Sydney Safaris 2009

There's absolutely no doubt that Sydney is the best food city on earth! Where else do you find so many varied cuisines represented...and not just that, the food available is sometimes better than in its country of origin as our Australian produce is the best in the world.

Sydney has a number of distinct "villages" around which the people of particular nationalities have settled - the Italians in Haberfield, the Turkish around Auburn, the Lebanese in Punchbowl, the Greeks in Marrickville, the Vietnamese in Cabramatta....These villages are full of different sights and sounds that you may even feel like you're in that particular country. We aim to take you behind the secret door, to give you some knowledge of the culture as well as the cuisine and send you home with loads of great food finds, recipes and a desire to return.

In August to December 2009 we are continuing with our successful World in a Day tours, and we now have more scheduled on a Saturday! Or come and join us on our new safaris - Italian regional lunch at Lucio's, Taiwanese lunch at Blue Eye Dragon, Persian lunch at Vatan and a Peruvian dinner. We're also continuting with our French Regional Lunch at Apres, Italy on Wheels safari, World in a Day - Middle East, French Safari on Wheels and many more favourites. So come and join us to celebrate great food and good company.

All safaris are led by experienced guides.
All Gourmet Safari Tours are subject to minimum numbers. Tours are subject to change without notification.
Meeting point and start and finish times will be confirmed when confirmation details are sent
.

PAYMENT IN FULL IS REQUIRED AT TIME OF BOOKING


wine selectors

Gourmet Safaris are proudly sponsored
by Wine Selectors.

Looking for accommodation when coming to Sydney for a safari?  Click here for the Roamfree accommodation website

french tarts

Gift Certificates

Don't forget, if you're stuck for that special gift, we have Gourmet Safari Gift Certificates available.

They are valid for 6 months, can be used on any of our safaris and are valued from $95. 

Please call the office on 02 9960 5675 to arrange your gift certificates.


Click below for

a copy 
of the program

Aug-Dec 2009

Selection of Sweets

olives

Starts 10.30am
Cost: $95.00
Tour Code: GRK

GREEK WALKING TOUR OF MARRICKVILLE


2009
Saturday 18th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 8th August - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 5th September - only 1 place available
  Saturday 3rd October - only 7 places available
  Saturday 7th November
  Saturday 12th December

Start with a Greek coffee and some wonderful freshly baked biscuits and pastries from one of the best bakers in Sydney. This is a find tucked away in Marrickville. Then we drive to colourful bustling Illawarra Road to visit a number of family owned Greek businesses including a butcher with some of the best lamb and louganika (Greek sausages), taste and learn about the range of olives and fetta cheese, discover the best Greek bread shop in town and pop in to a spice merchants and deli before settling into traditional banquet style lunch at our favourite Greek restaurant.

Cheeses
Starts 8.30am
Finish 5.00pm
Costs: $125.00
Tour Code: WID

FRENCH SAFARI ON WHEELS

2009
Wednesday 15th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Wednesday 19th August - Sorry, now fully booked
  Wednesday 16th September - Sorry, now fully book
  Wednesday 21st October - only 2 places available
  Wednesday 18th November
  Wednesday 9th December

Climb aboard our comfortable bus and have someone else drive us to some of the best French finds in Sydney - discover great coffee, croissants and pastries, delicious chocolates, cheeses, pate, great cooking utensils and enjoy a special two course lunch...huge fun, loads of treats and tastes and great shopping.

Tour Departs from Central Station



Starts 8.30am
Finish 4.30pm
Costs: $110.00
Tour Code: WID

SPANISH SAFARI ON WHEELS

 2009     
Saturday 4th July - Sorry, now fully booked
 
Unfortunately we are unable to continue with this tour for the time being as our popular guide, Teresa, is returning to Spain for a short time plus some of the businesses are changing hands or closing. We do apologise.

Climb aboard a comfortable bus and have someone else drive us to some of the best Spanish finds in Sydney We visit butchers, shops filled with beautiful ingredients as well as the specialist equipment you need to cook it - from cazuelas to paella pans. Sip fine Spanish sherry and taste the best chorizo, jamon, cheeses and olives and learn about saffron and sangria...we also stop for tapas as well as tasting the best thick hot chocolate and churros.Tastings, tapas lunch, chocolate and churros, sangria all included.  Starts at Central, finishes in the Spanish Quarter in Liverpool Street.

