Maeve O'Meara is a food author, broadcaster, television producer and presenter. For the past 18 years she has travelled the world sampling food and for the past 9 years has written about food in Australia.
1n 1998 she started her own food tourism business, Gourmet Safaris, a series of hosted banquet dinners in some of great undiscovered exotic restaurants and walking tours of interesting food suburbs around Sydney as well as overseas safaris with the first to Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico in May 2000 and a second trip to the Greek Islands in September 2001 & 2002.
On the International front, Gourmet Safaris are travelling to Greece again in September 2003.
Read the details of the 2003 Calendar for Sydney and National Tours, including trips to Mudgee and Queensland.
Information provided by Maeve O'Meara
Maeve O'Meara is a food author, broadcaster, television producer and presenter. For the past 18 years she has travelled the world sampling food and for the past 9 years has written about food in Australia.
She is Food Presenter at Channel Seven's top rating Better Homes and Gardens program (seen weekly at 7.30pm); co-author of the SBS Eating Guides to Sydney (sixth edition currently on bestseller list) and Melbourne and a cookbook - Lamingtons and Lemongrass and with partner Joanna Savill, she has created, presented and produced her own television food series on SBS, The Food Lover's Guide to Australia.
Maeve is former Food Editor of both Family Circle and New Woman magazines, a regular columnist with The Qantas inflight magazine The Australian Way, contributes to the Good Living and Metropolitan sections of the Sydney Morning Herald.
1n 1998 she started her own food tourism business, Gourmet Safaris, a series of hosted banquet dinners in some of great undiscovered exotic restaurants and walking tours of interesting food suburbs around Sydney as well as overseas safaris with the first to Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico in May 2000 and a second trip to the Greek Islands in September 2001.
2003 INTERNATIONAL GOURMET SAFARIS
Greek Island Safari - September 14th to 25th September
After the success of this tour in 2001 & 2002, we are going again !!
Join us for the ultimate indulgent trip - explore the most beautiful hidden Greek Islands, learn how to cook some of the simple, delicious foods of Greece, enjoy some incredible restaurant meals as well as the best home-cooking and meet some of the passionate cooks of Greece.
We arrive at the start of autumn while it's still warm but the crowds have gone - summer produce of ripe figs, grapes, vegetables and olives have never been better plus handmade cheeses and perfect local seafood. We start in a mountain village, staying at Candili - a magnificent estate with its own organic vegetable garden, two swimming pools and a large kitchen perfect for cooking classes which will be conducted by an angel of the kitchen, Soufoula Sophroni and in a great coup for the safari - celebrated young Greek chef Peter Conistis of Sydney's Eleni's Restaurant, author of New Greek Cuisine and an inspired teacher.
After four days of cooking and exploring local olive groves, beaches, local bakers, honey and goats cheese makers, we fly to the rich productive island of Lesbos and meet ebullient local celebrity chef Stratos who guides us through the fascinating local ouzo factory and then cooks us lunch. We spend two days exploring the island before taking the evening boat for the amazing island of Chios - not on the tourist trail yet filled with coffee-table book images - pretty walled villages, soaring mountains, perfect beaches, extraordinary history and - of course - terrific food including the spice mastic which is only produced on this island.
Then a hop to drop-dead gorgeous Santorini to drink in that incredible view of blue water and whitewashed houses, drink up some of the marvellous wine produced on the island, and explore some of the restaurants as well. We take two luxury yachts out for the day and swim in the clear waters, a great way to finish a perfect trip.
Cost
Land Content Twin Share $5,650.
Inclusions:
Airport transfers, 11 nights accommodation, , coach travel as indicated, 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners (including taxes), plane fares within Greece for island hopping excluding beverage), entrance, class, chef and tour fees for all listed activities.
Bookings and Information
Port to Port Travel, Suite 2, 663 Old South Head
Road, ROSE BAY NORTH, NSW
Telephone: +61 2 9337 6966
Facsimile: +61 2 9337 6922
Freecall: 1800 677 263 (within Australia only)
E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please contact Maeve on email to find out all the details about further details on these trips.
