TAFE Queensland collab-boar-ate for Burnett’s mouth-watering foodie festival

TAFE Queensland’s Acting Regional Director of the Burnett, Kylie Lee, said the organisation was proud to partner with BaconFest organisers to support the spectacular showcase of the region’s thriving food production, hospitality, events and tourism industries.

“BaconFest is a key event on Queensland’s food festival calendar and our TAFE Queensland team and students are excited to support the three-day celebration once again,” Mrs Lee said.

“With a program packed full of full activities, we’re particularly looking forward to seeing Celebrity Chef Miguel Maestre in action during his entertaining cooking demonstrations on the TAFE Queensland stage.” she said.

TAFE Queensland Hospitality and Cookery Educator, Jenni Southern, is working closely with cookery students based at the Kingaroy and Toowoomba campuses to prepare and package a tasty BaconFest-inspired treat, proudly supported by SunPork.

“Off the back of the success of the Taste of TAFE Spice Rub created by our Kingaroy cookery students last year, even more students wanted to get involved this year and they have designed a delightfully addictive, sweet and salty ode to the versatility of bacon,” Chef Southern said.

“Our commercial cookery students have designed three distinct flavour profiles for this year’s Taste of TAFE, a Bacon Brittle, to give to festival-goers who stop by the TAFE Queensland stand,” she said.

Last year TAFE Queensland cookery students also had the opportunity to meet Miguel Maestre during his appearance at BaconFest, with the popular chef and television presenter whetting the appetite of the region’s aspiring young chefs.

There was even an opportunity for students to hog the spotlight with Miguel on stage during the event, ably assisting him as he hosted cooking master classes with his cheeky sense of humour and infectious passion for food.

Chef Southern shares her extensive industry knowledge, and has more than three decades of experience under her (chef) hat, with TAFE Queensland cookery students.

“I love cooking, hospitality and events and still get great satisfaction and joy even after an extensive career as a chef and more than twenty years of teaching,” Chef Southern said.

“I feel blessed to have the opportunity to visit so many amazing regional towns and to mentor chefs-in-training working at our buzzing restaurants and venues.”

Local cookery students can finesse their culinary skills and gain industry-essential knowledge in TAFE Queensland’s Kingaroy campus training kitchen, located in the heart of the Burnett’s burgeoning food bowl region. 

Creating seafood, meat and poultry dishes, making stocks, sauces and soups, and understanding the art of pairing herbs and spices with key ingredients, are all important aspects of the commercial cookery courses taught by Jenni and the team of experienced teachers.

Bacon-lovers can meet the team and take home a free sample of the Taste of TAFE Bacon Brittle at the TAFE Queensland stand at Kingaroy BaconFest.