Matthew Michaelis
Remy Tancred spent many years working in publishing in Sydney and loved it, so naturally when she moved to the north coast 11 years ago, she turned to this industry first.
‘There was an obvious need for a community paper in our little town of Lennox Head, so I started the Lennox Wave, which is now in its eighth year,’ Remy says.
It was in the pages of the Lennox Wave that the Phat Ducks was conceived, the precursor to the publication of Ate Phat Ducks in 2006. ‘The book is based on my culinary adventures in the region,’ she told me. ‘From there came the quarterly Sample magazine, a showcase of our local produce and restaurants.’
Now Remy is fast becoming the marketing doyenne of our local food producers. And what better way to put our talented foodies’ stuff on the map than to sample it out to all who love eating? From these ‘little things’ has grown the annual Sample Festival that Remy founded and now directs.
When you look around these fertile lands we live on and around, you can see that the northern rivers region produces an incredible array of products. More and more talented farmers and foodies come to the northern rivers to start again and bring with them their experience and talent.
Tancred created the concept food festival based on the need to showcase these goods and services we’re so spoilt with.
‘There was a shortage of networking within this industry. Sample, along with Northern Rivers Food, have provided a link between a strong group of foodies willing to support each other and the local industry. I’m passionate about local food and producers, and about educating readers on making sustainable food choices,’ she says.
Sample Festival has been an extraordinary success with more than 150 exhibitors and 10,000 attendees, and is the only event of its kind in northern NSW. Remy Tancred has certainly proven that she has a talent for promoting other’s talents.
If you’d like to sample those talented tidbits, the Sample Festival is presenting its fourth event at the Bangalow Showground from 8am till 4pm on Saturday September 13.
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