Melbourne Tomato Festival 2016

Guy Grossi squeezes the boiled potato through a metal contraption – the soft white vegetable oozes out like worms. He rolls the potato worms into a dough, combining it with flour and folding the mixture into long sausage-like lines. His large hands move methodically and mindlessly. The potato sausage is sliced quickly into small nuggets and dropped into a pot of boiling salted water. All of this happens in five minutes.

“And there, we have it – home-made gnocchi!”

It looks so simple, so easy. Why do we bother buying supermarket-made gnocchi? The gnocchi is served with a bubbling and sweet passata with fresh basil. Grossi’s cooking demonstration is a delicious taster of things to come in the upcoming Melbourne Tomato Festival. Wedged between the fruit and veg stalls in the Prahran Market, Capi provides signature gin and tonics topped with tomato and basil while Punt Road Wines serves shining glasses topped with red wine. Guests are treated to aranchini balls, meatballs and Grossi’s signature gnocchi.

While the red, juicy and fleshy tomato is the centre of attention here – the festival is more than just about creating and eating mouth-watering food. It’s also about reconnecting with the traditions of Italian culture and spending time with friends and family.

With half a ton of tomatoes supplied from D’Vine Ripe, attendees at the Melbourne Tomato Festival can participate in the feet-squelching sensation of creating home-made passasta – taking home their own jar of tomato preserve. There will be cooking demonstrations, stalls from local farmers selling produce, competitions, agriculturalists, workshops, entertainment and more.

You don’t have to be a tomato lover or Italian to be amazed by the culture and enthusiasm surrounding this fruit. But an appreciation for home-made gnocchi and passasta will certainly help.

Tickets: adults $25, child (6-13 years) $10, 5 years and under free.

Melbourne Tomato Festival 2016
Edendale Community Farm, 30 Gastons Road, Eltham
Sunday February 21, 10am-4pm
melbournetomatofestival.com