Dishing Up Australia with Al Brown (2013)

South Australia boasts an extraordinary variety of places to see and experiences to enjoy, and they are all easily accessible from Adelaide. Known as the ‘20 minute city’ - Adelaide's many attractions include ‘Eat Streets’ dedicated to great food and the tastes and smells of the Adelaide Central Market. But there is so much more to explore in South Australia: huge tracts of outback, wine country, beaches, wildlife – and the mighty Murray River which flows through the heart of the state. It's the perfect setting for exploring the region’s natural bounty, where local flavours speak in the universal language of food.

Australia’s island state has become recognised as a culinary gem, the home of an ever-expanding line-up of passionately committed producers of artisan foods and superb cool-climate wines. Combine this with stylish and sophisticated cities such as Hobart, set against an awe-inspiring landscape of mountains, rainforests and rugged coastlines, and you have the perfect playground for a chef who is an inveterate hunter, gatherer and forager.

Named in Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Cities to visit in 2012, Australia’s northernmost capital city, Darwin, is known for its balmy weather, rich history and wonderful range of cuisines including Indonesian, Indian, Vietnamese and Greek. Darwin is also an excellent base from which to explore the internationally recognised World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, along with other unique natural attractions like Litchfield and Nitmiluk National Parks, the Tiwi Islands and Arnhem Land.

Al Brown is the rare kind of chef who loves to hunt and gather his own food whenever and wherever he can – especially in a spectacular natural environment. In Queensland’s Moreton Bay, out with Australian mates who are keen to show him around their place and share its flavours, Al is in his element, spearing mud crabs and catching the famous Moreton Bay Bugs.

If wildlife and nature are what you're looking for, Kangaroo Island in South Australia is regarded as one of the best places in Australia to see it. Nowhere else on the continent features such a concentration of pristine beaches and abundant flora and fauna. It is a wildlife sanctuary without fences, where visitors can see Australian animals in their natural habitat. Allow at least 2 – 3 days to explore, walk among seas lions, spectacular cliffs and amazing rock formations. The island also has a growing reputation as a food and wine region, renowned especially for its honey, eucalyptus oil and marron.

The food culture of Melbourne has a welcoming and inclusive quality that makes it the envy of many around the world. The same generosity of spirit is found throughout Victoria’s vibrant regional areas. In Mildura, on the mighty Murray River, a unique blend of cultures and history has created a rich gastronomic tapestry – from dried fruits to table grapes, citrus, olives, breads, beer, traditional Mediterranean cuisines and much more – for Al to explore.

Queensland’s Tropical North is a place of beauty and wonder – a unique Australian tropical adventure brought to you by nature. The city of Cairns is its international gateway and the perfect starting place for exploring the marvels of the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest. In this episode, Al Brown heads into the Cairns hinterland for some memorable hands-on encounters with tropical foods and flavours.

Al touches down in one of our most visited cities where he indulges in superb seafood and freshly shucked oysters at one of Sydney’s finest seafood restaurants. From the famous Boathouse in Blackwattle Bay, Al Brown heads 2.5 hours south to the spectacular natural environment of Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast.

Melbourne is a creative, ever-changing city with extraordinary surprises to be discovered in every basement, rooftop and laneway. It’s also the gateway to the breathtaking landscape of the Grampians region of Western Victoria, and its rich cultural and culinary heritage. In this episode, Al Brown explores the Grampian’s excellent local produce, from locally-grown olives to tender spring lamb and sheep products, and its 150-year history of old vines and vibrant young wines.

Two and a half hours north by air from Perth is the resort town of Broome, the pearling capital of Australia. It’s a tropical oasis of striking contrasts in colour and culture, where the vibe is very chilled but there’s so much to engage the senses. Broome is also the western gateway to the Kimberley Coast – one of the world’s great wilderness areas. On the unspoilt Dampier Peninsula and Cape Leveque, Al Brown experiences the unique culture and lifestyle of its indigenous people, fishing, catching mud crabs and gathering bush fruits and herbs for a feast from the sea and land.