Show to put Tassie on the travel menu
(Source: The Advocate)
Local celebrity "foodie" Ben Milbourne is back on the small screen for the
first time in two years after the first episode of his new cooking show
aired on Channel Ten yesterday afternoon.
Devonport
man Mr Milbourne has not been on-screen on television since his
appearance in 2012's season of popular cooking show MasterChef.
The
first episode of Bens' Menu aired at 4pm yesterday afternoon and
featured Mr Milbourne at the Cradle Coast Farmers Market and visiting
Andrew Craigie's Sassafras farm.
Mr
Milbourne said it took a little while to get used to public speaking and
getting back in front of a camera but said he got better as the filming
went along.
"When we were on MasterChef we
were always told not to look at the camera but for the show [Bens Menu]
it's all about engaging with the viewer," Mr Milbourne said.
Mr
Milbourne has been filming the show for the last two months and said it
was a great feeling knowing that the end-game he had been working so
hard for had finally arrived.
He said the aim of the show was two-fold:
"Firstly,
it's about showing that you can make a national television show here
[North West Tasmania] but it's also about showing off Tasmania," he
said.
Mr Milbourne said the entire first season of the show was filmed in Tasmania and said he was proud to show off his home state.
"I always refer to Tassie as the show's co-host," he laughed.
The state government provided $100,000 for the show, to help showcase the region and the state as a foodie tourism destination.
Premier
and Tourism Minister Will Hodgman said the show was a chance to
showcase the state's fresh produce "with our beautiful state as the
backdrop."
"There’s no doubt produce like
our seafood and wines will get mouths watering, but more so, Ben’s
travels around the state will give Australians a taste of the unique
experiences Tasmania has to offer," Mr Hodgman said.
Bens
Menu will air on Channel Ten Mondays to Fridays at 4pm. To celebrate
the release of Ben's latest book Tasmanian Trails the Devonport Bookshop
will be hosting an author event on September 12 at 1pm. At the
event Ben will talk to readers and sign copies of his new book.
