British Oysters, Beer and Ballet Are Coming to “Tasting Australia” Adelaide in 2012

A trio of well-known British names - Mark "Oyster & Chop House" Hix, Richard "Beer Chef" Fox and Tony "Spandau Ballet" Hadley - will be joining some of Australia's finest epicureans for a world-class gastronomical line up at next year's Tasting Australia (www.tasting-australia.com.au), taking place in Adelaide from April 26th - May 3rd 2012.

The British talent announced for next year's event includes:

• Mark Hix, Britain's reluctant celebrity chef and owner of the Hix suite of English seasonal restaurants, including Hix Oyster & Chop House in London's Smithfield Market. Hix was a 2007 finalist on the hit show Great British Menu.
• Richard Fox, England's "beer chef", renowned for his equally consuming passions for cooking and brewing. 
• Former Spandau Ballet front man, BBC Celebrity MasterChef and boutique brewery owner, Tony Hadley.

TASTING AUSTRALIA is the most significant food and wine festival of its kind in the Asia Pacific region, showcasing the very best Australia has to offer in terms of food, wine, beer and the culinary arts. Festival-goers will be able to rub shoulders with renowned chefs, epicureans and food media personalities as part of a series of interactive events.

While Tasting Australia remains the pinnacle industry event on the Australian culinary calendar, organisers say next year's event will be the most interactive for amateur foodies and the public. There will be a special focus on youth activities, regional experiences and the arts with an amazing array of hands-on experiences for young and old, including L - Plates, a new event where amateur foodies get a chance to acquire skills in making artisan breads, cheeses and cocktails. While an expanded Kids in the Kitchen will give children the opportunity to learn about the principles of food preparation.

MARK HIX is a celebrated food writer and renowned restaurateur, recently winning Chef of the Year and the Catey's 2010 and Tatler's Restaurateur of the Year in January 2009. In 2008 he opened two restaurants: Hix Oyster & Chop House in Smithfield, London and Hix Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis, Dorset. His first West-End restaurant HIX opened to critical acclaim in October 2009 in the heart of Soho, featuring the award-winning Mark's Bar in the basement. His latest restaurant, HIX Restaurant and Champagne Bar, opened in Selfridges, London in March 2010. Mark has also written nine cookbooks, releasing HIX Oyster and Chop House in July 2010.

RICHARD FOX is a TV chef and beer expert. His first book, The Food and Beer Cook Book was published in 2006. Richard co-wrote Morrissey's Perfect Pint with Neil Morrissey which was published in September 2008. Channel 4 then commissioned a three part series based on Neil and Richard brewing their own beer. He has talked and demonstrated at The National Chef's Conference as well as numerous corporate and private events around the world. He has appeared on UKTV Food, Saturday Cooks on ITV, The Good Food Show on BBC Radio 4, to name but a few. He was also co-presenter with Neil Morrissey for an ITV series called 'Men Brewing Badly', which saw the dynamic duo travelling across Africa to the world cup.

TONY HADLEY has other business interests aside from his life in the music industry. Since 2006 as co-owner of the Red Rat Craft Brewery in Suffolk, he has become a brewer, supplying ales and stouts to Jimmy's Farm, Threshers, Sainsbury's, House of Fraser, and various regiments of the armed forces. Tony also has his own-brand of award-winning ales, including "Hadley's Golden Ale", "Hadley's Crazy Dog Stout", and later this year will launch "Hadley's Gold" and "Hadley's SB".

For further information please link to; Find The Best Food, Wine, Beer and Culinary Arts At Tasting Australia, Adelaide, April 26th - May 3rd 2012