodation at Riverhouse at Howqua Dale.

No show featuring Josh would be complete without some kitchen action, and viewers will not be left wanting with Josh cooking up a High Country casual feast for dinner using local produce sourced on his adventures of the region. This quite literally did include the fruits of his labour from cycling the region with High Country Bike Adventures. Aboard his cycle, complete with produce basket, Josh pedalled into Pizzini wines, collecting sensational and huge Black Welsh steaks from Bellevue Cattle Farm,, Milawa olives, Beechworth honey, home crafted cheeses and even boutique crafted butter from Myrtleford.

Josh describes riding the bike through the amazing network, which was the rail trail, as an “amazing way to travel from town to town and great use of unused rail systems.”

Reflecting on his visit to the region, the lasting impression on this world-renowned chef and restaurateur was the “great range of local products and also to be able to meet some wonderful people doing great things with food and wine and total commitment to honest use of the ingredients.”

Imagination Television’s Creative Director, Darryl McEwen says the beauty of My Kind of Place is that each episode has a life of its own, which means there is something for everyone, be it food and wine, nature, coastal experiences or journeys.”

Tourism Australia New Zealand General Manager, Jenny Aitken says, “With just over a million Kiwis visiting Australia each year and 92 percent returning for more of their favourite holiday destination, My Kind of Place goes a long way to sating the huge appetite Kiwis have for exciting and new Aussie holiday experiences that are unique, authentic and accessible. My Kind of Place aims to deliver this in a way that entertains, informs and inspires.”

Other major partners include Air New Zealand and Air New Zealand Holidays who each week offer packages for Kiwis to “see for themselves why this place is their kind of place.”

In the coming weeks, New Zealand viewers can also enjoy the company of some of their favourite television personalities, with MasterChef New Zealand judge Josh Emett riding high in North East Victoria, Lisa Chappell returning to South Australia for a memorable sojourn down the Murray River and Teresa Healey striding out on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.

New Zealand is Australia’s largest inbound market for visitor arrivals. 1,161,800 Kiwis visited Australia during 2010 (up 5% on 2009), spending more than $2 billion. Tourism Australia believes that the New Zealand market has the potential to grow to between $3.4 billion and $4.2 billion in total expenditure by 2020.

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