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Private Notes
In Season 2 of Gourmet Farmer we're in for a surprise. Matthew now has his own family - partner Sadie and son Hedley, to add to his growing menagerie on the farm. It's time to get serious. He has a family to feed and a pig business to grow. To do this, he needs to build infrastructure on the farm to cope with the extra pigs, and find new ways to sell his increasing supply of pork products.
While on the North West coast of Tasmania, herding cattle across the ocean at low tide to Robbins Island, Matthew has a new business idea. The Wagyu beef that he samples here - at Hammond farm, is the best he's ever eaten. Sadly, only foreigners get to taste it. With Nick and Ross, Matthew brainstorms an idea for Long Table Lunches, where the three of them will create multiple course menus from produce sourced exclusively from the local area.
As they head up to the North West coast to spend a week sourcing produce, the weather turns bad and the `paddock' lunch they envisaged is under threat. And after locating a barn as an alternative, they find they've bitten off more than they can chew and race against the clock to feed everyone before the guests get too drunk and consume all their profits. The food, however, is a standout, and guest leave contented, while Matthew, Nick and Ross conclude that it was a great - if not that profitable experience. No sooner have they said goodbye to their last guest do they start planning their next lunch - on the logistically fraught Flinders Island.
Matthew starts to get hard core with his locavore philosophy when he decides to learn how to make his own brew. Unfortunately, his lesson is interrupted when he finds out his beloved cow Maggie has fallen ill after giving birth to a calf. After a rough patch, Matthew picks himself up and goes out in search of wheat substitutes for his breadmaking and tries out some spelt.
Matthew reckons he's earned a break from the farm and heads off on a kayaking adventure with Ross and kayaking expert, Nick. They're resolute in insisting on packing nothing but two-minute noodles, as the Picton River is sure to supply a bounty of fish. Alas, Matthew and Ross prove to be less than naturals on the water, and the fish prove to be totally absent. Resisting the temptation to head into a fast food outlet as they're kayaks approach a small town, they call up a sushi maker who has a smarter idea for catching fish, and who prepares a spectacular meal.
Matthew and Ross receive a request from Serbian man John Jovanovic for suckling pig, while manning their Salamanca stall. The suckling pig is to be served at a Sino-Serbian New Year's feast. Matthew is intrigued and offers up a piglet in exchange for a seat at the table. He discovers that his customer is married to a Chinese woman, Janette, and that after less than satisfying Chinese New Year meals at restaurants, they now host their own.
Matthew and Ross have a stall at a new farmers' market, where you can only sell what you grow or source from providores who don't have the means to sell their own product. They see this as an opportunity to expand and try out a few new products. First is B'stilla, a Moroccan pigeon pie that they source from Phil Newton. Next, they go hunting for wallaby and rabbit - produce which is growing in plague proportions and which they can acquire at little cost. While Ross prepares wallaby pie, Matthew goes in search of a rabbit recipe from opera singer Maria Lurighi.
Matthew, Nick and Ross raise the stakes in their long table lunches business idea. This time they take nothing but salt, pepper and a bit of olive oil to an island which has got to have more protein running around it than any other piece of land in Australia. It’s a real logistical challenge, but they pull off a multi course meal showcasing island produce such as mutton bird, cape barron goose and wallaby
Matthew sets out on a challenge to see if he can create a meal from wild food that’s free for the taking.
An invitation to Italy affords Matthew the opportunity to learn how to make salami the traditional way.
Matthew journeys from Italy to France to learn how the French preserve their meat products.
