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W I T H K AT E W O O D - F O Y E F R O M R Y D G E S A N D S A I L S R E S O R T P O R T M A C Q U A R I E
#6DEGOFDEG at Rydges - Matt Thompson and Sarah Buckley
#6DEGOFDEG at Rydges Eric & Monica Robinson
Ladies line up for Best Millinery
Jessica Higgins & Mum Julie Gale at the Pink High Tea
Port & Taree Orthodontics Team at Port Cup
Professor Tracie Green & Greg Linsdell of CSU in the Jim Bruce Trust Marquee
David Mattick, Justin Boydell & Rohan Topley in the Jim Bruce Trust Marquee
#6DEGOFDEG - Chefs line up
#6DEGofDEG Celebrations
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dd festivals and fillies to round out a completely fabulous time of year, with the delicious feeling that spring isn’t pretending anymore and summer really is just around the corner, with its divinely long afternoons and sneaky sunset swims. Yep, I’m hanging out for the Sunday sessions and lazy weekends at the beach. But first we must dance, eat, drink and be merry … Book the babysitter and bring out the bling; this is a month jam packed with food, fundraising and fun! Six Degrees of Degustation celebrated a decade of delicious decadence with a six course feast at Rydges. Six talented chefs were invited to create a signature dish with a minimum of three local ingredients matched with a local drop. Chris Harris of Bills Fishhouse kicked off the night with a lemon and vanilla cured salmon with a Cassegrain Spring Rose; followed by Trent Webber of Sails Resort with a Blue Eye Cod with scallop and clam bouillon with an Innes Lake SSB; Alex Urbina of Luna Bonita spiced it up with a Tamalito de Conchinita Pibil featuring spiced local suckling pig with a classic Cassegrain Gerwertz Traminer; Jessica Brooke of Latin Loafer plated a sublime earthy tapas of spiced fried artichokes and sautéed mushrooms and 34 Greater Port Macquarie focus
Dancing fever, fashion and fabulous food - some of my absolute favourite things are on the menu this month - and it is a literal feast of activity.
organic garlic matched with a Cassegrain Pinot; followed by a beautiful sous vide of duck, Bago Bluff Marmalade and parsnip puree by Owen Jones of Zebu Bar +Grill and berry nice Bago Chambourcin. Dessert did not disappoint, with Andy Chandler of Rydges creating a delectable Mandarin Ice-cream and white chocolate and Lorne Valley macadamia with Cassegrain Cassae. The night was signed off with a sweet collaboration between Peak Coffee and Zebu on a sneaky seventh course … A dark and milk chocolate cold drop Ethiopian coffee truffle and coffee macarons. Guests included Eric and Monica Robinson of The Other Chef, Simon and Tania McMillan of Cassegrain Wines, Stephen and Laura Begbie, Todd and Lisa Richardson of LV’s, birthday girl Yael Moretti, Matt Thompson and Sarah Buckley, Mark and Mariane Power, and Natasha and Andrew Holloway. A delicious night of fun and friends, with funds and awareness raised for headspace Port Macquarie. Port Cup did not disappoint, with a fine afternoon in the Jim Bruce Trust Marquee enjoying catering from the Stunned Mullet and a glass of bubbles or two, with Greg Linsdell and Tracie Green, Kylie Young and Stewart Dowrick, Amanda Perrin, Craig Soady, Lyn Rouse, Tamara Grieve, Brett Varcoe and Erin Schmidt of Lend Lease. Other gorgeous guests
enjoying the extended Port Cup festivities included Amber Mann, Cherie Desmares and Matt Reichelt, Anastacia McIntosh, Kyle Rathbone and Emily Robinson, Sarah Wood, Nicole Small, Brodie Gill, Courtney Walder, Tim Olsen and Troy and Kylee Pemberton. Congrats to winners of the FOCUS Fashions on the Field: Amanda Rouse, Young Racegoer; Shelley Kurtz, Best Millinery; Julie Pentak, Most Elegant Lady; Best Dressed Couple, Shane and Rene Ryan; Best Dressed Gent, the ever dapper Dani Tate. A fab day topped off with a bit of French bubbles and some espresso martinis with the lovely Jess Williams and Murray Roberts, Ebanie and Ben Green at Zebu. A day leaving you pondering that time you went to the races ALL day and should have gone straight home in a cab … but actually didn’t … oh well! Thank goodness it only happens once a year! It may take me another five years to get over it! Fundraising is hitting fever pitch, with some fabulous local personalities hitting the event circuit with some wonderful (and some whacky) ways to raise funds for cancer services for Stars of the Hastings Dance for Cancer. Not only do these guys have to learn some seriously tricky dance routines and step out in front of a hometown crowd, they also need to raise at least $3K each! Events are popping up all over town to stash
the cash! Evelina Kemp held her first fundraiser at Bar Florian with a wonderful night of tapas and bubbly, with guests including Connie Porter, Jane Hillsdon, Stacey Morgan, Sue Jogever, Leanne Jeffrey, Paul Holcroft and Jacquelene Price. A fab evening for a great cause - thank you, Gino and Maree Cunial, for playing host! Alistair Flower is a hot contender in the fundraising race, with fantastic initiatives for all the dance stars locked in across the town. Al’s Karma Keg event was a hit, with George Miedecke raffling a spin in a Mustang, and Karl Mclean of ANZ has been seen sizzling up a storm at Bunnings with a snag sambo for the cause. Watch this space for the sprint or pirouette to the finish line - there will be blood on the dance floor! Congrats to Kylie Bulmer and the Pink Ladies for putting on the Pink High Tea at Westport recently; over 100 guests raised funds for Breast Cancer research. Sweet treats, cucumber sandwiches and inspiration were on the menu, with cancer survivor and mum of two Jess Higgins sharing her own experience. Congrats to all involved! Cheers to spring, where it is absolutely acceptable to meet, eat, sleep, beach and repeat! ‘til next month, Kate.