Gunnedah’s premier food festival, Annual Porchetta Day, has been hailed another giant success, as thousands turned out to enjoy a day of fine food, wine and entertainment on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Crowds basked in perfect sunshine to enjoy the tasty foodie delights on offer, including the famous porchetta (roasted pig) – the centrepiece of the festival.
Organisers estimate record crowds of around 5500 people passed through the gates, as they flocked to food stalls to enjoy such dishes as home-made gnocchi, lasagne, bruschetta, pork rolls, Italian sausages, pizza, gelato, pasta and desserts.
Italian wine and beer also flowed, as temperatures reached a perfect 22 degrees Celsius.
Annual Porchetta Day Co-ordinator Lindsay Sheedy said the committee was “thrilled” with the response.
“We’re really happy. It was definitely bigger than last year,” Ms Sheedy said.
“The new layout was a positive change which allowed more shade and less congestion. People were more comfortable just sitting around and relaxing.”
In the festival’s true tradition, the porchetta – supplied by local pork producer Leon de Groot – was basted with rosemary dipped in olive oil by local Italian sisters-in-law, Jan and Maria Capezio and watched by Mayor Owen Hasler, to begin the event.
It was then time for the festivities to get underway, with Italian and European music adding to the atmosphere.
“We’ve had brilliant feedback on the entertainment – the fact that it didn’t stop all day,” Ms Sheedy said.
Kids pizza making and the new Punch and Judy Show were among the winners, while the traditional spaghetti eating competition had hungry festival goers eating pasta against the clock.
This year, more food stalls lined the festival ring, with ninety per cent of the food selling out on the day.
The arancini balls, a new addition to the event, sold out early while the famous Pasticceria Papa cheesecake, which has become a delicious staple on the festival menu, was again a sell-out and attracted lengthy lines on the day.
“We had more food than ever before and it was perfect weather for leisurely eating and drinking in a mediterranean atmosphere,” Ms Sheedy said.
Annual Porchetta Day has pitched itself as a festival for all ages and celebrates the fine produce of the Namoi Valley and the town’s migrant heritage.
“It’s really unique,” Ms Sheedy said.
“The food and culture blend together beautifully to have this little Italian festival and it’s different to every other food fair.
“It’s an experience – a day out or a trip away.”
Ms Sheedy said the festival couldn’t happen without the hard work of volunteers, from all the behind-the-scenes planning to setting up and packing away.
“They were brilliant – outstanding as usual.”
The committee will hold a post-mortem meeting this week to discuss the festival and begin planning for next year.
It is also encouraging the community to fill out a feedback survey for any suggestions and opportunities to build on the festival’s success in 2014.
The survey can be accessed via the festival’s Facebook page, or http://surveymonkey.com/s/AnnualPorchettaDay
