Touch and Taste Australia in Prague – March 2004

Australian Celebrity chefs, Vic Cherikoff and Benjamin Christie from the popular Australian cooking show Dining Downunder ™ were invited to host Touch and Taste Australia in Prague, from the 18th to the 25th of March 2004 at the Corinthia Tower Hotel. Touch & Taste Australia was reportedly Prague’s largest ever culinary event held in the Czech Republic since the countries independence in 1993.

Touch and Taste Australia took over 6 months of planning and was organised by Petr-Vodvarka from Austrade and hosted by General Manager, Christian Grange of the five star Corinthia Towers Hotel.

Touch and Taste Australia was officially opened by Patrick Lawless, Australian Ambassador to Poland and the Czech Republic. The opening event started with a short cocktail party featuring cocktails including Iced Riberry Martini, Wild Lime Caipiroska, Spicy Akudjura Bloody Mary with various native Australian inspired canapés. Then guests made their way to the main restaurant, to experience a 4 course set menu with matching Australian wines. The menu consisted of;

• Kimberley coconut soup
• Lemon aspen sorbet
• Akudjura crusted lamb rack with Alpine pepper mash and Illawarra plum sauce.
• Wattleseed Pavlova with rosella coulis
• Lemon Myrtle Tea

The final event of the week was a Hospitality Luncheon where all the General Managers, Food and Beverage Managers and Executive Chef from Prague hotels joined us for an afternoon to experience the unique flavours of Australia. The lunched kicked off with a cocktail party in the kitchen, where various canapés and dishes were being prepared. This gave the opportunity for guests to ask questions. Then the main course was served, with the highlight being an Aboriginal entertainer taking stage.

Other successful events during Touch and Taste Australia were an Aussie Brunch for over 250 guests, a Wine Degustation Dinner for 100 and a daily mini trade fair highlighting the best food, wine, fashion and products from Australia.

Big thanks to Christian Grange, chef Martin Jiskra, Marcus Bauder, Linda Nejezchlebova and the entire kitchen crew of the Corinthia Towers Hotel.