The Newcastle FOOD & WINE EXPO

Gourmands take note, the Newcastle Food & Wine Expo is back from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th August at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Broadmeadow.

Bringing to life the connoisseur delights of Australian cuisine, the popular event features celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, culinary presentations and over 100 exhibitors showcasing their fabulous products and offering FREE samples of gourmet food and wine.

Visit the Celebrity Cooking Stage and enjoy free cooking demonstrations from MasterChef and My Kitchen Rules Celebrities plus local talent. The main stage has all the latest recipes and cooking ideas for you to try at home! Grab a front row seat, sit back and relax and watch celebrity chefs create their favourite recipes with an interactive cooking show not to be missed!

Treat yourself and purchase a Goelet Celebrity Dining Room ticket for $85 per person and enjoy a modern dining experience with MasterChef favourite, Logie nominee and Channel 10 TV host, Ben Milbourne. With a succulent 6-course degustation menu, each paired with a matching wine, this is the menu of the year and the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal to learn all Ben’s secrets in cooking and more.

Also, take the time to visit the Appreciation Area where you can sample, taste and gain an appreciation for finer tastes. These FREE classes include wine, beer, liqueur and cheese classes. With non-stop sessions running throughout the expo, there is definitely something for everyone.

Meet the Food & Wine Expo celebrities on stage each day:

Ben Milbourne appeared on MasterChef 2012, the series which his best mate Andy Allen went on to win. Since then, Milbourne has produced two cookbooks – last year’s Mexican Craving and Tasmanian Trail – and travelled the country and the world. Ben now has his own TV show on Channel 10, ‘Ben’s Menu’, which was recently nominated for a Logie! This exciting new foodie series is filmed at Ben’s picturesque farmhouse in northwest Tasmania.

Who could forget these two? Drasko and Bianco appeared on the highest rating TV show in Australia - the latest (2015) My Kitchen Rules. "If I were to describe our cooking style it's 100 percent fusion," says Drasko, "Cooking relaxes us, but also there's a lot of passion between us in the kitchen. Bianca always thinks she's right and I always think I'm right. And it's good, you can get playful with it. It brings out a lot of different emotions in us."

The always impressive Courtney Roulston first rose to fame after competing in series 2 of MasterChef (2010). In 2011, Courtney set-up her very own successful catering company, with clients ranging from the 'Sydney Swans' to private catering jobs scattered around Australia. Aside from her own catering business, Courtney also acts as an ambassador for Coles, participates in regular cooking demonstrations for both Bunnings and Coles and has her very own cooking segment on Channel 9's 'Mornings' with Sonia Kruger and David Campbell.

Newcastle couple and bubby blondes, Carly and Tresne appeared on My Kitchen Rules in 2014. The bubbly and positive couple won the nations hearts with their positivity and love for everyone around them and each other. After coming out publicly during the airing of the show they unknowingly created a media frenzy with a story inspiring many others all around the globe. They both now share a positive outlook on life and want to share their secrets to happiness wherever they go! Keep an eye out for tips from Carly and Tresne on creating a wealth of happiness using positive thinking and the law of attraction.

Children under 14 Free. Tickets available online or at the door. Check out the special intouch discount offer. Available online only - type INTOUCH into the promo box and pay only $17 for a full day pass! Visit www.foodandwineexpo.com.au