The 29^th FOOD (Food of Orange District) Week was cancelled earlier this year due to COVID.

FOOD Week is on April 9-18 and tickets go on sale in mid-January next year.

"Thirty years heralds a new era for FOOD and a maturity that can't be matched by any other food festival in Australia," said Dr. Michael Sobotta, who will oversee his first FOOD Week as president in 2021.

"It is also an opportunity to reflect on the successes and challenges of the last three decades, and to revitalise our organisation for the future of our local industry, our farmers, producers and chefs, and the foodies who flock here year after year."

The first FOOD Week in 1991 only had two signature events: a Friday evening dinner for 120 using local region produce, and a Saturday local producers market known as FOOD Affair.

In 1992 Philip Searle, who was chef at super-trendy Sydney trough Oasis Seros (1987-94), was the inaugural celebrity guest chef.

In the early years FOOD Week played host to highly-regarded chefs including Tony Bilson, Peter Doyle, Luke Mangan and Stefano Manfredi.

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