Kangaroo Island has a Special Flavour...
Many innovative
and far sighted Islanders have turned to other forms of primary production
as alternatives to the traditional island industries of wool, cereal
cropping and fishing.
The diverse and increasing range of produce appeals to the most discerning
food enthusiast.
Poultry products
Among the cornucopia of food delights are the
free-range poultry products.
The fox free status of the Island, enables the poultry to roam free,
ensuring big, meaty birds.
The reputation of the Island's free range, corn fed poultry has seen
it highlighted in
Australian Gourmet Traveler, and it is featured on the menus of quality
restaurants
throughout Australia.
Kangaroo Island free range eggs are also a much sought after product.
Seafood
Naturally, fresh seafood is one of the Island's
most prolific products and features prominently
on the menus of the Island's many eating establishments. King George
Whiting is one of the most
popular and frequently requested dishes. Marron - a freshwater
crayfish, is another speciality that has
gained many fans. Simple to cook and serve, it has a fine taste and
texture that appeals
to all lovers of shell fish.
Jams & Condiments
Other products made with great thought
and care are the many delicious jams, jellies, sauces and pickles.
Many of these are made with local wild food ingredients. Visitors who
stay at some of the smaller
accommodation houses or B&B's are often treated to locally made berry
jams,
or perhaps native apple or currant jelly.
Island Pure Sheep Milk products
Island Pure makes a beautiful
sheep's milk yoghurt, which can be enjoyed in its natural form,
or try the delicious honey flavoured variety containing the Island's
famed Ligurian Honey.
Island Pure also produces a range
of mouthwatering traditional cheeses, including
Haloumi, Manchego, Kefalotiri, Gourmet Feta and Ricotta.
Probably the most sought after
of these is Haloumi. Made in the traditional way, with dried mint
pressed into the centre of each block of folded cheese, this is a taste
you will never forget!
Haloumi makes a wonderful entree - browned lightly on both sides and
served hot,
with a squeeze of lemon juice...it is featured on many of the island's
restaurant and cafe menus.
For an extra treat, you can visit the Island Pure Sheep Milk Dairy and taste their products before you buy.
Tours of the Dairy include a bird's
eye view of "the girls" being milked, a video presentation
about this
innovative and much awarded enterprise, and a chance to gain some delicious
cooking and
serving suggestions from the people who make the products!
Kangaroo Island Brie and Camembert
The island's dairies produce some
of Australia's best cheese. The award winning Kangaroo Island
Brie and Camembert make an excellent compliment to any meal or picnic.
A Developing Wine Industry
A new and fast developing industry
for the island is viticilture. The local climate is ideal
for slow ripening of red varietal grapes. Wines are now being produced
from these vines - the reds are
creating exciting discussion amongst both critics and those who simply
enjoy a good wine.
To finish a perfect meal of Kangaroo
Island's excellent food, or as a night cap,
you might like to try Island Sting - a honey liqueur, again featuring
the golden nectar
produced by the island's hard working ligurian
bees.
Many more exciting and delicious products to try
There are a number of other unique
Kangaroo Island food products which will make your culinary
exploration even more fascinating. These include Kangaroo Island Prime
Lamb,
Locally grown salad vegetables and extra virgin olive oils, to name
a few.