National Conference Postponed
The Australian Culinary Federation has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2022 National Conference until early 2023.
In recent months we have seen severe flooding in NSW – including in the Hunter region which is our venue – the increased threat of more variations of Covid 19 & decreased industry staffing levels. This has meant that we have not seen the same response in conference bookings as was the case in previous years.
After lengthy discussions with the venue & between the executive committee, it has been concluded that a postponement was in the best interest of both the venue & the association.
We know this will be a disappointment to all of you who have made bookings. Please be assured that you will all be refunded within the week. If you have made accommodation bookings with the hotel direct you will need to cancel these yourself, accommodation booked through the office has been cancelled
We thank all our sponsors, members, supporters, and those involved in the conference. The ACF will announce a new date for the National Conference in 2023 shortly.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call the office
Educate | Inspire | Renew
Conference Overview
| Monday 25th |
All Day |
Arrival |
|
| 3pm |
Wine Tasting |
||
| 4pm-6pm |
Registration |
TBC |
|
| 6pm-9pm |
Welcome Cocktail Party |
Crowne Plaza Haven Pool |
|
| Tuesday 26th |
8am - 5pm |
Conference |
Semillon Ballroom |
| Trade Show |
Semillon Ballroom |
||
| 6.30pm - 6.45pm |
Pre Dinner drinks |
TBC |
|
| 7pm - 11pm |
Gala dinner |
Semillon Ballroom |
|
| Wednesday 27th |
8am-3.30pm |
Conference |
Semillon Ballroom |
| Trade Show |
Semillon Ballroom |
||
| 4.30pm-7.30pm |
Tour, Workshop & Dinner |
Hungerford Meat Co |
|
| Thursday 28th |
9.30am - 12.30pm |
Add On Farm & Winery Tour & Morning Tea |
Margan with Lisa Margan |
 |
 |
 |
Tuesday Sessions
7.30 Registration Open & Arrival Tea & Coffee
8.20 Delegates Seated
8.30 Master of Ceremonies Welcome - NSW ACT & Regions Director Julio Azzarello
Welcome to country
ACF President "We are National now"
10.00 Morning Tea
10.30 Australian Cuisine the beginning and the future – Dr Jacqui Newling
11.00 Introduction to unique Ingredients – Panel Discussion
11.45 Australian Dining Trends – Sissel Rosengren
12.30 Lunch
Navigating the Dietary Highway - Panel Session
Difficult challenges the hospitality industry has experienced in the recent years - Panel discussion
4.30 Rare Medium Academy – Sam Burke
5.30 Close
Please click on button below for more information
Gala Dinner
Guest Speaker Lisa Margan
I grew up in Sydney but have lived and worked in the Hunter Valley since I married a winemaker in the late 1980’s. Moving
out of a city to take up a rural lifestyle is now called a ‘green change’ but apart from being in love with a winemaker, I mostly went kicking and screaming. Now this beautiful valley is my home. Andrew and I created a business, Margan Wines, based in the picturesque village of Broke. Established in 1997
Margan now boasts a five-star winery, 100 ha of sustainably farmed vineyards, a hatted restaurant and awarded cellar door.
Wednesday Sessions
7.30 Registration Arrival Tea & Coffee
8.00 Delegates seated & welcome Personal Development – Glenn Flood
11.00 Current Climate of Hospitality – Belinda Clarke
12.00 Leeuwin Coast Akoya Presentation - Glenn Dibben & Claire Back
13.00 Lunch
13.45 Global Food Security – Sissel Rosengren
15.00 Formal conclusion and thank you
Please click on button for furthar information
Young Chefs Conference
Tuesday 26th July - Thursday 28th July
Tuesday 26th Young chefs will travel from Sydney to the Conference by bus stopping along the at the central coast to visit Tim Eyes who runs several properties. he is going to give you insighton producing cattle, Sam Burke from Rare Medium Academy will be on hand to do a cooking demo for Lunch. Then you will head to the hotel to join the conference. That evening will be the Gala Dinner where Guest Speaker wil be Lisa Margan from Margan
Wednesday 27th will be full day at the conference with an exciting workshop with Glenn Flood. Late afternoon we wiill all head off the Hungerford Meat Co for Butchery and Smokehouse Masterclass Dinner.
Thursday 28th we are heading to Margan for a winery tour, farm & kitchen garden tour, finishing up with morning tea. Then we will bus you back to Sydney for late afternoon evening flights home.
We have a fabulous opportunity for 1 young chef from each region to attend the conference - ALL expenses paid sponsored by Principal Partner Tabasco.
Butchery and Smokehouse Masterclass Dinner
Hungerford Meat Co, Wednesday 27th 4.30pm - 8pm
Hungerford Meat Co has a deep and rich history embedded in the agriculture of the Hunter Valley.
Working with as many small local producers and farmers as possible and taking care to use the whole animal – not just in our fresh cuts in the butcher’s cabinet, but also through our charcuterie and smoked meat range – we found we could better connect local kitchens with the region.
When Michael Robinson took over the butchery in 2016, his direction was clear. His ideals had been formed: sustainably produced, grass-fed where possible, rare breed where available. This is a butcher who has worked from the kitchen backwards, and then from the farm forwards. This is the traditional idea of the butcher, taking a place between the farm and the kitchen
Inclusions for the evening are - Tour, Masterclass, Charcuterie Tasting, Melanda Park pork on a spit, Beverages & Wine Tasting.