Email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Bookings and Information for Sydnet Safari's
Telephone: +61 2 9960 5675
Facsimile: +61 2 9960 5675
2003 SYDNEY & AUSTRALIAN SAFARIS
Calendar
Sydney Safari Dear Food Lovers,
We have some exceptional food adventures planned for the second half of this year - always looking for new and exciting things to tempt you with.... as well as offering our wonderful walking tours which are growing and expanding - if you haven't tried it yet, our new Leichhardt tour is full of exuberant, warm Italians who share their stories, their food and culture. We are also want to trial a tour for the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Month - a Fabulous Finds tour by bus to some of the great hidden gems of Sydney - I'm so excited by this as we can now go to some of my favourite places all over Sydney. New event:
Duck and Pinot Feast at Ying's Seafood Restaurant in Crows Nest - our friend Chinese chef Ying Tam really turns it on with everyone's favourite dish - crispy skinned Peking Duck served with pancakes and hoisin sauce, then as a delicious duck san choy bow, and with long life noodles, all matched with great Australian pinots care of Cellarmasters Wines. Plus many other delicacies. A wonderful long lunch of exquisite food and good wine. Limited numbers.
Saturday 19th July 2003
Turkish Tour of Auburn
Start with a Turkish coffee in a beautiful Aladdin's cave of a cafe and learn about Turkish food and ingredients then discover some of the riches of this vibrant suburb - the Afghan Bread shop, emporiums filled with spices and delicacies and implements including pretty tea glasses for Turkish apple tea, Real Turkish Delight, great bakeries and butchers, followed by a generous lunch and a visit to the inspiring Gallipoli Mosque.
Start Auburn 10.30am - $75 - TUR
Monday 21st July 2003
Jewish Walking Tour of Bondi Join the Granddaughter of the owner of the first Continental Cake Shop in Bondi - Suzie Schenker as she guides you on a specialised walking tour of the delights of Jewish cuisine in Bondi learn about kosher food, gefilte fish and latkes, kreplach and kugelhoph, pate and pastrami in the specialist butchers, delis and cake shops then lunch at one of the top Jewish restaurants in town.
Start Bondi 10.00am $75 JEW. Numbers strictly limited - SORRY - SOLD OUT
Saturday 26th July 2003
Pizza Making Class at Napoli in Bocca Restaurant 
Ben Riccio, pizza king of Haberfield
Ever wanted to make beautiful traditional pizza at home? It's easy with the right recipe and technique...learn the secrets of perfect home-cooked pizza in this fun 90 minute class in one of the temples of great pizza, Napoli in Bocca Restaurant in Haberfield. Hands on class, recipes, plus your own pizza to take home. Numbers strictly limited.
Start Haberfield 10.00am - $55 - SORRY - SOLD OUT
Sunday 27th July 2003
Walking Tour of Leichhardt
Fuelled by a good Italian coffee, we'll visit gelato makers, butchers, pasta makers, coffee experts, sweets palaces, delis, stroll through the Forum, learn about some of the Italian cooking implements before lunch at one of Leichhardt's great Italian restaurants.
Start Leichhardt 10.00am - $75 - SORRY - SOLD OUT
Wednesday 30th July 2003
Cabramatta Walking Tour & Cooking Demonstration & Lunch Start with tea and Vietnamese sweets and a full cooking demonstration from an accredited Vietnamese cooking teacher. Learn about the various ingredients and the many herbs used in the cuisine and taste some of the delicious and easy recipes. Then walk to colourful and vibrant central Cabramatta and explore the shops before settling in to a light lunch with a glass of wine at one of the top Vietnamese restaurants.
Start Cabramatta 10.30am - $85 - VIE - Only a few spaces left
Saturday 2nd August 2003
Duck & Pinot Lunch at Ying's Seafood Restaurant in Crows Nest Our friend Chinese chef Ying Tam really turns it on with everyone's favourite dish-crispy skinned Peking Duck served with pancakes and hoisin sauce, then as a delicious duck san choy bow, and with long life noodles plus many other delicacies, all matched with great Australian pinots care of Cellarmaster Wines. A wonderful long lunch of exquisite food and good wine.
Numbers limited
Start 12.30pm - $80 - YIN - Only a few spaces left
Monday 4th August 2003
The World in a Day This is one I've always wanted to do - climb aboard a luxury bus and have someone else drive us to some of the hidden finds of Sydney - those far flung places that are hidden gems...everything from bakers to butchers, noodle and pasta makers to spice shops...huge fun, loads of treats and tastes and great shopping - this will be a safari that has the lot.
Start 9.30am - 4.45pm - Depart Central Station - $100 - SORRY - SOLD OUT
Saturday 9th August 2003
Lebanese Walking Tour of Punchbowl Discover some of Maeve's best finds from the Lebanese suburb of Punchbowl - amazing sweets palaces, nut roasters, pizzas made with fragrant zaatar-the spice mix of sumac, sesame seeds and dried oregano, coffee roasters, spice emporiums filled with great finds....then lunch followed by a delicious selection of sweets.
