Sunny Coast networking the Freestyle Escape way…

I don’t think there is a better way to network, than over food, wine helps too, but it is the food that always gets me over the line.  Add to the equation the fabulous, no, let me correct that, the spectacular location of Freestyle Escape’s outdoor kitchen and venue of their cooking school and you have a networking day that borders on magic, and almost makes you forget that you are actually supposed to be working it.

I visit Freestyle Escape whenever I get the chance, it is just that, an escape, and host Martin Duncan (aka dessert king from Freestyle Tout in West End and Fortitude Valley) knows how to host a networking do.

Martin is passionate about his region and constantly looks for ways to connect people with the source of their food.  That is what Martin does; connects people and on this occasion he was working towards connecting Sunshine Coast Hinterland B&B owners with local producers, making them and others aware of the work that Julie Shelton and I (Petra Frieser aka Local Harvest) are doing to raise awareness for local producers and to encourage them to localise wherever possible, as well as giving us the opportunity to find out what they are doing as well.

I think people sometimes underestimate the power of networking – it is so important.  It is a way of getting to meet other businesses in your region, and often there are connections and common ground that you would never have thought possible, and all over a pizza and glass of rosé.

That’s what makes the Freestyle’s networking get togethers so much fun. There is nothing like breaking down the barriers over a glass of wine and making a pizza… yes, you read right.  Martin had us all making pizzas.  The bases were provided by Bella Vista, Mapleton’s fabulous little pizzeria, the toppings were supplied by Bliss, a wonderful little Cafe/gourmet food supplies (formerly Wild about Fruit) on the outskirts of Nambour, and then there was the fun forage in Martin’s kitchen garden for salad ingredients and optional extras.

Myrtle (the woodfired oven) was all fired up, and as the pizzas were topped, they were popped into Myrtle to give the finishing touch to each edible artwork.

Personally, I cannot think of a more enjoyable way to network, and it was lovely meeting some of the B&B owners as well as some other Hinterland business owners, and leave with the hope that they will have a slightly greater awareness of where to source regional produce and why it is such a bonus to support them; fresh, fabulous nutritious food that hasn’t had to travel excessive miles to make its way to the plate.  Of course it flows both ways, we also have a greater awareness of where and who they are too an dit was really lovely meeting them all.

Thanks to Martin for yet another fabulous event, and thanks also to the below for joining in the fun:
Julie Shelton  from Slow Food Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Neil & Heidi from Lake Terrace, Christine and Anton from Montville Country Cabins, Sandy from Gridley Homestead, Geraldine and David from Montague’s of Montville, Edith-Ann & Alison from Hinterland Business Centre, Tony Gill from Arts on Cairnscross, Louise from Montville Grove, Jason & Mandy from Montville Lodge, Tina from The Natural Beauty Retreat @ Dulong, Courtney, Kylie & Lee from Bella Vista and Cathy & Pedro from Bliss. Also special thanks to Liz. Elizabeth and David for ther help on the day.

This post was written by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au

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