Chef debuts at Taste

Chef Michelle Forbes not only produces high-quality French bistro-style dishes but makes it her aim to promote WA produce.

Forbes worked in the hospitality industry in Sydney before she moved to Perth and became executive chef at The Trustee Bar and Bistro on St Georges Terrace in Perth CBD, when the restaurant opened.

She is now simultaneously also the executive chef of two other venues, The Beaufort St Merchant and new pop-up venue Enriques School for Bullfighting.

Enriques was only open in Highgate for 20 weeks, from last October to mid-February this year, serving modern Spanish beverages, fairy floss and Iberian fare such as organic reggiano parmesan ice-cream and “occy and charizo” — a raw-meat octopus carpaccio, grilled octopus, chorizo paste, olive and watercress dish.

Forbes will participate in Taste Great Southern for the first time and is good friends with Walpole Nornalup Visitor Centre manager Brad Crouch, having visited the region while tasting produce and going fishing.

The pair is creating a long-table lunch experience in Tingledale for 50 diners. The Farmed and Foraged Long Table Lunch will be held at Tingledale Hall, with four courses and a complimentary sparkling wine on arrival.

Forbes will bring her head chef to the Great Southern and work with local small producers.

She will purchase local beef, lamb, dairy and “whatever the fisherman can get that week”, such as King George Whiting or crab, and try and promote local produce while she is in the region.

See Michelle Forbes at this Taste event:

Farmed and Foraged Long Table Lunch, Tingledale Hall, Valley of the Giants Road, Tingledale, Saturday, March 15, 1pm to 4pm, cost $85, bookings 9840 1111.