Knysna's annual Gastronomica food festival, which ended on Sunday, was hailed yesterday as a “resounding success” by organiser Pat Mulder.
“We compacted the festival from 10 days to five and it seems to have worked. Our figures suggest about 7000 people participated,” she said.
Visitors to Knysna spent R750000 on festival functions and at restaurants in the area.
This year Gastronomica featured 35 events ranging from cooking demonstrations to live music, fashion shows, whisky tastings and theatrical revues. There was also a craft market and a gala dinner.
“A special feature of this year‘s festival was the route of 11 Gastronomica restaurants, which proved to be immensely popular. Some of the restaurants reported a huge upsurge in business over the five days, with literally thousands of people pouring in to sample their gastronomic delights.”
Mulder said the community had also become involved and the festival was expected to grow year on year.
The highlight of the festival, the gala dinner at Pembreys Restaurant on Saturday, saw 90 diners enjoying fine food prepared by the head chefs of Pembreys, Zachary‘s and Île de Pain restaurants.
One of the objectives of Gastronomica is to encourage the sole use of organically grown ingredients in all the dishes.
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