Gourmet Farmer Matthew Evans is taking a break from the farm to head off on the adventure of a lifetime with his foodie friends Nick Haddow and Ross O’Meara.
In Gourmet Farmer Afloat, the three guys are swapping their wellies for deck shoes for a culinary and historical expedition of their island home of Tasmania in a wooden yacht. The boat is stocked with fishing rods, diving gear, one barrel of whiskey, 200 bottles of wine, fresh Tasmanian produce and a handful of history books.
The bromance between Matthew Evans, Ross O’Meara and Nick Haddow blossomed over three seasons on Gourmet Farmer. With their gumboots stuck firmly in the fertile soils of the Apple Isle, everything so far has been smooth sailing. Off land, things take on a different tack. When these three farmers with with no sailing experience embark on a circumnavigation of the rugged coast of Tasmania their sailing skills and mateship will be challenged on this adventure of a lifetime.
Under the watchful eye of skipper Garth Wigston aboard his classic 46ft timber yacht, Solquest, the adventurous three are putting their friendship to the test as they take to the high seas for the first time to trace the path followed by the first Europeans charting Tasmanian shores. Along the way, they reveal the forgotten maritime history of the Apple Isle, and discover how the Indigenous Tasmanians and explorers lived on this little island at the bottom of the world. Exploring the rich culinary experiences along the shores and inlets, these passionate foodies discover a wealth of local produce – from native foods like abalone and crayfish, to more modern imports like Cape Grim beef, potatoes and whiskey. To mix things up with modern cuisine, they create authentic heritage dishes eaten by the early colonists and explorers.
Using sea kayaks to explore hidden lagoons and scuba gear to dive beneath the waves, they will show a side of the island few ever get to see.
Gourmet Farmer Afloat takes these fun loving farmers away from their usual daily working life and casts them adrift, following their journey at sea as they cook, explore and adapt to sailing life.
‘Circumnavigate Tasmania on a culinary adventure of a lifetime, how hard can it be!” – Matthew Evans
Gourmet Farmer Afloat is produced by Essential Media and Entertainment for SBS and premieres on Thursday 19 February at 7.30pm on SBS One.