Food & Wine, Produce

Global focus on diabetes

World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing fears about the mounting health threat posed by the disease. It is marked every year on November 14 and is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign, reaching a global audience of more than 1 billion people in more than 160 countries.

It focuses on creating awareness of diabetes, illustrating issues important to the diabetes world and keeping diabetes in the public and political spotlight. The theme for World Diabetes Day 2020 is The Nurse and Diabetes. Here the global event will raise awareness around the crucial role that nurses play in supporting people living with diabetes. As the number of people with diabetes continues to rise all over the world, the role of nurses and other health professional support staff becomes ever so important in handling the effects of the disease. Why not undertake the online diabetes risk assessment test, which only takes a few minutes. It has been created by the IDF to predict an individual’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next 10 years. The IDF estimates that as many as 212 million people, or half of all adults currently living with diabetes, are undiagnosed. Most of these have type 2 diabetes – so take the test by visiting www.idf.org/ type-2-diabetes-risk-assessment/ To find out how you can participate both in the build-up to World Diabetes Day and after the campaign, visit www. worlddiabetesday.org

Taste the delights of Greater Dandenong

Discover the vibrancy and diversity of Greater Dandenong and enjoy the region’s rich array of culinary delights on one of the city’s acclaimed food tours.

Join other food lovers for an authentic celebration of food and culture in one of Melbourne’s most celebrated and thriving food heartlands. A visit to the City of Greater Dandenong allows you to travel the world without the need for a passport. Now officially recognised as Australia’s most culturally diverse community, Greater Dandenong provides a rich tapestry of cultural experiences that will awaken the senses and leave you wanting more. The perfect way to get your first taste of the city is on a Food Lovers or Cultural Tour. Explore Afghani culture in Dandenong’s Afghan Bazaar precinct or travel to South-East Asia in Springvale. Greater Dandenong’s celebrated twohour tours provide generous samplings of a rich array of cuisines and conclude with a delicious meal. Book one of the scheduled tours today or contact the City of Greater Dandenong to tailor one for a group of your closest family and friends. Go to greaterdandenong.com/tours or phone 8571 1666 and discover Greater Dandenong on a plate.

Greater Dandenong Tours

Have an authentic cultural experience without your passport! Afghan Bazaar Dumplings and Desserts

Be introduced to the wonderful Afghan business community learning how traditional Afghan bread is made, visiting a traditional homewares shop, supermarkets and finishing with an Afghan banquet. Guarantee you won’t walk away hungry! Who doesn’t like dumplings and desserts and on this tour you can indulge in both. You will be treated to a variety of dumplings along the way and finish with fabulous desserts.

Do you have a group of friends or colleagues and can’t make one of the scheduled dates? Did you know that we can organise group bookings for 8–16 people available upon request.

For more information and bookings visit greaterdandenong.com/tours or phone 8571 1377 8571 1666

A CHAT WITH OUR FOOD, WINE AND DINING EXPERTS Head brewer David Golding — Red Hill Brewery, 88 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South. Phone 5989 2959

Alongside your wife Karen, you established the brewery in 2005 and you’re now an award-winning independent craft brewery. How has the journey been?

We started out with a love of good beer, a lot of passion and an idealism about what running a small business and hospitality venue entailed. We learnt fast, brewed great beer and have created something that people recognise as a unique, relaxed and local Mornington Peninsula experience. I am still blown away by people who have been introduced to what a beer experience can be, who have come once, tens or hundreds of times to the Red Hill Brewery.

What is your philosophy when it comes to brewing craft beers?

I make beer that Karen and I want to drink. We fell in love with classic European styles, and a lot of what we make is starting from that point. The concept is that you can drink a pint of Red Hill and want another pint of the same beer. That’s what we aim for with all of our beers.

Your brewery is located amid its own hops garden. What else makes you unique?

We are a family-owned brewery. Both Karen and I are hands-on in all aspects of the business, from brewing, marketing, food, café and events. The hops were planted here around 20 years ago and are part of the experience coming to the Red Hill Brewery. Our brewery has no mains water, no sewerage, so everything is designed to be self-sufficient. We were the first brewery on the Mornington Peninsula and we have remained committed to staying independent and brewing great beer.

