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Turning tastes into words at Uni of Adelaide

Thursday, 26 July 2007

Vikki Moore and her fellow new ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide graduates have become skilled over the past six months in finding the best words to describe tastes.

Vikki is one of the first group of students completing the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s new . She will graduate at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s Bonython Hall on Monday 30 July at the top of her class, winning the Penny's Hill/Adelaide Review Prize for best student.

The first of its kind in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, the new on-line course was launched this year drawing on the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s expertise in creative writing and gastronomy, and some well-known names in the writing and food writing arenas.

The course is convened by , Associate Professor in the School of History and Politics, food writer and author, and , Chair of Creative Writing and author. Other staff and guest lecturers include: senior lecturer Dr Susan Hosking; food writer Gay Bilson; writer, essayist and columnist ; novelist ; and food and wine editor of SA Life David Sly.

The course runs over one semester and started with an intensive week of classes in Adelaide followed by on-line study through a virtual classroom.

Associate Professor Santich said: "Many newspapers and magazines in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ have substantial food and wine coverage and they all need writers. Interest in food is growing and non-fiction is the growth area of publishing. Bringing food and writing together is a powerful combination for people who want to write and get published."

For Vikki Moore, the course gave her a new outlet for her passion for food: "I think there's a perception that 'food writer' and 'food critic' are interchangeable terms. But food is as much about culture, ecology, politics and relationships as it is about scoring a restaurant out of 20. There are a lot of serious stories to be told - that's what I'd like to do."

Vikki, who lives in Brisbane, says it was a privilege to learn from her lecturers. "People like Barbara Santich and Gay Bilson are intrinsic to ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s food culture and media."

Vikki will celebrate at a special lunch on graduation day. Her prize is $100 plus a selection of wines from Penny's Hill and publication on 16 August of her piece 'The Long Lunch' in the Adelaide Review.

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