Duncan Welgemoed Wins Howard Twelftree Award

After a deliriously good fortnight filled with fine food, wine and company, the festival sought to thank the people among us who make Adelaide’s food scene what it is.

The inaugural Howard Twelftree Award recognises an individual’s outstanding contribution to our city’s gastronomical culture. The award is named for the late Howard Twelftree (AKA John McGrath), a respected and well-loved food writer for The Adelaide Review who sadly passed away last year. “I really loved his writing; I was a huge fan,” Amanda James-Pritchard, AFWF Director, explains. “I noticed on Facebook that a really great friend of his, the artist Timothy John, had mounted a campaign for a plaque for him in the Central Market. So I spoke to a few people who knew him, like Amanda Pepe, and said, ‘I really want to create an award; I think the Festival could have this award that would be in his memory and would live on forever and ever and ever’.” From there, the prize was an effort spearheaded by his friends. It was agreed that an annual award would be given, and that this year’s recipient would be Duncan Welgemoed, who was presented with the bespoke Jam Factory-designed award by wine writer Philip White. It was a unanimous decision that should come as no surprise – Bistro Dom’s Welgemoed (who was the brains behind the First Fruit degustation dinners at Lola’s Pergola) has been draped in too many awards and accolades to name. The 2014 Howard Twelftree Award was presented at Saturday night’s Garden of Eden event at Fall From Grace, which featured food by Welgemoed and The Happy Motel and wine from Fall From Grace, Jauma and BK Wines. Photos: Ben McGee