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At Our Table

Queensland people – our stories, our food

We discovered what Queensland tastes like when communities gathered at our table in celebrations across the state unearthing the distinct flavour, recipes and stories of each region.

From August to November At Our Table, presented by Q150 and the State Library of Queensland, hosted 10 special events that brought communities together for a banquet, dinner, campfire or picnic.

Chefs, local identities and community members explored the varying influences on the growing, making and sharing of food and the remarkable stories of people and places behind the recipes passed down through generations and between cultures.

At Our Table events

Sunday 23 August	Granite Belt Queensland Wine and Tourism College 22 Caves Road, Stanthorpe	The Winemakers' Story	This event profiled the unique and diverse stories of the winemakers' of the Granite Belt. It also focused on the changing face of the Granite Belt and how the past 150 years has shaped its landscape.
Monday 31 August	Noosa Noosa Springs Resort Links Drive, Noosa Heads	Fresh to the Table	Noosa is synonymous with the words fine dining, stylish and boutique, however few people are aware of the variety of fresh produce that is grown on their own doorsteps in the surrounding Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Fresh to the Table brought local producers and their products to the five star dining experience.
Sunday 6 September	Cairns The TANKS Arts Centre 46 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill	A Market Feast	The influx of migrants from Asia has brought with it many new and foreign products and methods of cooking. A Market Feast invited guests to sample traditional dishes from a variety of Asian cultures.
Saturday 19 September	Ingham Hinchinbrook Shire Hall 25 Lannercost Street, Ingham	Festa di Famigilia	The Italians are famous for their large family get together. This event recreated this family dinner while bringing together the recipes of old, and explore the distinct flavours of five different regions of Italy, essentially taking your pallet on a country wide journey.
Saturday 26 September	Darnley Island Darnley Island Sport and Recreation Centre	Determination and Identity	This event looked at the traditional methods of cooking which have in some cases remained the same over the past 150 years. This event looked at the process of traditional cooking, from the catching of the food to its preparation and serving.
Saturday 24 October	Mackay South Sea Island Long Hut Mackay Botanical Gardens – Long Hut, East Gordon Street, Mackay	From Harvest to Homelands	The South Sea Islander and Maltese communities share a history that dates back to the middle of the 19th century. Many families were brought to Australia in order to work the sugar cane plantations in the Mackay area. Living so far away from home meant that many families no longer had access to the foods and ingredients they once used to make their meals. This event unearthed some of those recipes from the Homelands of each community, while also looking at the meals they prepared when they were moved to the plantations.
Saturday 31 October	Longreach Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame Landsborough Highway, Longreach	The Stockmen	The drovers and stockmen of the past 150 years have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of the western corridor. They were responsible for opening up the trading routes of outback Queensland. This event celebrated their success as performers took us through the past 150 years of the stockmen's journey.
Saturday 7 November	Stradbroke Island The Little Ship Club 1 Yabby Street, Dunwich	Salt Water Dining	Stradbroke Island was the setting for this event. Guests were invited to feast on foods made from the traditional recipes of the Islands, where a contemporary twist was added which brought us back to the present day.
Sunday 15 November	Normanton Carpentaria Shire Council Building Haig Street, Normanton	The Cook's Table	This event focused on the changes in camp and muster cooking from the past 150 years.
Saturday 28 November	Brisbane Queensland Terrace, State Library of Queensland	Queensland unearthed	We joined renowned chef Alistair McLeod on the stunning Queensland Terrace at the State Library as he created a uniquely Queensland culinary experience. There was mingling with community chefs, sharing of recipes, digital stories and sensational delights of our food and cultural history.

For more event details visit the At Our Table website and discover traditions, recipes and conversations or share your own food history and recipes online.

Last reviewed 9 February 2010

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