Bundjalung man, Mark Olive will be back on his family’s home ground in his conversation about country, cooking and native ingredients at the Kyogle Writers Festival on Friday, May 13.
Mark is no stranger to Kyogle. He has visited ”a heap of times”.
“Usually I visit cousins in Casino and we’d often travel to Kyogle for family outings, picnics and walks. I know the area really well… and love it,” he said.
Mark was born in Wollongong and became interested in cooking as a child as he watched his mother and aunts prepare meals.
Mark is known as The Black Olive and has been a chef for 30 years.
His passion is fusing native food and culture with contemporary lifestyle cooking.
Mark created and starred in his own television series Outback Cafe, which is still viewed internationally. He was also a host on the SBS show The Chef’s Line.
Mark has cooked on the Oprah Winfrey show and for dignitaries around the world.
He is passionate about the land and all that grows from it and is an expert in native fauna and the food and medicinal purpose produced from them.
Mark Olive will be In Conversation with Adele Wessell from Southern Cross University.
“I can’t wait to come back and visit the area and enjoy everything the writers festival has to offer,” Mark said.
“It’s shaping up to be a fantastic weekend. It was 2017 when I was last in Kyogle. While I’m at the festival, I’m looking forward to catching up with old friends and making new ones too.
“Plus seeing some family that I haven’t been able to properly connect with in a few years thanks to covid. Bring it on!”
Join them on Friday, May 13 at the Kyogle Memorial Institute Hall main stage at 5:30-6:30pm
Tickets are $20/ $15 concession and you can buy them here.
