Taste of WA lingers for lucky Brit
It's a tough learning experience having one of the best jobs in the world, according to Tourism WA's Taste Master Rich Keam.
"My friends have lost interest in me - they're just too jealous, I think," he said.
Mr Keam said he had been reluctant to gloat to friends and family for fear of retribution back in Britain. "I don't put too many photos on Facebook because I know they'll tear me a new one," he said.
In the past six months, the 35-year-old Englishman has lived a charmed life after winning the top job from 90,000 applicants to become Tourism WA's Taste Master - a marketing exercise to show off WA.
It was an all-expenses-paid adventure to 35 towns over more than 20,000km to attend 18 events, which mainly involved gourmet food and local produce.
Mr Keam said the Kimberley was the stand-out.
"We flew to the Kimberley and went catching massive mud crabs with indigenous elder Brian Lee and cooked them on the Hunter River," he said.
"I remember sitting at Broome airport, getting quite emotional before I left. The Kimberley really gets under your skin. It's a spiritual place."
The Taste Master job ended last week and, with his girlfriend and 11-month-old son, Mr Keam will return to Britain soon with plans to open a pop-up coffee shop.
