The many bakers, pie makers, producers, restaurants, cafes, bistros, hotels and tourist attractions that call the Southern Highlands home, are set to host the inaugural Pie Time throughout the month of June. With a range of mouth-watering pie themed events and festivals kicking off on 1 June, visitors are assured there will be lots and LOTS of seriously good pies to warm them up amongst the beautiful surrounds of the Highlands.
“This is Australia’s first ever pie themed month – we’ve got our Southern Highlands’ Pie Trail, the Pie Festival, a regional pie competition, pie cooking classes, pie themed tours and events featuring over 50 local pie sites. We’ve even got pie-cations for visitors to come and enjoy a pie themed weekend or short break with us,” said Steve Rosa, Manager Tourism and Events, Destination Southern Highlands.
Throughout June, the region will celebrate the great Aussie pie. One of the main components of Pie Time is the Pie Time Festival which will be held on the 24th and 25th of June in Bowral’s iconic Corbett Gardens. The festival will feature pie tasting, local food, wine, beer and cider stands, cooking demonstrations at 11am and 2.30pm each day, pie eating competitions, entertainment from local performer Darren Powell, music and kids’ activities including a jumping castle, face painting – plus a a pie throwing competition with prizes.
The first ever Southern Highlands Best Pie Competition, a regional pie competition for professional and apprentice bakers, will showcase the best pies in the Southern Highlands. Judging will take place over two days in June by a panel featuring renowned local chef, Robin Murray from Centennial Vineyards Restaurant, along with local foodie Jill Dryson, and award-winning baker from Bathurst, Peter Neubeck. The competition winners will be announced at a cocktail party on Friday 23rd June, with the award-winning pies on display and available for the public to taste at the Festival weekend.
“Visitors can also tour and sample locally made pies on our Pie Trail, and at Dine with a Pie visitors can savour the region’s gourmet signature pies at hotels, cafes and restaurants available only for the month of June,” Steve continued.
Visitors are invited to stay in the Southern Highlands for a Pie Time Short Break ‘pie-cation’ at the iconic Peppers Craigieburn Bowral. The special accommodation package includes their signature pie and wine for two people, a welcome drink on arrival and is available form 1 June – 31 August 2017. Other pie-cation packages are also available at The Robertson Hotel, Peppers Manor House, Mildenhall Guesthouse, Fitzroy Inn Historic Retreat and Gibraltar Hotel Bowral.
Pie-eaters will have the opportunity to WIN the ‘Ultimate Pie Lovers Experience’ of a gourmet pie lunch for 10 people at the award winning Centennial Vineyards Restaurant cooked and presented in front of the fireplace by chef and owner Robin Murray, by purchasing a pie or pie dish throughout June and entering their experience on pietime.com.au
Pie Time is on at various locations in the Southern Highlands from 1-30 June 2017. For more information, or to book your stay in the Southern Highlands, visit www.pietime.com.au or call 1300 657 559. #pietime #visitsouthernhighlands
