FILMING on Series 2 of River Cottage Australia at Central Tilba is about half way complete and the farm has been turned into a real menagerie of animals while the veggie gardens are flourishing too.
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But it’s not just about what happens on the farm as Paul and crew have been out about enjoying events and outings across the Far South Coast.
Only a couple of weeks ago, they were spotted at the Cobargo Folk Festival while this weekend they will have a stall at the Bermagui Seaside Fair selling some of their home-grown and much loved produce.
Thursday evening saw a group of food writers visit the farm as part of the ramping up of publicity in anticipation of the airing of Series 2 sometime around the middle of this year.
Look out for articles in the Sydney Morning Herald, TV Week, Green Lifestyle Magazine and South Coast Style magazine.
The visiting journalists after given an opportunity interview Paul about the goings on the farm were treated to a scrumptious meal cooked by the host himself using produce and ingredients raised on River Cottage property.
Also enjoying the meal and giving insights on the production so far were the new series producer Jodi Boylan, fresh from producing Matt Moran’s new show “Paddock to Plate”, as well as new director Callum Webster.
Callum has worked extensively with River Cottage founder Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on the original British version of the show.
Snacks on the deck included goats cheese from the farm’s goats coated in beetroot and poppy seed and also with candied and toasted walnuts and thyme.
Another locally grown snack was deliciously tart and tangy pickled watermelon rind from the very unusual moon and stars variety of watermelon grown on the farm. Then there was the parfait, or “perfect” pate from the farm’s chickens.
At the dinner, the journalists enjoyed osso bucco cooked to tender perfection and served on a bed of polenta.
To finish off there was a French-inspired Clafoutis baked dessert made with not black cherries but rather handpicked, wild blackberries from the hilly slopes of River Cottage Australia.
Filming on Series 2 will continue until around the end of April with a very quick production turnaround and the show airing on The LifeStyle Channel on Foxtel mid-year.
Then there will only be a short break before filming begins on Series 3 with the idea being to build on and develop story ideas and projects from the first two series.
The show is also in the running for major awards in upcoming weeks but unfortunately window for voting by the public is now closed.
River Cottage Australia has been nominated to win a TV WEEK Logie Award for Most Popular Lifestyle Program, while it also has a couple of nominations for the awards offered by the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA).
Paul West is nominated in the ASTRA Award for Most Popular Presenter while the show itself is also nominated in ASTRAs for Most Popular Australian Program