Welcome if this is your first newsletter and welcome back to our treasured long term supporters. I’m writing this surrounded by packing cubes and suitcases…you’d think after all these years I might be better at packing cleverly and light – sadly not! and I’m always looking for the inspired Australian gift to give our hosts in Greece, Portugal and Spain. (I remember giving Aussie socks to a couple of lovely gentlemen in Corsica who looked at them with absolute surprise as they only wear fine leather loafers…and always without socks! Same thing with mugs, tea towels, nick knacks – in coffee cultures a tea mug isn’t cool…ceramic kangaroos though were clever one year).

I’m excited to be going back to see our Greek, Portuguese and Spanish friends who welcome our groups and have for many years. It’s such a privilege to be able to weave these trips together and hone them each year.

This time on our Greek safari we have a new rising star chef cooking with our group at Candili estate in Evia, the first of 4 islands. Carolina Doriti is the author of Salt of the Earth and will have her next cookbook is out later this year. Click here for more information.

If you don’t already follow me on Instagram or Facebook, please do, so you can enjoy our adventures on the road.

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I’m also taking a little time before the first trip to travel through Sicily and Malta with my partner Toufic who has been working hard at our South Coast business Beach Safari in Currarong. It’s been an intense 10 months and we are getting rave reviews for great fish and chips and burgers as well as showcasing delicious flavours from around the world.

It’s good to know that our manager Suzy is looking after everything while we are away. Thank God for her. If you need to phone, she’s in the office 10am to 4 pm weekdays – 89696555.

We wanted to flag a few things that you may enjoy doing with us, some trips for next year and a beautiful end of year lunch with our chef friend Peter Conistis at his sparkling new restaurant.

Safaris for 2025

We are taking bookings for Sardinia and Corsica. Click here for more information 

We also have long lists of expressions of interest for Portugal and Spain. Click here for more information.

And our long running spectacular Greek Islands safari. Click here for more information.

We’ll have the dates for the tours next year, later this year.

Tasmania always runs mid-November Click here for more information

New Zealand 2025

We have one of the island’s top chefs James Stapley cooking for us; a visit to Amisfield, one of the World’s top 50 restaurants; and of course we taste some of the best wines of the region. We have a visit to an extensive private estate owned by New Zealand Chef Nadia Lim (https://nadialim.com) who is treasured for her simple easy recipes and natural charm. We have a special tour of her property including meeting some of her 5000 very happy chickens roaming in the sunshine and enjoy a couple of demonstration recipes with her.

This is such a perfect time to visit the South Island as the twilight long and the weather is generally balmy. Click Here for more information.

Sydney Safaris

What an absolute treat to have a whole afternoon enjoying some of the best Greek food in Australia and in a setting that looks just like you’ve stepped into a chic resort on a Greek island. This is the new restaurant from our incredibly talented friend Peter Conistis.

In the Novotel at Brighton-Le-Sands, Ammos is set high above the beach and pine trees with the blue water all around.

We gather for alfresco drinks in a private area of the stunning white and cream surrounds and then sit down to a feast you will treasure, with Greek classics reimagined by Peter and some new signature dishes. Peter will demonstrate one of two dishes as we enjoy the special setting and matched wines from our friends in Earlwood – Miloway Wines.

Saturday 7th December – 12.30pm – 4pm.  Click here to book.

Marrickville Producers Safari

This is such a wonderful behind the scenes explore of light industrial Marrickville and the small family owned businesses that produce freshly roasted coffee, pillowy sourdough muffins, a range of Italian soft cheeses including burrata, an ethical butchery, gin distillery, and gelato plus lunch at the acclaimed Lucky Prawn at the Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre. It’s such a brilliant mix of tastes and passionate people that the international independent magazine-meets-journal Lodestars came to write us up for the next edition. Thanks to Editor Liz Schaffer for finding us! Join their mailing list – this is incredible work and so inspiring for travel-minded people. The latest Italian theme magazine sealed our decision to go to Sicily!

https://lodestarsanthology.co.uk/products/issue-4-italy-revisited

Here are some of the photos from the day. Our next safari is on Thursday 22 August. Click here to book.

Middle Eastern Safari 

This is a safari that delivers so much and our guests just love sending their feedback at the end of the day.

“ Our experience with the Middle Eastern Gourmet Safari far surpassed any expectation. Our beautiful tour guide Ulku was not only knowledgeable but also incredibly passionate about the local food scene. She shared her insights into the history and culture behind each dish adding a whole new dimension to the tasting experience.

