Excursion S.a.l.t. garden foraging and lunch with chef tom tilbury at adelaide botanical gardens tour at Adelaide

Join Chef Tom Tilbury for an exciting day of garden foraging at the world top rated Adelaide Botanical Gardens, followed by a sit down lunch at the new, Botanic Lodge, where guests will have 4 courses including the herb foraging items collect with premium paired local wines of Southern Australia. The collaborative foraging and incredible meal with wine pairing is an unforgettable S.A.L.T. Program culinary experience.

Drive to Adelaide Botanical Gardens

Board your coach and enjoy the short drive to the Adelaide Botanical Gardens. In the heart of the city but another world away, The Botanical Gardens shocases the beauty and diversity of plants from across Australia and around the world. Among the 50 hectares of magnificently maintained gardens and stunning architecture is the brand new Botanic Lodge opening in September of 2024. This beautiful restaurant will be the backdrop of the interactive day of foraging the gardens and upscale lunch.

Foraging the Adelaide Botanical Gardens and Chef Prepared Lunch

Hosted by Chef Tom Tilbury, you will assist him in garden foraging amongst the beautiful plants and herbs in the Botanical Garden. Here, Tom will explain how he forages for ingredients to create new and seasonal plates for the restaurant from it’s own backyard. Tom will also speak more to his approach to sustainable and ethical sourcing. During the time in the gardens, enjoy canape and Apéritif served along the way. Chef Tom will select a handful of botanicals which are palatable and can be tasted raw, and also highlight botanicals that he is using within the food and beverage menu, that are not palatable, but the guests will taste within the menu.

Once gathered, everyone is invited inside the Botanic Lodge for a sit-down lunch that includes a thought out wine pairing from local South Australia wineries.

Walk through Chihuly Exhibition
After the lunch, guests have the extremely rare opportunity to walk the grounds and see the Chihuly Exhibition. In this curated outdoor exhibition, you will discover 15 large-scale glass sculptures by world-renowned artist, Dale Chihuly. Discover his signature playful forms and vibrant colours at different times of the day, for a unique experience during your visit.

In conclusion, the tour will take a short walk back to board the bus to return to the ship.

Chef Tom Tilbury

Chef Tom Tilbury, a prominent figure in the Australian culinary scene, hails from the heart of McLaren Vale, a region synonymous with exceptional food and wine. From a young age, Tilbury was immersed in the local traditions of farming, fishing, and foraging, experiences that laid a rich foundation for his culinary journey. His passion for food was ignited at the age of eight after a memorable lunch at the Botanic Gardens Restaurant, setting him on the path to becoming a chef.

Tilbury began his culinary apprenticeship in Adelaide and completed it at d'Arry's Verandah Restaurant under the mentorship of Peter Reschke and Nigel Rich. This formative period instilled in him a deep appreciation for seasonal, locally sourced produce and meticulous craftsmanship. In 2009, after completing his apprenticeship, he moved to Margaret River, where he honed his skills at Cullen Wines. Here, he cooked with produce from their biodynamic vegetable gardens, further refining his approach to sustainable and ethical sourcing.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Adelaide Botanical Gardens, Chef Tom Tilbury, Botanic Lodge, 4-course meal with wine pairing, Chihuly Exhibition

Note

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking, at times over uneven and natural surfaces and inclines, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach. Walking at Adelaide Botanical Gardens is at the discretion of each guest. This tour is not suitable for guests prone to motion sickness, guests with limited mobility, and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sun protection, a sweater or light jacket, bottled water, and Australian Dollars or credit cards for purchases from the ship. Guests must be at least 18 years old to participate on this tour; minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 18 years old. Guests must be at least 18 years old to be served alcoholic beverages.  Operation of this tour is subject to weather conditions. The tour sequence may vary. Space on this tour is extremely limited; we suggest you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.