Tierra Bulk Foods will bring a taste of the Mediterranean to Bay Street with two evenings of food, music and community celebrations marking seven years trading and one year at its Tweed Heads shop.
The program will pair an intimate opera soirée on Friday 13 November with a Spanish fiesta featuring paella and live music on Saturday 14 November, alongside a Moroccan cooking workshop and talks exploring the Mediterranean diet and sustainable agriculture.
Co-founder Elena Pastor said the celebrations were inspired by the character of the area’s independent businesses and Tierra’s connections with Mediterranean food, music and community.
“There’s something special happening in this little corner of Bay / Stuart Street. We are so many independent small businesses with character, and we’ve developed a lovely way of celebrating things together,” Pastor said.
“So we thought, why not bring that energy to the street and create something a little different?”
Friday night will recreate what Pastor described as a Melbourne laneway atmosphere with a Mediterranean twist, featuring an opera performance by Paul Gulinello, wine, food and an apéro platter curated by Tierra.
“Think of those little corners of the Mediterranean where you stumble across a live concert, the terraces are full, people are sharing plates and nobody is in a hurry to leave,” she said.
Tierra has grown beyond its market beginnings over seven years, developing an online store and wholesale business before opening its current brick-and-mortar shop in Tweed Heads. Photo: David Cope.
“We want to bring that atmosphere to Bay Street, with Paul Gulinello’s opera performance, a ‘planche d’apéro’ curated by us, showcasing a selection of the quality Mediterranean produce, artisan cheeses, charcuterie, olives and pantry favourites you’ll find in our shop. A little moment of slow living, right in our neighbourhood.”
Saturday will take on a more vibrant and family-friendly feel, with The Spanish Catering Co serving paella and Northern Rivers musician Felicity Lawless providing live guitar music.
“Think of a village square where people gather around food and music, children are welcome, conversations flow and, before you know it, everyone is tapping their feet,” Pastor said.
The celebrations will also introduce hands-on cooking workshops, responding to customers who have long asked Tierra to offer classes.
Pastor said the workshops would focus on sharing food traditions rather than teaching complicated techniques.
“The idea isn’t to learn complicated techniques from a top chef, but something much more personal: imagine being at your grandma’s house, asking her how she makes that dish you love, because you want to learn it, keep it alive and pass it on to the next generation,” she said.
“That’s the spirit we want to bring to these workshops: sharing recipes, flavours and traditions in a relaxed, authentic way.”
Tierra has grown beyond its market beginnings over seven years, developing an online store and wholesale business before opening its current brick-and-mortar shop in Tweed Heads.
Pastor said the celebrations are intended to recognise the customers, growers and suppliers who had helped build the business.
“We want it to be a celebration of the community that has helped us grow, and a chance to keep building those connections for the years to come,” she said.
Tierra Bulk Foods’ birthday celebrations will run from 13–14 November at its shop at Unit 9/31 Stuart Street, Tweed Heads, and in the surrounding street.
For more information, visit instagram.com/tierrabulkfoods/?hl=en
Dining and Cooking