Upcoming Events
Winter Feast Pop-up Dinner at Groundstone
Sat 20 Aug, 2022
Hot on the heels of our late summer extravaganza, Richard is teaming up with the legends at Groundstone Cafe for another kitchen takeover pop-up dinner.
This will be one sumptuous Winter Feast. Expect loads of local produce transformed into winter-warming comfort food with a twist, alongside the polished friendly service and gorgeous styling we’ve come to expect from the Groundstone Cafe team.
Festival of the Pig at Renzaglia Wines
Sat 17 Sept, 2022
Alongside good friend and chef Hugh Piper (Dear Sainte Eloise), Richard is thrilled to be cooking at this exciting new initiative hosted by Renzaglia Wines.
Surrounded by live music and great wines, Richard and Hugh will be focussed on all things porcine, which will be supplied by local heroes of regenerative farming, Happy Pig.
At this ticketed outdoor party guests can look forward to Berkshire pigs on the spit, handmade Toulouse sausages, porchetta sandwiches and a range of other piggy treats.
Explorers Table at Mayfield Vineyard
Sat 1 Oct, 2022
An intimate evening at the Explorers Table showcasing Mayfield Vineyard's new release wines and special museum wines paired with a locally sourced menu prepared by Richard Learmonth.
Hosted by Mayfield Vineyard's owners and viticulturist, Charles Simons, guests will arrive on site and be greeted with a sparkling wine and tlk through each wine and food pairing to give insight into the 'heart' of Mayfield Vineyard - their history, vision and wine making ethos.
Explore the Classics with Colmar Estate
Sat 8 Sept, 2022
During this year's Orange Wine Festival, take a seat at the vintner’s table and savour some of Colmar Estate’s finest wines accompanying a 4-course meal prepared by celebrated chef Richard Learmonth.
Guests will explore the classic varieties that have excelled at Colmar Estate – Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – some new releases and some aged bottles from the cellar.
Past Events
F.O.O.D Week Signature Event with Mark Best
As one of Orange F.O.O.D Week 2022's signature events, Richard teamed up with iconic Australian chef Mark Best (Marque) to create a sensational four-course dinner at Philip Shaw Winery. Styled as "an intimate dinner party with friends" the two chefs traded ideas and curated a menu that reflected F.O.O.D. Week 2022's theme of "bountiful harvest."
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Producer and the Chef Dinner at Groundstone
As part of the Orange F.O.O.D. Committee Richard, has initiated and led a series of 'Producer and the Chef' events, uniting the region's best producers and cooking talent.
The inaugural Producer and the Chef event was a collaboration with Second Mouse Cheese and Groundstone Cafe where diners enjoyed a five course dinner with each dish including Second Mouse cheeses.
Lockdown Loaded with Truffles
When the 2021 Covid lockdown struck Richard had just sold tickets to fill the dining room at Groundstone Cafe for a special pop-up degustation dinner featuring Melliodora black perigord truffles.
Rather than disappoint diners and waste the special produce, a pivot was made. Guests were offered a refund (almost none chosen) or otherwise the option for a three-course ready-to-eat take home dinner featuring those black truffles.
The switch proved hugely successful and almost twice as many diners as were originally planned enjoyed a fine meal made with the best of local delicacies.
Graze in the Maze at Cadogan Country House
An outdoor long lunch at the exclusive Cadogan Country House private hedge Maze. Guests indulged in a signature meal prepared by Richard Learmonth, featuring delicious Dargo Grassfed Wagyu beef grown on the property.
Dishes were matched with award winning Colmar Estate wines whilst taking in the magnificent rural vistas and exploring the maze.
Proudly sponsored by Cadogan Country House, luxury accommodation.
SBS Food - F.O.OD's 30th Anniversary Dinner
To celebrate the 30th year and acknowledge another truly positive impact that F.O.O.D Week has for Orange and its district, fine dining and the nurturing of talented young chefs – five of our outstanding younger chefs presented the Monday Night Signature F.O.O.D Week Dinner – at the Orange Function Centre.
Richard Learmonth, Ruben Lopez, Dom Aboud, Lily Hahn-Stevens & Chris Tudor – the best of our local young guns, presented the best of our local produce. Accompanied by the best of our local wine - naturally!
This event is proudly brought to you by SBS Food.
Bushfire Relief Dinner at Philip Shaw Winery
In response to the devastating bushfires of 2019/2020 Richard rallied a star-studded team from Orange's best restaurants as well as the region's leading wineries for a collaborative fundraising dinner at Philip Shaw Wines.
Under Richard's leadership this dynamic group of young chefs brought the community together to raise in excess of $30,000 for bushfire relief charities whilst celebrating local produce and showcasing the skills of an emerging generation of chefs.
Lamb on the Spit at
Mad Hatters
As the hospitality community slowly emerged from 2020's Covid lockdown, Richard cooked an outdoor mid-winter feast for the Orange Winter Fire Festival. A whole lamb was roasted on the spit, alongside other succulent bbq meats and a variety of sides as guests enjoyed a much needed celebration of great food and community.
