Embrace the dark! Here’s how to have a winter feast of your own at home
It’s winter festival time in Tasmania, with Dark MOFO kicking things off, followed by Festival of Voices and various other local festivals. These days, far from hibernating over the colder months, Tasmanians, and thousands of interstate tourists, embrace it and find ways to celebrate this cold, dark season.
You can get into the spirit of winter, celebrating with food, drinks and traditions which make the most of winter and the fabulous produce we can enjoy on our bountiful island.
Invite friends around for winter drinks or a winter feast of your own.
Go MOFO and swap the normal lightbulbs in your outdoor lights for red ones to add to the warm glow of your winter celebrations.
Carry on the warm glow inside with lit candles and the fireplace blazing.
Warm yourself up from the inside out with some mulled wine or a hot toddy featuring Dark Lark, a limited release whisky for the winter season made by Lark Distillery, reflecting Tasmania’s untamed beauty and the bold creative spirit that comes alive in the dead of night.
Carry on the red and black theme with some ruby red wine from our Tasmanian vineyards and create a platter featuring red and black waxed cheddars, pickled octopus, charcoal crackers, black olives, some spicy salami, red grapes – get as creative as you like.
Create your own Winter Feast platter with local cheeses, pickled octopus, charcoal crackers, black olives from Hill Street
Barbequing is not just a summer thing – standing around glowing coals outside while something delicious sizzles on the grill is a primal pleasure. Barbecue some Tasmania beef like Cape Grim, some Lenah Game Meats wallaby,or how about ‘eating the problem’ with some local venison?
Likewise enjoying flame-related delicacies like toasted marshmallows or roasted chestnuts are traditions perfect for the season.
Fondue is another treat you can share with friends in winter, whether it’s a cheese fondue or a chocolate one. And it’s a perfect time for a gooey baked Camembert.
Lighting a bonfire is a great way to celebrate the winter solstice on Saturday 21st June. It’s the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the sun sits low in the sky, and winter feels at its deepest. Cultures across the world celebrate it with feasting, light and fire.
In Tasmania at Dark MOFO, the Ogoh-ogoh is burned, cleansing the world of evil spirits and fears – maybe make your own smaller version and commit it to the flames along with the worries that have weighed on you this past year.
And it’s a perfect time for a gooey baked Camembert or fondue
And if you have an apple tree, you can go wassailing, singing to the trees and making a ruckus with metal objects to chase away evil spirits and to promote a good harvest – ideally with a hot Tassie cider in hand!