Start Punchbowl 10.30am - $75 - LEB
Monday 11th August 2003
Jewish Walking Tour of Bondi Join the Granddaughter of the owner of the first Continental Cake Shop in Bondi - Suzie Schenker as she guides you on a specialised walking tour of the delights of Jewish cuisine in Bondi learn about kosher food, gefilte fish and latkes, kreplach and kugelhoph, pate and pastrami in the specialist butchers, delis and cake shops then lunch at one of the top Jewish restaurants in town.
Start Bondi 10.00am $75 JEW. Numbers strictly limited
Sunday 17th August 2003
Cabramatta Walking Tour & Cooking Demonstration & Lunch Start with tea and Vietnamese sweets and a full cooking demonstration from an accredited Vietnamese cooking teacher. Learn about the various ingredients and the many herbs used in the cuisine and taste some of the delicious and easy recipes. Then walk to colourful and vibrant central Cabramatta and explore the shops before settling in to a light lunch with a glass of wine at one of the top Vietnamese restaurants.
Start Cabramatta 10.30am - $85 - SORRY - SOLD OUT
Saturday 23rd August 2003
Greek Walking Tour of Marrickville 
Start with a Greek coffee and some wonderful freshly baked biscuits and pastries from one of the best bakers in Sydney. This is a find tucked away in Marrickville. Then we drive (we can organise a lift for you) to colourful bustling Illawarra Road to visit a number of family owned Greek businesses including a butcher with some of the best lamb and louganika (Greek Sausages), taste and learn about the range of olives and fetta cheese, discover the best Greek bread shop in town, deli, spice store and more, before settling into a traditional banquet style lunch at our favourite Greek restaurant.
Start Marrickville 10.30am - $75 - MAR - SORRY - SOLD OUT
Monday 25th August 2003
The World in a Day This is one I've always wanted to do - climb aboard a luxury bus and have someone else drive us to some of the hidden finds of Sydney - those far flung places that are hidden gems...everything from bakers to butchers, noodle and pasta makers to spice shops...huge fun, loads of treats and tastes and great shopping - this will be a safari that has the lot.
Start 9.30am - 4.45pm - Depart Central Station - $100
Saturday 30th August 2003
Turkish Tour of Auburn Start with a Turkish coffee in a beautiful Aladdin's cave of a cafe and learn about Turkish food and ingredients then discover some of the riches of this vibrant suburb - the Afghan Bread shop, emporiums filled with spices and delicacies and implements including pretty tea glasses for Turkish apple tea, Real Turkish Delight, great bakeries and butchers, followed by a generous lunch and a visit to the inspiring Gallipoli Mosque.
Start Auburn 10.30am - $75 - TUR
Sunday 31st August 2003
Walking Tour of Leichhardt Fuelled by a good Italian coffee, we'll visit gelato makers, butchers, pasta makers, coffee experts, sweets palaces, delis, stroll through the Forum, learn about some of the Italian cooking implements before lunch at one of Leichhardt's great Italian restaurants.
Start Leichhardt 10.00am - $75 - LEI
Saturday 13th September 2003
Walking Tour Little Italy in Haberfield
Sunday 28th September 2003
Cabramatta Walking Tour & Cooking Demonstration & Lunch Start with tea and Vietnamese sweets and a full cooking demonstration from an accredited Vietnamese cooking teacher. Learn about the various ingredients and the many herbs used in the cuisine and taste some of the delicious and easy recipes. Then walk to colourful and vibrant central Cabramatta and explore the shops before settling in to a light lunch with a glass of wine at one of the top Vietnamese restaurants.
Start Cabramatta 10.30am - $85 - VIE
Saturday 4th October 2003
Turkish Tour of Auburn Start with a Turkish coffee in a beautiful Aladdin's cave of a cafe and learn about Turkish food and ingredients then discover some of the riches of this vibrant suburb - the Afghan Bread shop, emporiums filled with spices and delicacies and implements including pretty tea glasses for Turkish apple tea, Real Turkish Delight, great bakeries and butchers, followed by a generous lunch and a visit to the inspiring Gallipoli Mosque.
Start Auburn 10.30am - $75 - TUR
Saturday 11th October 2003
Walking Tour Little Italy in Haberfield Visit delis full of beautiful olives, cheeses, smallgoods, oils, pasta and sauces, bakeries famous for bread, fresh pasta makers, expert cheese and chocolate makers, some of the best Italian fruit and vegetables and a fresh seafood shop - all at friendly family-run businesses. Indulge in some great coffee, enjoy a fabulous lunch of homemade pasta, woodfired pizza and gorgeous wines followed by some of the best sweets in town.
