Look who’s joining the Margaret River Gourmet Escape Party!

Culinary stars from around the world including Curtis Stone, Rick Stein, Alex Atala and Pierre Koffman will converge in Western Australia’s south west region this November for the Margaret River Gourmet Escape presented by Audi. Taking place across 16-19 November, the four-day food, produce and wine extravaganza will put the unparalleled bounties of Margaret River front and centre, helping the region celebrates its 50^th anniversary of commercial wine production in extraordinary style.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (12pm AWST 28 July), with an extra day added to the programme, including an appetising line-up of new talent and events.

Curtis Stone will officially open the festival at an additional session of the iconic Audi Gourmet Beach BBQ on Thursday evening; with other new events including the Great Soiree at Fraser Gallop Estate; The High Life with Paul Iskov (a helicopter lunch); and the Official Closing Party at White Elephant Café.

The heartbeat of the festival, the Gourmet Village, will have a fresh feel for 2017 with the main stage hosted by multi-talented comedian, actor/presenter and musician Matt Okine, plus music programming throughout the day including a secret closing act on Sunday evening. Making its debut in 2017, The World’s Best Chef’s Table is an exclusive and very intimate, once in a lifetime restaurant experience nestled in the heart of the Gourmet Village. Guests can pull up a stool and savour a glass of the region’s best wine alongside some of the world’s most coveted chefs from the top 50 list as they create a dish showcasing incredible WA produce. Once the masterpiece is complete, the lucky group will enjoy the meal alongside their culinary idols.

Wine-lovers are in for a treat this year, with world renowned wine critic Jancis Robinson, OBE, MW (UK) attending many events across the weekend, and a plethora of once in a lifetime wine events including the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting and Long Lunch; the Cullen Wines 32^nd International Chardonnay Tasting; plus fringe events including the ‘50 Years in the Making’ Tasting at Vasse Felix and the Leeuwin Art Series Dinner. Jancis will be joined by some of Australia’s most respected wine personalities and journalists including James Halliday, Huon Hooke and Nick Stock.

Curtis (of acclaimed Maude & Gwen Restaurants, Los Angeles) will join over 50 of the world’s leading food and wine personalities, including chefs from the World’s Best Restaurants*, Andre Chiang (#14 Restaurant Andre, Singapore), Alex Atala (D.O.M., Brasil), David Thompson (#28 Nahm, Thailand), Ashley Palmer-Watts (#36 Dinner by Heston, UK) and Rodolfo Guzman (#42 Borago, Chile). Together they will all head to Margaret River and collaborate with the country’s best as they showcase the region’s exceptional food and wine.

Asia’s Best Female Chef, May Chow (Little Bao, Hong Kong) will join highly acclaimed chefs including Pierre Koffmann (UK), Danny Bowien (Mission Chinese, USA), Kyle Connaughton (SingleThread Farm, USA), and Kris Yenbamroong (NIGHT + MARKET, USA) who join the Gourmet Escape line up for the first time to collaborate on events showcasing premium local produce and stunning locations Margaret River is famous for.

Tickets available through Ticketek from 12pm 28 July (AWST) – www.ticketek.com.au/gourmetescape