Could you tell our readers about your menu of beer-friendly food?

We will be launching a new beer-friendly menu of modern burgers and snacks soon. Relaunching the food operations has been slightly on the backburner due to the unknown COVID regulations ever-changing, but we hope to have an exciting and fun food option. In the meantime, we will always have some beer-friendly snacks or food trucks in residence.

Throughout the COVID-19 restrictions, what have you been offering your customers?

Online sales have been the forefront of the focus. Getting beer out into people’s fridges by Friday afternoon has been key to keeping customers happy. Karen has put together some great packs allowing people to order a pack designed for a craft beer-lover, a person wanting to try the range, new beer packs, and to cover a range of budgets. The continued support from loyal customers is amazing.

We’ve heard you kept yourselves busy with renovations. Tell us more!

Firstly, we restyled our whole bar area – a sleek bar, fresh paint, new floors, new art – and we have tiled the whole bar in a nod to the classic tiled, iconic Aussie bars. With more focus on outdoor dining, we have also refurbished our deck and integrated some outdoor garden spaces around the bar to enable more of our guests to enjoy pints in the fresh Red Hill air. We have also been working hard outdoors so the gardens and grounds are looking beautiful too.

Finally, what’s your favourite beer that you’ve created?

Imperial Stout would have to be the favourite, but I’m excited about what we are canning now – watch this space.

We’re setting up for outdoor dining

Following Premier Dan Andrew’s announcement on Monday, October 26 that from midnight Tuesday, October 27, retail and hospitality can re-open, the excitement among businesses and the public was through the roof.

Both Mornington Peninsula Shire and Frankston City councils had previously announced their intent to help our local restaurants, cafes, taverns, bars, clubs, takeaway food venues and pubs extend their table service outside as well. With applications invited for free temporary extended outdoor dining permits, it’s sensational news for the region’s hospitality industry. Large umbrellas, outdoor furniture, screens and road closures will no doubt create a scene like no other as animated voices and aromas of delicious food waft down the lively streets. This initiative to create additional outdoor dining space is crucial for the community’s food businesses to remain profitable all the while following the social distancing measures and space restrictions. With three and six-month permits available, our streets will once again be hives of activity. Yes, they’ll look different, but it’s a brilliant alternative that we’re sure our ever so supportive community will jump on board with. This concept will provide a long-awaited opportunity for people to come together again and socialise in a COVIDsafe manner to not only reconnect with each other, but also our townships and our local businesses. Just picture it: long summer days, sitting outside at your favourite restaurant, with tree branches catching the balmy breeze as you embrace the atmosphere and soak up those last rays as dusk falls. Please join us in creating a wonderful summer for all to enjoy. By everyone getting on board we’ll be able to rebuild our stunning shopping strips, bubbly atmosphere and foodie culture on the pristine Peninsula. With Stage 4 restrictions eased, it’s time for us to reap the rewards of our hard work, all the while maintaining our social distance practices, wearing of masks, sanitising our hands and supporting small businesses. While we’re on the local lovin’ train, don’t forget that takeaway is still a popular option, with many businesses introducing and perfecting the process throughout the lockdown stage. Why not explore one of our 35 townships that perhaps have been out of your radius, or pick up a copy of our sister publication, Eat.Drink 2021 – out mid-December – to discover a new eatery to fall in love with. We’ll be out and about, seeing what’s happening and admiring the changes to our dining culture. We’ll see you there! KATE SEARS

Natural Spring Water

Peninsula Springs is a local, family owned and operated Natural Spring Water business, serving the Mornington Peninsula and Bayside Regions.

We pride ourselves on providing great service and great tasting Natural Spring Water to our clients. Delivered Free to your door. Indulge in the taste of Peninsula Springs Natural Spring Water in 15 litre or 600ml size bottles.

For more information ring Peninsula Springs on 0413 996 317 or check the website at www.peninsulasprings.com.au