Meet the chefs – Matthew Evans




Watching Matthew Evans stroll around Puggle Farm via television, coming to terms with the day-to-day challenges of farming has cured me from wanting to make a green change.

But it also gave me increased respect for the effort involved in producing the food I love to eat.

Matthew, a former chef and food critic turned Tasmanian smallholder, fattens pigs, milks cows, tends a garden and writes about food from his office overlooking the silver birches in Tasmania’s gorgeous Huon Valley.

At his Delectable workshop on Tuesday, July 24 at 10am he will demonstrate dishes that he would normally cook at home in his Tasmanian country kitchen and sharing his knowledge to create winter comfort classics that are sure to become staples in everyone’s kitchens.

A believer in home cooking, Matthew’s inspiring dishes have been created using Queensland’s winter produce as the guide.


Matthew says his favourite Queensland ingredient is Golden Syrup and his favourite meal in Queensland meal was at Sassi Cucina in Port Douglas.

“Partly because of the bandicoots that frolicked under the palms as I ate and partly because of the simplicity with which the food was cooked, focusing on just great produce with very few ingredients,” Matthew says.

(I'm also a fan of Tony Sassi's cooking at Sassi Cucina.  Still thinking of the squid ink arancini balls I enjoyed there.)
 And the dish that best represents Brisbane to him?

“Line caught reef fish cooked over coals and served somewhere near the river.”

I asked Matthew what surprises him about Brisbane’s dining scene?

“The depth and breadth of good food that's now available at every level, from cafes to fine diners.”

As a strong believer in “Real Food”, Matthew hopes that more people will try to grow their own food, or at least learn exactly where their produce is coming from.

Win tickets for two to Matthew’s session. Give me your best reason why you should win the two tickets in a comment below and like and share this post on Facebook. Don’t forget to subscribe by email to the comments so you will know if you’ve won the tickets!

I have two tickets (one double pass) to this session to give away and the competition will close at 5pm on Sunday, July 22.  Please only enter the competition if you are able to use the tickets.