Celeb chef announced for opening night

AWARD-winning author, broadcaster, journalist and reality TV star Alice Zaslavsky will be cooking up a storm for guests at the Writers Festival’s opening night banquet.

Following a meal themed Hero Vegetables (and friends) Zaslavsky will hit the stage for a conversation about all things cooking, vegetables and life.

As a chef, Zaslavsky is a fan of both the festival and the town and said she is looking forward to this year’s event.

“It’s not my first rodeo in regard to the Bendigo Writers Festival,” she said. “It’s one of my favourite festivals in the state because Bendigo is the City of Gastronomy.

“As a foodie I love coming to the city, I know how engaged the people and the council are at bringing great food and great conversations about food to the city of Bendigo.

“I have friends that live in and around Bendigo and I’m always looking for any excuse to get down there.”

As for the banquet itself, Zaslavsky said she can’t wait to show the guests what she has to offer.

“They can expect a vegetable-forward menu which is exactly my style,” she said. “So, the omnivores will have plenty to enjoy, and you can expect a conversation that will surprise and delight.

“People know me for my cooking but they also know me from my chats as host of breakfast on ABC Radio Melbourne.

“So, guests could be there for my cookbooks or because they listen to me every Saturday morning, but they both come back to connection and that’s number one for me.”

Zaslavsky said there is one aspect of the night she prefers over the other.

“More than anything else I love a chat on a microphone,” she said. “Clearly, I can talk underwater.”

Tickets for the Festival Banquet are on sale now at bit.ly/2YeJ8fi and will be held on Thursday, 4 May.