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Food is for living, working, sleeping and dreaming, says NOELLE QUINN.
BORDER culinary pioneer Noelle Quinn and playwright George Bernard Shaw concur: There is no love more sincere than the love of food.
Approaching seven years as co-owner with partner Brendan Mahony of Albury's busy Q foods cafe, the dedicated foodie observes daily the joy that beautifully prepared and presented food can bring to people's lives.
"It's that thing of feeding your body properly, it makes you feel wholesome, makes you feel happy," she said.
A driving force behind the early years of the Hume Murray Food Bowl, which launched the still thriving Albury-Wodonga Farmers' Market 10 years ago, Ms Quinn also co-ordinated the Albury-Wodonga Food and Wine Festival which ran for almost a decade.
Ms Quinn admits to living, working, sleeping and dreaming about food and her business but believes in maintaining a sensible work-life balance.
Food has always been a big part of her life since growing up on a beef and sheep farm at Coleraine in the far west of Victoria before moving with her family to Wodonga as a teenager.
"My Mum was a very good cook ... she had some German heritage and some fabulous potato salad and good sauerkraut and German sausages, all that stuff that's good for your hips, and great Christmas puddings and fruit cakes," Ms Quinn said.
Growing and preparing food makes Ms Quinn happy on many levels.
"Produce matters to me enormously -- it's very nurturing and satisfying and I guess it's always been a big part of my life, my family life, and I find it very relaxing and peaceful.
"There are definitely a lot of health benefits, too."
Selecting the right food can also affect people's well-being.
"If it makes them feel sluggish and horrible afterwards or sleep badly or whatever, they tend not to go down that path as often or as quickly," she said.
Her food interests are spread across cultures offering a range of foods and cooking styles which better fit our climate and lifestyle.
"I think the influx of migrants is a great thing because our food culture is gradually growing into something really wonderful," she said.
"The Asian diets, regardless of which Asian country it is, are far more suitable to our weather, the lightness rather than the heavier style of food, particularly British food."
Above all, it makes her happy when she sees people appreciating good food.
"Cooking for pleasure to share with friends and family is one of the nicest things you can do."