Start Haberfield 10.00am sharp - $75 - ITA
Saturday 11th October 2003
Greek Walking Tour of Marrickville Start with a Greek coffee and some wonderful freshly baked biscuits and pastries from one of the best bakers in Sydney. This is a find tucked away in Marrickville. Then we drive (we can organise a lift for you) to colourful bustling Illawarra Road to visit a number of family owned Greek businesses including a butcher with some of the best lamb and louganika (Greek Sausages), taste and learn about the range of olives and fetta cheese, discover the best Greek bread shop in town, deli, spice store and more, before settling into a traditional banquet style lunch at our favourite Greek restaurant.
Start Marrickville 10.30am - $75 - MAR
Sunday 12th October 2003
Cabramatta Walking Tour & Cooking Demonstration & Lunch Start with tea and Vietnamese sweets and a full cooking demonstration from an accredited Vietnamese cooking teacher. Learn about the various ingredients and the many herbs used in the cuisine and taste some of the delicious and easy recipes. Then walk to colourful and vibrant central Cabramatta and explore the shops before settling in to a light lunch with a glass of wine at one of the top Vietnamese restaurants.
Start Cabramatta 10.30am - $85 - VIE
Saturday 18th October 2003
Lebanese Walking Tour of Punchbowl Discover some of Maeve's best finds from the Lebanese suburb of Punchbowl - amazing sweets palaces, nut roasters, pizzas made with fragrant zaatar-the spice mix of sumac, sesame seeds and dried oregano, coffee roasters, spice emporiums filled with great finds.... then lunch followed by a delicious selection of sweets.
Start Punchbowl 10.30am - $75 - LEB
Monday 20th October 2003
Jewish Walking Tour of Bondi Join the Granddaughter of the owner of the first Continental Cake Shop in Bondi - Vivian Schenker as she guides you on a specialised walking tour of the delights of Jewish cuisine in Bondi learn about kosher food, gefilte fish and latkes, kreplach and kugelhoph, pate and pastrami in the specialist butchers, delis and cake shops then lunch at one of the top Jewish restaurants in town.
Start Bondi 10.00am $75 JEW. Numbers strictly limited
Saturday 25th October 2003
Pizza Making Class at Napoli in Bocca Restaurant
Ben Riccio, pizza king of Haberfield
Ever wanted to make beautiful traditional pizza at home? It's easy with the right recipe and technique...learn the secrets of perfect home-cooked pizza in this fun 90 minute class in one of the temples of great pizza, Napoli in Bocca Restaurant in Haberfield. Hands on class, recipes, plus your own pizza to take home. Numbers strictly limited.
Start Haberfield 10.00am - $55 - PIZ
Saturday 8th November 2003
Walking Tour Little Italy in Haberfield Visit delis full of beautiful olives, cheeses, smallgoods, oils, pasta and sauces, bakeries famous for bread, fresh pasta makers, expert cheese and chocolate makers, some of the best Italian fruit and vegetables, and a fresh seafood shop - all at friendly family-run businesses. Indulge in some great coffee, enjoy a fabulous lunch of homemade pasta, woodfired pizza and gorgeous wines followed by some of the best sweets in town.
Start Haberfield 10.00am sharp - $75 - ITA
Saturday 15th November 2003
Pizza Making Class at Napoli in Bocca Restaurant
Ever wanted to make beautiful traditional pizza at home? It's easy with the right recipe and technique...learn the secrets of perfect home-cooked pizza in this fun 90 minute class in one of the temples of great pizza, Napoli in Bocca Restaurant in Haberfield. Hands on class, recipes, plus your own pizza to take home. Numbers strictly limited.
Start Haberfield 10.00am - $55 - PIZ
Visit delis full of beautiful olives, cheeses, smallgoods, oils, pasta and sauces, bakeries famous for bread, fresh pasta makers, expert cheese and chocolate makers, some of the best Italian fruit and vegetables and a fresh seafood shop - all at friendly family-run businesses. Indulge in some great coffee, enjoy a fabulous lunch of homemade pasta, woodfired pizza and gorgeous wines followed by some of the best sweets in town.
