Alexander debuts at Taste

Stephanie Alexander has helped shape Australia’s palate across three decades influencing positive food choices of generations.

The best-selling author’s passion for educating the younger generation on the pleasures of fresh produce resulted in her only recently being awarded the officer of the Order of Australia on Australia Day, honouring her life’s work.

Alexander’s work creating the Kitchen Garden Foundation has seen 450 primary schools introduce the kitchen garden program which can be integrated with the curriculum.

She has also written 14 books, countless articles and developed her own food app, all with the aim of promoting healthy eating choices.

With rightful claim to being Australian culinary royalty, Alexander hopes to rekindle her fond memories of the Great Southern where she will make a highly anticipated appearance as part of the Taste festival.

Making her festival debut this year, the former restaurateur remembers vividly her last visit to Denmark.

“We were filming a TV series about marron … I remember the magnificent trees and it being very windy,” she said.

“I was trying to think, it has been at least 10 years, probably longer, and I’m sure it’s unrecognisable.”

Alexander said she would be travelling in and out of the region but not before teaming up with Anna Gare and Stephanie Zalokar, who trained with her close friend Maggie Beer, for the Three Cooks Lunch at Pepper and Salt Restaurant.

“I thought a lunch like this will be a lovely way to talk to the wider community, so it really seemed to suit me and it suited them,” she said.

“I’m sure it will be lovely.”

See Stephanie Alexander at these Taste events:

Three Cooks Lunch at Pepper and Salt, Forest Hill Winery, Denmark, Sunday, March 30, 12.30pm to 4pm, cost $130, bookings 9848 3053