Her headline event, “Eat the Invaders,” will take place on Saturday, May 17th in Kangaroo Valley, with a second serving on May 18th in Jervis Bay. The event will feature a four-course lunch showcasing invasive species that have become problematic in our local ecosystem.
“I come from a sustainability background,” Angie explains. “I’m very much into pasture-raised meat and how we can live more sustainably on this planet.”
The concept was inspired by Angie’s travels through the United States in 2015, where she encountered a sushi restaurant that exclusively served invasive seafood species.
“Invasive species, no matter what country you are in, are incredibly destructive to that land because they’re not supposed to be there. They don’t have natural predators and they throw out the natural balance of the flora and fauna,” she says.
Australia’s unique ecosystem makes this concept particularly relevant. “Because we are an island with our own groups of marsupials that belong to this land and no other, and because we were colonized relatively late compared to other countries, we’ve been able to see the detrimental effects much more clearly,” Angie notes.
The menu will feature several invasive species including carp from local waterways, as well as goat and rabbit, which have become problematic around the Valley.
“Carp has completely polluted our waterways,” Angie explains. “Australians believe it’s dirty and disgusting, but that isn’t true at all. In Asian countries and central Europe, it’s considered a delicacy. It can be a delicious fish if you kill it properly.”
The lunch will also include invasive plant species such as Madeira leaf and dandelions, with Angie reaching out to the local crop swap group for additional edible weeds that have become problematic.
The menu will feature “very approachable, casual, but big flavors with a native twist,” including Asian influences alongside native Australian ingredients.
The Kangaroo Valley event will be held on Angie’s property in Barrengarry in a new glamping space she has built for events, small weddings, and long table lunches. “This will be the first of that sort of thing,” she says.
In addition to “Eat the Invaders,” Angie will also host a Tea Masterclass on Thursday, May 29th at 3:30pm at KV Coffee Co. in partnership with Mark Thirwall from Tea Journeys, one of Australia’s top tea masters. With Mother’s Day just around the corner on May 11th, tickets to this unique experience would make a thoughtful gift for tea-loving mums.
“It’s a super fast, express Tea Masterclass – just one hour, two teas, learning the basics of what tea is, how to brew it, and its effect on the body,” Angie says. She will prepare specialty snacks to accompany the teas, with the possibility of more extended masterclasses if this initial event proves popular.
Both events are part of the Shoalhaven Autumn Festival of Food, which runs for six weeks each May. The festival brings together local restaurants, bars, cafes and food producers to highlight the region’s exceptional food offerings.
“It’s all about partnering and industry getting together,” says Angie, who has participated in the festival for the past two years. For the long table lunch, she will be partnering with local winemakers and brewers.
Tickets for “Eat the Invaders” are $95 for the four-course lunch, with drinks available for purchase. The Tea Masterclass is $45 per person.
For more information or to book tickets, please contact The Valley Table or visit the Shoalhaven Food Network website.