Tour Departs from Central Station

Baklava

Starts 9.15am
Finish 5.00pm
Costs: $110.00
Tour Code: WID

WORLD IN A DAY - Middle West

2009 Friday 13th November                                 


Climb aboard our comfortable bus and have someone else drive us to some of the hidden finds of Sydney - those far flung places that are hidden gems...discover a great Lebanese sweets palace, Indian warehouse, Maltese Pastizzi maker, South American butcher, have lunch at an Iraqi restaurant plus more...huge fun, loads of treats and tastes and great shopping.

Tour Departs from Central Station

five_dock_butcher
Starts 8.30am
Finish 4.00pm
Costs: $110.00
Tour Code: WID

WORLD IN A DAY - Italy on Wheels

2009
Saturday 4th July - Sorry, now fully booked

Saturday 18th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 15th August - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 5th September - only 4 places available
  Saturday 17th October
  Saturday 21st November

Climb aboard our comfortable bus and have someone else drive us to some of the finds of Inner West Sydney - places that are hidden gems...discover great coffee, a big deli selling beautiful prosciutto and cheeses, an italian butcher, try some delicious Sicilian biscuits and cakes, have a light lunch of wood fired pizza with a glass of wine and end the day with a palate cleansing gelato...huge fun, loads of treats and tastes and great shopping.

Tour Departs from Central Station

Delicious portuguese charcoal chicken

Starts 9.45am
Finish 2.30pm
Costs: $95.00
Tour Code: POR

PORTUGUESE WALKING TOUR OF PETERSHAM 

2009
Sunday 5th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 2nd August - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 13th September - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 11th October - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 8th November - only 5 places available
  Sunday 13th December

Start with a coffee and an explanation of Portuguese cuisine from one of its founders in Sydney, Fatima Barroso. Then visit the home of the best custard tarts in Sydney, sample smoked chourico sausage, flattened chicken with peri peri sauce and visit a well-stocked deli and the local wine store, which stocks a large range of wines and ports from Portugal and finish with a banquet lunch.

Chocolates from Adora

Starts 9.15am
Finish 5.00pm
Costs: $110.00
Tour Code: WID

WORLD IN A DAY - Earlwood / Inner West

2009 Friday 30th October - Sorry, now fully booked

Climb aboard our comfortable bus and have someone else load up the shopping and drive us to some of our favourite places in Marrickville and Earlwood - we visit a boutique chocolate maker who also does a great coffee, one of the friendliest and best stocked Greek emporiums, a baker who makes Greek olive bread to die for, a butcher with some great souvlaki and if there's time, stock up on your Indian spices and sandalwood soap. Tastings and lunch included. Great fun!


Tour departs from Central Station

beautiful lebanese dips

Starts 8.30am
Finish 4.30pm
Costs: $110.00
Tour Code: WID

WORLD IN A DAY - Middle East

2009 Saturday 25th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 15th August - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 10th October  - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 7th November
  Saturday 5th December

Come aboard our comfortable bus and let us take you into a world of exotic spices, of meats cooked over charcoal, the freshest salads and dips and luscious desserts. We visit the best places to shop and find all the ingredients you need to make simply delicious food - immerse yourself in emporiums full of wonders, visit bakers and palaces of sweets. This is a day of discovery, endless tastings and great shopping!

Tour departs from Central Station



Starts 9.30am
Finish 4.00pm
Cost: $110.00
Tour Code: IND

WORLD IN A DAY - Indulgence Safari - for those with a sweet tooth!

2009 Saturday 19th September - only 2 places left

Climb aboard our comfortable bus and let us take you to the best sweets places in Sydney. Try Portuguese custard tarts - pasteis de nata, Turkish delight, great chocolates, icecream plus more....huge fun, loads of treats and tastes and great shopping - this is the safari for those who love their sweets! Light lunch included.


