Foreign travel may broaden the mind, but it also tempts the tastebuds and, with Aussie produce now readily available in the UK, chefs might do well to look at the following companies which all offer some more unusual foods from Down Under
The Valley Produce Company
Launched by Australian chef Christopher Smith, the company supplies gourmet foods, including amber walnuts and truffle honey, to the UK. The firm is based in the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia, famed as one of the country's best food and winemaking regions. Products include truffle infused honey, which blends honey from Christopher's own beehives with black Perigord truffles from France.
Other products include fruit pyramids available in Fig & Almond or Pear & Hazelnut varieties.The company promotes both their fruit and nut products as a great match with cheese.
For more information visit www.valleyproducecompany.com.
Simply Green Tomatoes
An antipasto product combining green tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, herbs and garlic. The product is the brainchild of farmer's wife Marilyn Lanyon, who developed the concept from produce grown on Terralea Farm in the Boort district of north central Victoria, Australia. The product can be used as antipasti or added to curry or pasta dishes.
For more information visit www.simplytomatoes.com.au.
Brookfarm
Brookfarm near Byron Bay in New South Wales specialises in foods from the macadamia nut. The company produces oils and snacks from nuts of the macadamia tree, which thrives in the volcanic soils of northern New South Wales. Macadamia nuts are rich in monounsaturates and contain zero cholesterol.
Brookfarm exports gourmet macadamia products to the US, UK and south east Asia. Popular products include infused and natural Macadamia oils and oven-roasted macadamias with deep ocean sea salt. Porters Finest Foods stocks the oils.
For more information visit www.porterfoods.co.uk or call 01279 501711.
Disaster Bay
This fiery farming venture offers a range of acclaimed chilli-based products from Eden in New South Wales. Products, including smoked chilli sauce, chilli chocolates and chilli jelly have secured prizes at London's Great Taste Awards, the Scovie Awards in the US and the World Fiery Food Awards at Albuquerque, New Mexico. The hot food specialist creates eye-watering creations from chillies grown organically at the Eden farm. Some of the company's novel creations include hot chilli wine and the aptly named lemon stinger marmalade.
Alchemy Cordials
Triple-strength gourmet-cocktail-making cordials are the speciality of Queenslandbased Alchemy Cordial Company. Launched in 1995 the firm offers a novel range of preservative-free cordials including Love, a blend of sensual rose petal and lime, and dewdrops, a mix of honeydew melon, lime and bitters. As well as creating a series of bespoke cocktails to partner each cordial the company also encourages caterers to use the drink in dessert dishes.
Recipe ideas include stoned love, a mix of cherries, peaches, and nectarines topped with fresh mint and love flavoured cordial.
For more information visit www.alchemycordial.com.au.
Murray River Salt
These pink-coloured salt flakes are formed from the waters of one of Australia's largest rivers The Murray. The peach/pink flakes have a mild flavour and are ideal for use as a finishing, baking or roasting salt.The crystals are produced naturally in the underground brines of the Murray Darling basin and, as well as a cooking ingredient can also be employed as a table decoration.
The Freedown Food Company
Supplies a range of exotic meats from Australia, including kangaroo, emu and crocodile.
For more information contact 020 7720 4520.
Island Olive Grove
Australia is not traditionally regarded as olive-growing country, but the nation is thriving as a producer of olive-based oils, tapenades and antipastos. Island Olive Grove at the Riversdale in the Coal River Valley, Tasmania, has produced olive products since 1994 and aims to offer a hand-packed, highquality range. Products include extra virgin olive oils, olive pesto, olive oil marinated feta and olive oil soap.
For more information visit www.islandolivegrove.com.au.
Herbie's
Owner Ian Hemphill, nicknamed Herbie, offers the largest range of herbs and spices in the southern hemisphere. The company aims to provide chefs with a one-stop shop for herb and spice essentials. Herbie's also offers books, pepper mills, pestle and mortars and a consulting service to caterers offering top tips on product development, processing and storage.
For more information visit www.herbies.com.au.
Sydney Cider
A Champagne-style cider manufactured from a blend of juicing apples, which are fermented with French Champagne yeast. The Aussie drink provides a perfect partner for seafood dishes, including oysters and peeled prawns with aioli or seafood sauce, according to Sydney Cider. The company also claims that the cider's high vitamin C level protects drinkers against a hangover.
For more information call 0207 632 0005 or visit www.sydneycider.com.au.
For more information on sourcing any of the above, contact Stephanie McDonald at the Australian Trade Commission on 0207 632 0005. All products are available in the UK.