The Home Grown Gala Dinner

29 Apr 2010

Hilton, Adelaide

A Food and Wine Journey through South Australia

On Thursday 29th April 2010, 350 guests enjoyed an evening of fine wining, dining and entertainment at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Foundation's inaugural Home Grown Gala Dinner. Our guests enjoyed the company of our Mystery Guests including; Peter Cundall AM, Ian Parmenter, Stephanie Alexander, Maggie Beer and more.

Our guests were welcomed to the Hilton Adelaide by Niki Vasilakis and a delectable array of tastes from the Adelaide Showgrounds Farmer's Market, with the talented ensemble from Adelaide Young Voices opening the gala room with a delicious repertoire of food inspired songs. Then The Baker Suite led our guests on a gypsy-inspired jazz journey. Our MCs Michael Keelan and Sophie Thomson kept everyone laughing with their own gardening stories and ensured the show ran to time, as we crossed live into the kitchen with Simon Bryant.

Jacob's Creek provided perfectly matched wines, which delighted our guests particularly when the Gramp's 50 year old Port was served, all to complement Simon Bryant and the local producers' four course menu. Our thanks also to Coopers and Nippys for their generous donation of the beverages enjoyed.

The Adelaide Botanic Garden's Kitchen Garden inspiration was brought into the Hilton Adelaide gala room by Beryl Bredon and Shoot the Moon with incredible produce donated by AMJ Produce, David Niemann of Garden Beds and Hi Tech. Thanks to AMJ Produce and Hi Tech, the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Foundation was able to donate selected produce to Foodbank SA, so that welfare agencies could enjoy a larger than usual supply and variety of fruit and vegetables.

Guests enjoyed furious bidding on a range of auction items, including Wild Bush Luxury Retreat in the Arkaba Homestead, a long lunch and stay with Jacob's Creek, 2 bottles of 1983 Mouton-Rothschild, and two gardens experiences; Discover Great Gardens with Botanica - Victorian Fork to Fork and the Paul Bangay Personal Tour "Stonefields". Guests also had the opportunity to try their Kendacraft Lucky Key to win a beautiful jewellery piece from Kendacraft Jewellery and put their knowledge of wines to the test with the Orlando Wine Game hosted by Wine Master Mr Bernard Hickin.

Our guests left with an incredible Gala Gift Bag with all items kindly donated by SA Gardens, Coles, Deck of Secrets, Jacob's Creek, Perrymans, Madame Flavour, Beerenberg, Adelaide Showgrounds Farmer's Market and Adelaide Festival Centre.

The inaugural Home Grown Gala Dinner celebrated the official launch of the Kitchen Garden campaign and while fundraising results are currently being tallied, all agreed it was a successful and enjoyable evening.

The Adelaide Botanic Gardens Foundation looks forward to hosting you at the next Home Grown Gala Dinner in 2012. For those who have an appetite for more; the next fundraising event for the Kitchen Garden campaign is The BIG Picnic Day Out, 2011.

Click here to share in the fun and view photos from the Home Grown Gala Dinner 2010.

A special thanks to our wonderful Volunteers who helped us bring this all together. Click here to see behind the scenes.

Win! Win! Win! Click here to view the incredible prizes gala guests were able to bid on, with thanks to the many generous supporters of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens Foundation.