Bringing bush tucker foods to the table

A free panel discussion exploring why there’s little Indigenous food in Australian homes, shops, and restaurants will be held on Thursday 20 April at VU at MetroWest.

The panel will bring together writers, researchers and restaurateurs to answer the question: 'What’s missing from the menu, and why?'

While unique Australian ingredients such as wattle seeds, desert limes, and honey ants are embraced in some modern restaurants, their use in Aussie kitchens and presence on supermarket shelves is curiously rare.

This is intriguing given that Australia's first peoples originally made use of up to 5,000 Indigenous food species, or almost one-fifth of the country’s total flora and fauna.

The panel will consider the cultivation of Blackfella foods, the richness of produce and traditional knowledge, and examine why they are missing from Australia’s everyday menus.

Panel members include a cross-section of experts on the topic:

• Tony Birch, author, researcher and educator at Victoria University
• Bruce Pascoe, renowned Australian author
• Cassandra Twomey, Iramoo Grassland Centre Nursery Manager
• Charles Solomon, Director, Garawana Creative 
• Greg Hampton, Head Chef at Charcoal Lane.

What's missing from the menu? Bringing Blackfella foods and conversation to the table.

What: Free panel discussion with audience interaction

When: Thursday 20 April

Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm. Pop-up bar and light refreshments from 5:30pm; Conversation 6:00pm-7:30pm.

Where: VU at MetroWest, 138 Nicholson Street, Footscray

This event is part of MetroWest’s Game Changers series. It is free and open to all.