FIVE years ago, Tania Sibrey opened a small cooking school in Wagga.
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Ms Sibrey, who previously worked in sales and marketing, was also a dedicated foodie who wanted to see more local produce and cooking offered in the Riverina.
“At the time there wasn’t a lot of food-based experiences that were being offered,” she said.
Fast-forward to the present and Food I Am is a destination for visitors across the country.
On Sunday, it won the gold award for excellence in food tourism at the Regional Tourism Awards, beating an array of other offerings across NSW and Victoria.
From a food tour in Italy, founder Tania Sibrey told The Daily Advertiser she was overjoyed with the recognition.
“Word has spread, and is still spreading,” she said.
“Every weekend we have people who travel from Canberra, from Albury or Orange.
“That is really exciting, to be offering a product that makes people come to Wagga.”
Ms Sibrey said while national recognition had increased, professional cooking programs starting in September hoped to snag international visitors.
Submarines and sculptures were also among the eclectic Riverina tourism attractions recognised.
Holbrook’s Great Hume Visitor Information Centre was highly commended as one of the state’s top tourist question stops.
Greater Hume’s tourist and promotions officer Kerrie Wise said it showed the centre was a key point of contact for the region.
“What are submarines doing inland?” may be a question answered “at least 20 times a day”, but it serves as a key conversation starter for the Greater Hume’s other four towns.
“It’s a focal point,” she said.
In Lockhart, their Sculpture and Heritage Trail was highly commended as a tourist attraction, and Greens Gunyah Museum received the encouragement award in the cultural tourism sector.
BIG4 Deniliquin won silver in the caravan and holiday parks category.
Owners Frank and Linda White said the award is hard won recognition for staff.
Over 15 years they helped transform it from a “bush camp” to four and half star accommodation complete with a water park. The park has been recognised five out of six years it has entered.