Tour departs from Central Station

photo_gallery_sydney

Starts 10.00am
Costs: $95.00
Tour Code: ITA

ITALIAN WALKING TOUR OF HABERFIELD

2009
Saturday 11th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 25th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 8th August - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 22nd August - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 12th September - Sorry, now fully booked
Saturday 26th September
  Saturday 10th & 24th October
  Saturday 14th & 28th November
  Saturday 5th & 12th December

Visit delis full of beautiful olives, cheeses, small-goods, oils, pasta and sauces, bakeries famous for bread, a fresh pasta maker, expe rt cheese maker, some of the best Italian fruit and vegetables - all at friendly family-run businesses. Indulge in some great homemade pasta and wood-fired pizza followed by a visit to a beautiful pasticceria and then onto the bottle shop for a taste of limoncello.

pizza_making 
Starts 10.00am
Costs: $85.00
Tour Code: PIZ

PIZZA MAKING CLASS AT NAPOLI IN BOCCA

2009 Saturday 5th September                                      
  Saturday 17th October

Saturday 19th December

Ever wanted to make beautiful traditional pizza at home? It's easy with the right recipe and technique...learn the secrets of perfect home-cooked pizza in this fun 90 minute class in one of the temples of great pizza, Napoli in Bocca Restaurant in Haberfield. Hands on class, recipes, plus your own pizza to take home. Numbers strictly limited.
 

 cabra fruit shop

Start
s 11.00am
Costs: $95.00
Tour Code: VIE

VIETNAMESE WALKING TOUR IN CABRAMATTA

2009
Sunday 12th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 23rd August -  Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 20th September - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 18th October - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 8th November - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 29th November - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 13th December

Start with tea and Vietnamese sweets and then learn about the various ingredients and the many herbs used in this cuisine. Then take a guided walk through colourful and vibrant central Cabramatta and explore the shops before settling in to a light lunch at one of the top local Vietnamese restaurants.

fresh_nuts

Starts 8.30am
Finish 4.30pm
Costs: $110.00
Tour Code: WID

WEEKEND WORLD IN A DAY - Mediterranean

2009 Saturday 11th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 29th August - Sorry, now  fully booked
  Saturday 26th September - only 1 place available
  Saturday 31st October - only 3 places available
  Saturday 21st November
  Saturday 5th December

Come aboard our comfortable bus and be transported to our favourite Greek baker, Middle eastern spice and nut emporium, souvlaki king, have lunch at a local mediterranean style restaurant and then finish the day with some delicious South American icecream. Lots of great tastes and shopping along the way.

Tour departs from Central Station

turkish Coffee at Mado Cafe 

Starts 10.00am
Costs: $95.00
Tour Code: TUR

TURKISH TOUR OF AUBURN

2009
Saturday 11th July Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 8th August - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 3rd October -  Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 31st October - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 14th November
  Saturday 12th December

Start with a Turkish coffee or tea in a beautiful Aladdin's cave of a café and learn about Turkish food and ingredients then discover some of the riches of this vibrant suburb - emporiums filled with spices and delicacies and implements including pretty tea glasses for Turkish apple tea, Real Turkish Delight, great bakeries and butcher, followed by a generous lunch and a visit to the inspiring Gallipoli mosque.

  Guide Judy Saba with Maeve

Starts 10.00am
Costs: $90.00
Tour Code: LEB

LEBANESE WALKING TOUR OF PUNCHBOWL

2009
Saturday 4th July - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 26th September - Sorry, now fully booked
  Saturday 24th October - only 4 places available
  Saturday 28th November

We're joined by fabulous Lebanese guide Jinan Afiouny Ammourh to explore some of the most delicious Lebanese food and ingredients in Punchbowl. Discover delicious pizzas made with fragrant zaatar - the spice mix of sumac, sesame seeds and dried oregano, a bakery, spice emporium filled with great finds plus more.…Have a banquet lunch followed by some amazing sweets.

Lucio

Starts 12.30pm
Cost per person:
$100.00
 
New! ITALIAN REGIONAL LUNCH AT LUCIO'S IN PADDINGTON

2009 Saturday 1st August - Sorry, now fully booked

This year I've been spending time with some great Italian chefs who feature in our new series Italian Food Safari, and met the charming Lucio Galetto who has a beautiful restaurant in Paddington filled with artwork and great cooking smells - Lucio's - and together we decided a nice long lunch would be a perfect thing for a safari banquet lunch. Expect some glorious regional dishes, impeccable service and lovely wines.



Starts 12.30pm
Cost per person:
$95.00
New! TAIWANESE LUNCH AT BLUE EYE DRAGON

2009 Saturday 12th September                                   


Join us at one of Maeve's new "finds", a beautiful restaurant serving Taiwanese  specialties - think delicately spiced dishes, a lighter more elegant style of Chinese food. Our hosts are Jade Chen, a chef who was a legend in Taiwan for almost three decades and her daughter Muriel who runs the floor with warmth and style. Together they will cook up a marvellous feast, finishing with Jade's specially imported High Mountain or Oolong tea. Exquisite...lunch including wine.



