"Consuming Passions not only managed to bring the world to Australia, they also added a touch of heartfelt and true passion to the food & wine-industry. They know what food is about: love, sharing, bringing people together, probably the most social of all social media! I always felt extremely welcome in what became a United Nations of food & wine."

Toni De Coninck

Executive editor

SVAB-Magazine

Belgium

"If you need someone to ‘herd cats’ then Marina Libia is your woman – wonderfully adept at running a complex schedule, numerous competing itineraries and juggling the peccadillos and egos of a vastly diverse array of talent."

Matt Preston

Award winning British-Australian food journalist, restaurant critic and TV presenter

"Tasting Australia has been an important catalyst for a diverse group of stakeholders in Australia's food scene. It has created an environment where media, chefs, producers and intellectuals have exchanged ideas and forged links that was different to any other in Australia. Tasting has been an important part of my development as a journalist working in and around food and food culture. An important part of its role has been the professionalism of the organisation behind it. "

John Lethlean

Food and Restaurants at The Australian

"Tasting Australia has been much more that a gathering of like-minded food and wine people. It has afforded those attending an education given in the most enjoyable classroom – the amazingly diverse regions of South Australia - with the most sympathetic, passionate, caring,clever, articulate teachers imaginable, that is, the chefs, winemakers, growers and artisan producers of the state.

The inaugural event in 1997 was not only world class, it was simply outstanding. It remains the benchmark against which all other international food and wine events are measured.

The beating heart of Tasting Australia is of course Ian Parmenter, David Evans and Marina Libia, a trio who have carried their vision through 8 outstanding events. They are to be commended for their talents, for setting such lofty goals and achieving them, and in maintaining such an extraordinarily high standard over 16 years.

For my personal journey, I have attended every Tasting Australia event that’s been held and have always gone away enthused about the experience, my head swimming with new information and ideas. I have learnt so much about South Australia, and Australia, too, and find it is a rich resource to have in my culinary career. I have bonded with colleagues from across-the-Tasman whom I first met at a TA event, and enjoy an on-going exchange of information with many of them. I’ve also made many lifelong friends.

Julie Biuso

Ambassador Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand

Ambassador FMNZ

RECIPIENT OF THE GOOD EGG AWARD 2011 ROYAL NZ SPCA

New Cookbook SWEET FEAST - Wins BEST DESSERT BOOK IN NZ GOURMAND AWARDS

"It is quite rare these days to encounter a team that is as efficient and enthusiastic as Consuming Passions. I have attended several Tasting Australia events organised by David Evans and his team at Consuming Passions and have experienced only the finest organisation, cooperation, support, fellowship and back up.

Nothing ever seems to be a problem and I am continually impressed that the team always maintains its composure, good humour and professionalism even under the most testing circumstances.

These days it is quite rare to work with people who get it. Consuming Passions get it."

David Bowden

Travel Write Sdn Bhd

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia