EXCITEMENT is building in the Narooma district as the first episode of River Cottage Australia is set to air later this week.
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The new reality show set in Central Tilba is the latest project for sustainability champion Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall who has introduced so many to the concept of growing and preparing your own produce in his hit original British series.
Fifteen years after Hugh moved into the first River Cottage in the UK, he’s come to Australia to spread the message of sustainability and has anointed an Aussie worthy of carrying on the river cottage tradition.
That job has gone to former Tasmanian chef Paul West, who is now setting up his own River Cottage - with a little help from Hugh and all the locals eager to show him all the bountiful NSW Far South Coast has to offer for the table.
While competitive cooking shows are all the rage, it is refreshing to sit back without the sniping and backbiting to watch Paul, a country boy at heart with a cheffing and permaculture background, take on the challenge.
This comes with the great, feel-good sustainability message we can all take home and make a difference and all set in magnificent scenery that even the locals will enjoy seeing in a fresh light.
Producers used a gyrocopter to give a birds eye view over the River Cottage Australia property, a former dairy farm perched on the spectacular slopes of Gulaga Mountain butting up against the towering forest of the national park.
The land looks resplendent in green magnificence at the end of summer when host Paul arrived filming first started.
Already known at the Nature Coast, the show fits in nicely with the natural, unspoiled southern end of Eurobodalla Shire.
The stirrings of producing and buying locally have already begun with the local gardeners, bakers and producers having their own market in Central Tilba every Saturday.
Larger scale food production has also come to Central Tilba with the ABC Cheese Factory recently returning to full-scale cheese and milk production.
The historic and hospitable Dromedary Hotel at Central Tilba that so welcomed the producers scouting out potential properties has already been abuzz with tourists asking about the show.
Publicans Mick and Maz Youlton say now hardly a day goes by without someone asking them about the show, while some of the regulars have already participated in this the first series.
Locals have helped Paul do everything from plant his garden to hunt for rabbits but even a cameo of having his dog petted on camera is worth a mention at the pub.
Paul himself has fully immersed in the culture and events of the district from having fun at the Tilba Easter Festival to shucking oysters at the Narooma Oyster Festival.
The excitement has spread to Narooma too where O’Brien’s Hotel will be screening the first episode on the big screen this Thursday for those who do not yet have Foxtel at home.
In this first episode, Paul and Hugh face uniquely Australian challenges and characters as they make plans for growing produce, raising live stock and becoming part of the local community.
They’ll the spruce up the farm’s old chicken coop and welcome their first pair of chickens; meet local vegetable grower who introduces them to the delights of camel poo; hunt for octopus in one of the states most beautiful coastal lakes and join members of a local indigenous community as they climb a sacred mountain to learn the secrets of bush tucker, and hear their powerful dreamtime stories.
To top it off, Hugh and Paul will cook up the best local and seasonal produce they can find, and share it with those who’ve already begun helping them on their journey towards a sustainable way of life.
The first episode of River Cottage Australia airs on The LifeStyle Channel this Thursday, June 27 at 8.30pm.