Starts 12.30pm
Cost per person:
$95.00
New! PERSIAN LUNCH AT VATAN

2009 Saturday 24th October                                        

Come and join us for an introduction to Persian flavours with the charming Jason Aghamri, whose sparkling new restaurant is set aside especially for our Safari. Feast on dips and salads, beautifully siced kebabs and explore the exotic flavours of many Persian classics including Ghormeh Sabzi and Fesejan as well as the "pearls of Persia" - the aged rice prized and cooked with such care. Finish with saffron icecream and the amazing falooda. As a special concession, we will be allowed to serve wine at this function.
Starts 7.00pm
Cost per person:
$95.00
New! PERUVIAN DINNER

2009 Friday 28th August                                               

If you've never eaten Peruvian food, come and have a gorgeous banquet with one of the chefs we met whilst filming Food Safari - Jorge Chacon. Start with a classic Pisco Sour and then sample a range of delicious dishes including traditional ceviche, slow cooked beef with spices and many more, matched of course with some great wines.

maeve & chef hassan from out of africa

Starts 12.30pm
Cost per person:
$95.00
 

MOROCCAN LONG LUNCH AT OUT OF AFRICA RESTAURANT

2009 Sunday 22nd November                                        

Continuing with this very popular safari, we are again heading to Out of Africa Restaurant in Manly for a fantastic long lunch.  You may have seen Hassan M'souli on Food Safaris late last year, and now you have the chance to meet him and learn the secrets of preserved lemons, how to use a tajine and couscousier, taste the fragrant traditional mint tea, have your hands painted with henna and indulge in the most delicious mix of dishes from chef Hassan and his team.



Starts 12.30pm
Cost per person:
$95.00

FRENCH REGIONAL/SEASONAL LUNCH AT APRES in POTTS POINT

 2009 Sunday 26th July-Winter - Sorry, now fully booked
  Sunday 11th October - Spring

Join us for a celebration of French cuisine at the stylish Apres restaurant. This year we have arranged seasonal lunches each prepared by the talented team at Apres and featuring the food of a particular region. All accompanied by exceptional wines and introduced and hosted by owners Josh and David.



Starts 12.00pm
Cost per person $95.00

CHILLI CRAB LUNCH

2009 Saturday 17th October                                     

Join the star of Food Safari's Singaporean episode, Alex Lee in his restaurant Ginger & Spice for some beautifully spicy dishes to start and work up to the wonderful hands-on chilli crab! We then finish with the dessert - delicious fun!  A glass of sparkling to start the day and great wines to accompany the lunch. 



Starts 11.30am
Cost per person  $95.00

THAI LUNCH AT SPICE I AM

2009 Saturday 19th September                                

Enter the spicy realm of top Thai chef Surjet Sangkaem, star of the Thai episode of Food Safari. Join us at his newest, smartest restaurant in Darlinghurst to learn some of the secrets of cooking delicious Thai food at home then indulge in a banquet lunch to really get your taste buds dancing.  Demonstrations, recipe sheets, lunch and wine included.

Ramy from Tagine
Starts 10.30am
Cost per person $60.00

EGYPTIAN BRUNCH AT TAGINE

2009 Sunday 23rd August - Sorry, now fully booked

This is an exotic way to enjoy a Sunday get together - join us for some delicious treats from the star of the Egyptian episode Ramy Megalaa of Tagine Restaurant in Rozelle who will not only cook up a number of great dishes, he'll also demonstrate how to make the beautiful deep rose coloured  tea of Egypt made with dried hibiscus flowers and show how easily you can  make a breakfast tagine...start with a glass of French bubbles to ease you  into a blissful couple of hours. Includes brunch, a glass of champagne, tea, coffee and demonstrations.

Starts 4.00pm
Cost per person  $75.00
XMAS PARTY

2009 Sunday 6th December                                      

This year we hope you'll join us in early December for our Christmas party - on the clifftops at Clovelly in the lovely old lawn bowling club overlooking the ocean. We will gather some of the yummiest foods from our many safaris and hope you'll come along for a long afternoon and early evening of good conversation, food, music.....and maybe some dancing as well. (Drinks not included)