During September I made it my personal mission to try all seven Geraldine SCOFF dishes this year. There were some very happy lunch breaks, a berry custard tart squeezed in despite being full, and a blackcurrant éclair so good I went back the next day for another, Savory Cheese muffins delivered to a friend and a few family dinners out. #bestjobever I wonder how you get to become and official judge!!!

One discovery I made that I thoroughly enjoyed was the Raspberry alcoholic lemonade at House of Hop, made with black raspberries supplied by Stancrdu Berry Farm. It was delicious, refreshing and very moreish. Learning where the berries came from added something to the experience: a local grower’s work was there in my glass.

That connection is what stayed with me after SCOFF, the South Canterbury Outstanding Food Festival, finished in September. The festival encourages eateries to create specials using regional products, giving diners a chance to try something different and discover the people behind the ingredients.

At Verde, a familiar flat white became a dessert. Southbound Coffee went into the coffee jelly, while neighbors Hello Gelato collaborated on the milk gelato. Add cocoa sponge and condensed milk mousse, and you had a delicious example of local businesses combining their skills.

Following an ingredient from its producer to the kitchen gives you another way to appreciate a meal. A chef finds a new use for a local product, and the person eating it gets to discover both businesses through the result.

Those connections appeared throughout the festival, from everyday ingredients such as eggs, meat and cheese to locally made drinks. Products from around Geraldine also featured in entries elsewhere in South Canterbury, sharing our area’s food talent with a wider audience.

When an eatery buys locally, part of what we spend on a meal reaches the producer too. Those businesses then buy supplies and use services in our community. Supporting one can help support another, making the relationships between them valuable well beyond the festival.

There is pleasure in getting to know the people behind our food. Asking where an ingredient comes from might introduce you to a nearby grower or maker, prompt a visit to their shop, or give you something new to look for when buying groceries.

SCOFF has finished for this year, but the skills and connections it highlighted are here all year round. For a small town, we have a lot to be proud of.

Next time you enjoy a meal locally, ask about something on your plate. You might discover a local story worth sharing.

Explore the participating Geraldine eateries

Discover the festival entries and producers at SCOFF. Any local producers whose products were included in these world class dishes deserve a mention too. So when you are looking for great cheese, meat, beer or gin be sure check out our local talent.