By BRIDGET SCOTT
BUSINESS owners from throughout the region had a morning filled with food last week when about 200 people turned out for the first event of the Casey-Cardinia Breakfast Series.
Renowned authors and television presenters Matthew Evans and Nick Haddow kicked off the series as the guest speakers.
Driven by hunger for fresh produce and a good piece of cheese, the two now both reside in Tasmania where they each run their own food businesses.
Mr Evans said chefs now say he “moved to the dark side” when he made the choice to become a critic and started to review some of Melbourne’s and Sydney’s top restaurants.
Later, he fell in love with the idea of home reared produce and now runs a small farm and grows and prepares his own produce.
Mr Evans is also the author of nine books which include Never Order Chicken on a Monday and The Weekend Cook.
Mr Haddow, a “failed marine biologist” founded Bruny Island Cheese in 2003 which was awarded the Telstra National Business of the Year in 2013.
Matthew and Nick co-starred in all four series of Gourmet Farmer.
The two also co-authored The Gourmet Farmer Deli Book and The Gourmet Farmer Goes Fishing with their friend Ross O’Meara.
Guests at the breakfast included employees from last year’s Casey-Cardinia Business of the Year, Highview Accounting.
The applications for this year’s awards are now open, with local companies urged to enter.
Local growers and businesses, as well as sponsors of the event also set up an impressive stand outside the main area with free produce and other goodies on offer to take home for free.
The next breakfast will be held at the Cardinia Shire Cultural Centre on 24 June.