Start Haberfield 10.00am sharp - $75 - ITA
Sunday 21st September 2003
Walking Tour of Leichhardt
Saturday 20th September 2003
Turkish Tour of Auburn Start with a Turkish coffee in a beautiful Aladdin's cave of a cafe and learn about Turkish food and ingredients then discover some of the riches of this vibrant suburb - the Afghan Bread shop, emporiums filled with spices and delicacies and implements including pretty tea glasses for Turkish apple tea, Real Turkish Delight, great bakeries and butchers, followed by a generous lunch and a visit to the inspiring Gallipoli Mosque.
Start Auburn 10.30am - $75 - TUR
Fuelled by a good Italian coffee, we'll visit gelato makers, butchers, pasta makers, coffee experts, sweets palaces, delis, stroll through the Forum, learn about some of the Italian cooking implements before lunch at one of Leichhardt's great Italian restaurants.
Start Leichhardt 10.00am - $75 - LEI Sunday 16th November 2003
Cabramatta Walking Tour & Cooking Demonstration & Lunch Start with tea and Vietnamese sweets and a full cooking demonstration from an accredited Vietnamese cooking teacher. Learn about the various ingredients and the many herbs used in the cuisine and taste some of the delicious and easy recipes. Then walk to colourful and vibrant central Cabramatta and explore the shops before settling in to a light lunch with a glass of wine at one of the top Vietnamese restaurants.
Start Cabramatta 10.30am - $85 - VIE
Saturday 22nd November 2003
Greek Walking Tour of Marrickville Start with a Greek coffee and some wonderful freshly baked biscuits and pastries from one of the best bakers in Sydney. This is a find tucked away in Marrickville. Then we drive (we can organise a lift for you) to colourful bustling Illawarra Road to visit a number of family owned Greek businesses including a butcher with some of the best lamb and louganika (Greek Sausages), taste and learn about the range of olives and fetta cheese, discover the best Greek bread shop in town, deli, spice store and more, before settling into a traditional banquet style lunch at our favourite Greek restaurant.
Start Marrickville 10.30am - $75 - MAR
Fuelled by a good Italian coffee, we'll visit gelato makers, butchers, pasta makers, coffee experts, sweets palaces, delis, stroll through the Forum, learn about some of the Italian cooking implements before lunch at one of Leichhardt's great Italian restaurants.
Start Leichhardt 10.00am - $75 - LEI
Wednesday 10th December 2003
Walking Tour of Leichhardt Fuelled by a good Italian coffee, we'll visit gelato makers, butchers, pasta makers, coffee experts, sweets palaces, delis, stroll through the Forum, learn about some of the Italian cooking implements followed by a light lunch.
Start Leichhardt 9.30am - $75 - LEI
Saturday 13th December 2003
Greek Walking Tour of Marrickville Start with a Greek coffee and some wonderful freshly baked biscuits and pastries from one of the best bakers in Sydney. This is a find tucked away in Marrickville. Then we drive (we can organise a lift for you) to colourful bustling Illawarra Road to visit a number of family owned Greek businesses including a butcher with some of the best lamb and louganika (Greek Sausages), taste and learn about the range of olives and fetta cheese, discover the best Greek bread shop in town, deli, spice store and more, before settling into a traditional banquet style lunch at our favourite Greek restaurant.
Start Marrickville 10.30am - $75 - MAR
Saturday 13th December 2003
Walking Tour Little Italy in Haberfield Visit delis full of beautiful olives, cheeses, smallgoods, oils, pasta and sauces, bakeries famous for bread, fresh pasta makers, expert cheese and chocolate makers, some of the best Italian fruit and vegetables, and a fresh seafood shop - all at friendly family-run businesses. Indulge in some great coffee, enjoy a fabulous lunch of homemade pasta, woodfired pizza and gorgeous wines followed by some of the best sweets in town.
Start Haberfield 10.00am sharp - $75 - ITA
All safaris are led by experienced guides
Sunday 30th November 2003
Walking Tour of Leichhardt
Saturday 27th September 2003
Greek Walking Tour of Marrickville Start with a Greek coffee and some wonderful freshly baked biscuits and pastries from one of the best bakers in Sydney. This is a find tucked away in Marrickville. Then we drive (we can organise a lift for you) to colourful bustling Illawarra Road to visit a number of family owned Greek businesses including a butcher with some of the best lamb and louganika (Greek Sausages), taste and learn about the range of olives and fetta cheese, discover the best Greek bread shop in town, deli, spice store and more, before settling into a traditional banquet style lunch at our favourite Greek restaurant.
Start Marrickville 10.30am - $75 - MAR
|
