From 17 to 19 May 2024, Maitland Taste, proudly presented by The Mutual Bank, returns to The Levee, Central Maitland to celebrate good food, wine and produce from the Hunter Region and surrounds.
With Maitland’s reputation as a hub for quality local produce, restaurants and home cooks growing, the three day event features an array of stalls, cooking demonstrations and activities featuring local, regional and organic produce.
The program includes gourmet food and artisan markets, food trucks, cooking and garden demonstrations, live music, kids activities and more.
The fun extends into the night with vibrant lighting installations and pop up eateries found in the precinct’s laneways. Visitors will be able to taste their way through the many local restaurants and food trucks peppered throughout The Levee while taking in the sounds of live music from talented local musicians.
THE LEVEE SHARED ZONE
The Levee Shared Zone will be home to a host of local food and wine market stalls, food trucks, activities for kids and cooking demonstrations.
From wine, cheese and flowers to freshly baked bread, delicious meals and decadent sweets, there’ll be something for the whole family to enjoy in The Levee Shared Zone.
Choose from food stalls like Smokin Hot ‘n Saucy, James and the Chocolate Berry, and Wagyu Blacks, or explore wineries, breweries and distilleries with the likes of Phoenix Distilling Co, Hungerford Hill Estate and The Mulled Wine Co.
POP UP EATERIES
In addition to the incredible range of stallholders that will be peppered throughout The Levee Shared Zone, Maitland Taste will be featuring two exciting pop up eateries, offering two unique and immersive experiences.
Each eatery will have its own distinct flair, line up of live entertainment, delicious food and seating areas.
Coffin Lane, off Bourke Street, will transform into Boydell’s Bubbles Bar with a burlesque twist. Serving local wines, courtesy of Boydell’s the laneway will be sure to create an effervescent atmosphere to enjoy your Friday and Saturday afternoons and leading into the evenings.
Dive into Dransfield Diner, a diner styled laneway with delicious aromas and retro vibes at Dransfield Lane. Indulge your senses with artisanal pizzas, gourmet burgers, waffles, creamy milkshakes and more! Our cozy diner will be complete with twinkling lights and seating areas that will transport you back to the 50’s.
LIGHTING INSTALLATION
Over the weekend check out a new immersive inflatable art landscape inspired by Andy Warhol’s Soup Cans. Love Pop, created by artist Matthew Aberline and writer Cath Moore, reimagines love and diversity as giant oversized products belonging to an imaginary oversized supermarket, incorporating games for the whole family. The installation is made from 100% recycled PET drinking bottles. See the Love Pop installation transform as it illuminates each night.
Make sure you tag your photos of the installation with #MaitlandTaste and #TheLeveeCentralMaitland.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Levee Shared Zone will turn into a music lovers haven with a range of pop up spaces located through the precinct. You will have the opportunity to listen to some of Maitland and the region’s most talented musicians, performers, and independent songwriters while visiting Maitland Taste, ensuring that every bite is accompanied by the perfect soundtrack.
KITCHEN STAGE
The Kitchen Stage, hosted by Matt McFarlane will feature a range of cooking demonstrations on Saturday 18 May showcasing local chefs and some of Maitland Taste’s very own stallholders.
Whether you’re a home cook, or simply interested in the art of cooking, the kitchen stage is the perfect place to gain inspiration and insight.
GARDEN STAGE
For all you green thumbs out there, a range of garden demonstrations will be taking place on Sunday 19 May. The Garden Stage demonstrations will give you the opportunity to learn from the best on how to make your backyard more self sufficient and explore the many practical ways you can get your backyard thriving with food, herbs, and flowers using organic and permaculture techniques, and more.
BEE ZONE
Meet our backyard beekeepers Geoff and Heather from Heather’s Honey and Hives.
Be sure to visit their bee stall to see live honey bees in an observation hive and a working native bee hive. Taste a variety of different honey samples as well as precious native bee honey. You can learn how you can make rolled candles from beeswax sheets and the kids can make their own solitary bee hotels from bamboo. There will be bee jigsaw puzzles, toddler bouncing bees and bee talks from Friday 17 to Sunday 19.
PUMPKIN PRECINCT
Thanks to Slow Food Hunter Valley, the Pumpkin Precinct will be jam packed over the Taste weekend with produce sourced from our local region.
You can enjoy fresh produce direct from the farmer including a range of seasonal winter vegetables. There’s also a range of kid’s workshops where they can learn to make some delicious Pumpkin Arancini with ingredients sourced from local producers (bookings are required).
NATURE NURTURE
Nature and Nurture will be facilitating engaging and creative experiences on Saturday and Sunday for people of all ages.
Explore your creativity and connect with nature through craft, watercolour painting and sensory play. Each of these activities is designed to provide participants with a hands on and immersive experiences.
LONG LUNCH
New to the Maitland Taste program this year is the Long Lunch hosted by Acacia Dining. Indulge in a seasonal long lunch with a three course shared feast showcasing the best local produce matched with Usher Tinkler wine. This limited event will be available only on Sunday 19 May with bookings available through Acacia Dining directly.
Whether you’re a foodie looking to discover something new, or simply looking for a great day, afternoon or evening out with family and friends, Maitland Taste is the place to be.
Whether you’re a foodie looking to discover something new, or simply looking for a great day, afternoon or evening out with family and friends, Maitland Taste is the place to be.
Maitland Taste
When: 17 May – 19 May 2024
Where: The Levee Shared Zone, Central Maitland
More Info: Check out The Levee’s Facebook and Instagram pages for updates on Maitland Taste 2024 or visit maitlandtaste.com.au