MASTERCLASS WEEKEND at Hilton Brisbane — 22/23 July 2006
Marilyn June 10th, 2006
Brisbane now hosts the longest running successful food and wine Masterclass in Australia. Over the past 12 years The Hilton Hotel Masterclass Weekend has brought in some of the greatest chefs and winemakers from around the world – people like Charlie Trotter and Gordon Ramsay.
The Masterclass offers an interactive 2-day program where you can mingle with chefs and wine professionals, enjoy stimulating debates and indulge yourself in some exceptional food and wine.
This year organisers have enticed acclaimed authors Antonio Carluccio and Michel Roux to demonstrate their cooking mastery. The line-up of epicurean talent from around Australia includes Maggie Beer, Greg Malouf and
Damien Pignolet. Also 3 of the younger up-and-coming Brisbane chefs — including Baguette’s Head Chef, Bruce McKenna.
Wine always plays an important role and with James Halliday in charge you know that the wine tastings and ensuing discussions will be very interesting.
As the only Masterclass of its calibre in Australia, it is a ‘must do’ event for serious and novice wine and food lovers. This is culinary entertainment at its best — combining many tastes of innovative food and premium wines, plus tips and ideas you can take home. You can also chat with some of your culinary heroes and get them to sign their books.
For full details of the program go to http://www.qldmasterclass.com/
Hi Marilyn
While I think Masterclass is fabulous and the calibre of the presenters stupendous, I wish it were a bit more financially accessible to a wider audience of people.
I think there are an awful lot of people out there who love food, and would love to be a part of Masterclass and the many food events that we are lucky enough to have in Queensland, but just find it financially prohibitive.
Natascha
As Co-ordinator of the Hilton Brisbane/The Courier Mail/Singapore Airlines Masterclass Weekend I can assure Natascha Mirosch that the event is not a high money earner for Hilton Brisbane and Marilyn is right – it has often lost money. This is the only event of its kind in Brisbane and has been going for twelve years. During this time we have seen some remarkable chefs and winemakers come to Brisbane – all at the expense of Hilton Brisbane and the generosity of sponsors. What other opportunity would food and wine lovers in Brisbane have to see Gordon Ramsay, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Charlie Trotter? As Natascha knows, Hilton Brisbane also invites many journalists from Brisbane and interstate to the event, all complimentary.
When the costs are broken down, a weekend ticket results in each session costing $56.50 and then attendees also receive a copy of the Masterclass book, an extensive buffet lunch and morning and afternoon tea. There are a minimum of two dishes tasted in all chefs classes and all wines tasted in the Vintage room, which in the case of the Langton’s Exceptional Classification session is a total of the eleven most sought after wines in Australia – never before offered! Guest chef cooking classes at Brisbane cooking schools range in price from approx. $70 to $120 and these also offer value for money when the costs involved are considered.
Regarding the comment about local chefs, the program has more local chefs this year than ever before – nine in total plus four Queensland moderators. The program also offers a balance in the choice of sessions to appeal to a wide range of tastes.
As the initeraries have not been released then the comment about chefs jumping on planes to eat in Sydney or Melbourne is ill-informed – some chefs are spending over a week in Brisbane.
I am very fortunate to have a supportive committee who assist in putting the program together. Ticket sales are very strong at present and all indications are that we will have a wonderful Masterclass Weekend in 2006.
I look forward to seeing Natascha over the weekend.
I don’t think we should be too parochial about our chefs. They, like the socceroos, are often rated among the world’s best but if we are going to have an “expo” of the available talent, it must necessarily include many overseas experts.
Besides, our best chefs feature regularly and often in our various media. Let’s applaud the opportunity to meet those we wouldn’t normally.
Re the cost of the Masterclass, let’s look at a few numbers:
Robbie Williams’ Concert, Cost ~$200, duration ~2 hours
Masterclass, Cost $565, duration 2 days
Hmmn, now let me see, which offers the best benefit?
Derr!!
I meant “better”
I fluked on this site, and am surprised by the directions this thread has taken (somewhat defensive?)…..
the way i intertpreted the original comment was no slight on masterclass at all, but a comment about cost and accessibility. i agree that although i consider myself extremely interested and somewhat knowedgabel about food, I
I too would like to see more local (not so over publicised) up-and- coming Brisbane chef’s. I would however like to point out that although SOME of the best local chef’s do feature in the media on a regular basis ( and I mean regular), not all of them make it to print or air. It would be nice if ALL of the best had journo’s as close to them as the usual chef’s featured do, but this often is not the case.
It would be great if there was an avenue for these talented and passionate young people to get the kind of media and public exposure that so few in Brisbane have the luxury of.
I too think Masterclass is too expensive, especially when you add in the suplements like for the wine classes. I also agree with caterers widow about seeing the same old names and faces of chefs everywhere. There are manyh talented people out there
Jane, putting on an event like Masterclass is not a walk in the park. Those “many talented people” you refer to may be able to cook in a cafe or restaurant, but can they hold the attention of a room full of people for 1 hour, demonstrating cooking and articulating their philosophies? Let me tell you, probably not. If Masterclass is too expensive, it’s a free country and nobody is forcing you to come. Every year for the past 12 years nearly 1000 people do not agree with you.