Dinner and a show? Don’t mind if I do. And when that dinner is organised by none other than Africola’s Duncan Welgemoed, you know it’s going to be good. The Garden Feast is not your usual style of Adelaide Fringe event. Taking place in the beautiful surroundings of The Garden of Unearthly Delights, it’s more of a celebration of food, friends and the sharing of cooking traditions that have been passed down for generations. On the Monday that I attended the event with my friend Kirby, we got to experience Māori cooking, hear stories of how it came about, and even hear some songs from New Zealand that have become world-famous. Chefs Rewi Spraggon and Tama Salive may not be that well known here in Australia, but across the ditch, their style of cooking and passion for food have won worldwide acclaim. Rewi is a “Hangi Master” with the word ‘hangi’ meaning that baskets are placed on hot stones at the bottom of a hole dug into the ground. This indigenous way of cooking is what we got to enjoy, and although this Māori duo wasn’t allowed to dig a hole in The Garden grounds, they built a pit above it and made do with what they had. The end result: smokey, flavourful dishes that left every one of the guests at this sold-out event groaning in delight. On the menu was kingfish with coconut cream and lime, buffalo wings, and chargrilled veggies, with the showpiece of the evening being the delicious, gelatinous, smokey Hangi-cooked pork belly served with carrot and parsnips. If I were to give the food a rating out of five, I’d give it a ten! The weather was brilliant, the entertainment provided by Leather Lungs and friends was sensational, and the service was fantastic. The only minor issues were that the main course side dishes of vegetables were served up half an hour before the pork belly arrived, and no plates arrived with dessert. But that was only a minor inconvenience for a truly memorable evening. If you get the chance to experience The Garden Feast next year, make sure to put it first on your Fringe list. Enjoy! FOUR AND A HALF STARS ****1/2 Reviewed by Shane Berketa