We covered several suburbs and at each stop we were met with open arms to sample the food. It truly was a non-stop feast. Highlights included stopping at a Turkish market. Ulku showcased some of her favourite products and gave us lots of ideas of how to use the ingredients at home.

Being shown what to buy and where to buy it from, I now have a bag full of amazing ingredients and can look forward to trying to recreate some of the delicious dishes that we sampled on our tour. A special shout out to our tour bus driver Kamal who made the day extra fun with his humour and kindness. We can’t wait to join another tour with them!”

And this one:

“We had the most wonderful day exploring the suburbs home to the Middle Eastern and Turkish cuisines and especially loved the “back stage” access to the vendors and their stories. The food was delicious at every stop.

Big thanks to Ulku for keeping us all engaged throughout a long, cold Sydney’s winter’s day.  Ulku is so passionate and warm and made sure everyone was included and valued and attended to. She works very hard but never makes it look like an effort. She is a lovely person and an asset to Gourmet Safaris.

Our driver for the day – Kamal – was also excellent and his conversation and stories of his Turkish culture was an added bonus.  We look forward to our next Safari!” Our next safari is on Saturday 7 September. Click here to book or for more information.

Indian Breakfast – we love that we were booked for a special private safari to celebrate our guest Jane’s 60th birthday with friends. Such a great idea to have all the work done and enjoy a series of delicious dishes and an explore of the Harris Park neighbourhood with our guide Bhavna. Starting with spiced chai made in the traditional method, then some of the favourite breakfast/bunch dishes before visiting the sweets store and then going sari shopping. Our next Indian breakfast is on Saturday 21 September. Click here for more information.

Best of the Mediterranean

Immerse in a day of Mediterranean flavours without the long distance flight. Our hosts are Italian, Cypriot and Sicilian…all small family businesses dedicated to authentic flavours.

We start with a good Italian coffee at our friends Paesanella who make fresh Italian cheese every day, taste just-made ricotta, bocconcini and oh so heavenly burrata. Journey into the Cypriot heartland for dips and a range of fabulous olives – the jumbo green olives are superb! plus Cypriot specialties and ingredients; see olive bread made,visit an amazing Italian deli before finishing the day with lunch and wood fired pizzas and pasta and salad with a glass of wine. Magnificent fun day! Our next tour is on Saturday 24 August. Click hereto book.

French Safari

Our French Gourmet Safaris are simply exquisite days…featuring knowledgeable hosts presenting the best cheese, baguettes, croissants, exceptional ingredients from butter to truffles and restaurant quality meat, a champagne and chocolate paring, 3 course lunch with wine…and our guests have been raving about just how good it is and the care and expertise of our guide Alejandro.

This is what one of our guests from last safari said:

“I came on the tour from a recommendation from a fellow work colleague who did the same tour a few months ago and I will be certainly spreading the word of how fabulous it is. Guide Alex is so knowledgeable and charming and Ali is an awesome driver, we had an amazing day!

We learnt so many new things from Michael about the French pastries and bread and the way they are made, and from Sogna about the beautiful cheeses and their origins, and how to store and care for our own cheeses.

David Bitton at his restaurant was such an amazing person to listen to and very playful as well. Thank you all again for such a magnificent first timer foodie tour. I’ll be back again for certain!” Our next French Safari is on Saturday 14 September. Click here to book.

Melbourne Gourmet Safari 

We have created many tours in Melbourne over the years and love exploring this great food city. Our current safari – led by Maeve – is a “world in a day” experience starting with Guy Grossi and team in the lovely restaurant in Bourke Street and wending our way through Spanish and Portuguese, the most charming family at the most unique English, Irish, Scottish butchery, plus a pumping Middle Eastern emporium, Afghan bakery and grocery store, lunch with Joseph Abboud at the acclaimed Rumi plus gelato to finish! Next Melbourne Safari is Saturday 30 November – Click here to book.

Plus we have spaces on:

Italian Walking tour of Haberfield – Saturday 14 September

Turkish Walking tour (with Ulku) – Saturday 21 September

Turkish Breakfast (with Ulku) – Saturday 5 October

Lebanese Walking tour – Saturday 12 October

Lebanese Breakfast – Saturday 26 October

All the best to you all

And hope to see you soon,

Maeve and Suzy