This week at Restaurant 08 in Sydney, Queensland's Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries profiled some of the State's farmed, fresh and fabulous regional produce to the Sydney food-service market.

Ten gourmet growers from across the state tantalised the tastebuds of more than 6000 visiting chefs, food buyers, distributors and media with quality produce borne of a love of the land and a passion for good food.

Aquaculture Murray cod from Chinchilla and barramundi from Mackay, Goondiwindi free-range pork, Sunshine Coast rainforest fruits, organic vegetables from Gatton, smoked silver perch from Childers, vinegar and verjus from the Granite Belt and Queensland-bred Rubygem strawberries were all on the menu at the Queensland grown stand.

Well-known Brisbane chef Dominique Rizzo, a regular on Channel 10’s Ready Steady Cook, accompanied the growers to the show.

She created some exciting tasting samples for visiting chefs and food distributors including Nino Zocalli from Pendolino in Sydney, Ed Halmagyi from Better Homes and Gardens, David Rayner from Noosa’s Riverhouse restaurant, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre executive chef Detlef Haupt, and food and beverage director Glenn Peat and executive chef Tomas Angerer, both from Hyatt Regency Coolum.

The trade-only Restaurant 08 show provided an excellent opportunity to secure substantial and continuing contracts with restaurants and distributors.

All Queensland exhibitors have the capacity to supply product to the food-service market interstate.