Rick Stein Restaurants hosted its first live virtual food festival via its Instagram channels last week, providing an alternative for foodies to come together and learn after the physical event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Streamed live on Instagram, Rick Stein opened the festival cooking seafood gratin live from his kitchen in Sydney.
The festival was hosted by author and presenter Steven Lamb, with chefs taking part including Angela Harnett, Jack Stein, Ross Geach, José Pizarro, Mitch Tonks and Rick Toogood.
The idea was the brainchild of Ross Geach, who wanted to find a way to bring the food festival atmosphere to peoples’ homes as well as showcasing local food suppliers.
The festival promoted farmers, fishermen and suppliers currently not able to sell to restaurants but offering online delivery services for people at home.
The festival included ‘live’ connections with Fish for Thought and Haywood Farm Cider as well as promoting over 20 suppliers on Instagram stories and virtualfoodfestival.org
Ross Geach commented “The festival was a real success and great fun. We achieved our objectives to help suppliers, raise some money and have a bit of fun. I can’t wait for festival number two.”