The Resort
With 100 acres to explore and enjoy, the 18 hole championship golf course set amongst the vineyards, tennis, basketball and the region’s largest heated pool, the Resort is your playground. Try your hand at volleyball, bocce, croquet, the gymnasium, giant chess and checkers or simply be pampered in the Ubika day spa.
The Hunter Valley is known for great food and wine. Our recipe for wholesome and delicious meals stems from three main ingredients; regionally sourced fresh produce, meticulous attention to detail and a sense of pride in what we create in the kitchen. We strive to support local producers and suppliers. Our Executive Chef sources the best seasonal ingredients from farmers and winemakers across the region and the state.
Accommodation
Crown Plaza Hunter Valley Resort Accommodation
Enjoy the best of the Hunter in one of their 414 luxury villas, rooms or suites. All configurations come with private balconies or courtyards, high speed internet and ergonomic work stations guaranteed to keep you productive.
Get a group together & book a Villa.
Please note that accommodation rooms are subject to hotel availability. Additional breakfasts are $28.00 per person per day when booked at the time the accommodation booking is made. If requested on the day, the normal breakfast price of $39.00 per person per day will apply.
ACF HAVE SECURED 7X3 BEDROOM VILLAS AND ARE TAKING BOOKINGS ON A ROOM BY ROOM BASIS
 |
Resort Standard Room Each king room features a deluxe king bed or two deluxe double beds along with a spacious private bathroom, private balcony or terrace. $286 per night inc 1 breakfast in Redsalt Restaurant. |
 |
Deluxe Spa Suite These beautifully-designed spaces feature 1 king bed & offer even more room for relaxation with a separate lounge and dining area, furnished private balcony or outdoor terrace and lavish private bathroom with a shower and stand-alone spa-jet bath. $286 per night inc. 1 breakfast in Red Salt Restaurant |
 |
1 Bedroom Villa is ideal for up to two people giving you a self-contained home feel with private kitchenette, separate lounge and dining area, private bathroom and your own private balcony overlooking the resort. Villa is serviced weekly or upon request (charges apply). 1 king bed or 2 double beds $290 per night inc 1 breakfast in Redsalt Restaurant |
 |
Two Bedroom Villa Gives you a self-contained home feel with private kitchenette, separate lounge and dining area, private bathroom and your own private balcony overlooking the resort. Available in King/King or King/Twin Double Bed layouts. Villa is serviced weekly or upon request (charges apply). $456 per night inc 2 breakfasts in Redsalt Restaurant |
 |
3 Bedroom Villa The villa features a private kitchenette, separate lounge and dining area, private bathrooms and your own private balcony or patio overlooking the resort. Villa is serviced weekly or upon request (charges apply). 1 king bed+2 queens OR 1king+1queen+2singles $535 per night inc 3 breakfasts in Redsalt Restaurant. |
Other Accommodation
If you do not want to stay at the resort you can seek alternate accommodation through the following sites
Costs
We are offering a variety of rates for the Conference in 2022, including individual event costs
Conference Only & Life Members POA office@austculinary.com.au
| Full Delegate Package Members $700 Non Member $990 |
Welcome Cocktail Party 2 Full day Conference inc. M/Tea, Lunch , A/Tea, Trade show Gala Dinner Hungerford Meat Co Tour, Masterclass & Dinner |
| 2 Day Delegate Package Members $275 Non Members $350 |
Conference Tuesday 26th & 27th July inc Morning Tea, Lunch & Afternoon Tea, access to trade show. |
| 1 Day Delegate Package Member $150 Non Member $220 |
Conference Tuesday 26th July OR Wednesday 27th Julyinc Morning Tea, Lunch & Afternoon Tea, access to trade show. |
| Partner Package Member Partner $450 Non Member Partner $605 |
Welcome Cocktail Party Gala Dinner Hungerford Meat Co, Tour Masterclass & Dinner |
| Young Chefs Delegate Members $575 Non Members $660 |
Transfers Arrival Tour Gala Dinner 1 full Day Conference Hungerford Meat Co, Tour Masterclass & Dinner Farm & Winery tour & Morning Tea Margan's Winery |
| Welcome Cocktail Party Members $110 Non Members $165.00 |
Haven Pool, Crown Plaza |
| Gala Dinner Members $220 Non Members $275.00 |
3 Course F&B Package, Crowne Plaza |
| Hungerford Meat Co Members $150.00 Non Members $220.00 |
Transfers from Hotel, Tour, masterclass, charcuterie tasting, Melanda Park pork on a spit, beverages, wine tasting.
|
| Food Tour Members $110 Non Members $165.00 |
Transfers from Hotel to Margan Winery & Restaurant, Wine Tasting, Farm Tour, Morning Tea |
| Trade Show Table $500 per day |
Display your product or promote your company to the delegates for one or both days of the conference, morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea included. The trade show will be set up in the conference room to enable networking with delegates during breaks |
Margan Winery & Kitchen Garden Farm Tour
Thursday 28th 10am- Noon
We established our business, Margan in 1996 in the picturesque village of Broke, Hunter Valley which is Australia’s oldest wine region. All Margan wines are Estate Grown and made as well as certified Sustainably Farmed
We have 100 hectares of distinguished Margan vineyards, across two locations
Margan Restaurant offers acclaimed agri-dining and is regionally awarded for its focus on estate grown produce. We planted our Kitchen Garden in 2007 and this has expanded to now be more than a hectare. Over the years we have added an orchard, olive groves, estate reared lambs, bees, and free-range chickens.
So, food and wine are what we love to do here!
This is an add on Tour & includes Winery Tour, Farm Tour & Morning Tea with Lisa Margan