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Ms ADDISON (Wendouree) (09:55:07): I am very excited about Plate Up Ballarat 2019, Ballarat’s annual premier food festival.

Plate Up Ballarat is an annual event that showcases our region’s top local growers, producers, venues, beer and wine. It is on for the whole month of May with over 50 events that people can attend. Plate Up Ballarat celebrates our local produce, our diverse restaurants and cafes that contribute to our amazing food scene, and our talented chefs and friendly hospitality workers who create exceptional culinary and dining experiences.

The reason I am so proud to support Plate Up Ballarat is that it not only promotes our local producers but builds successful and supportive connections between producers, restaurants and cafes. It provides a significant boost for our local economy and encourages tourism to Ballarat.

And it is a great reason to try something new, like gin from Ballarat’s own Kilderkin Distillery, attend a workshop with Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat or support a local cafe like The Healthy Hub.

Last year’s Plate Up Ballarat pie competition had Ballarat sampling some of the best pies ever. This year the challenge for local cafes and restaurants is to put forward their best toastie, from FIKA’s ‘Papa’s Leftovers’ toastie with Salt Kitchen pork and John Harbour beef, to the Golden City Hotel’s ‘Classic Reuben’ with locally sourced Sinclair Meats corned beef, to the Olive Grove Delicatessen’s ‘Sicilian’ with Ballarat-made St George cheese. I am looking forward to trying these.

Click here to read more of my contributions in Parliament. To access further Hansard transcripts, head to the Parliament of Victoria website.