“It’s all coming together quite well,” Mr Reubinson said when the BDN called this week and pulled him away from preparing the golden hubbard pumpkin mousse.

Mr Reubinson and his helpers have been flat out, working past midnight most nights this week, to put the final touches on the sumptuous feast that awaits 150 lucky diners at the Bemboka Town Hall.

The preparations haven’t been helped by an induction cooktop that “blew up” last week and the prediction of less-than-ideal weather for tomorrow night.

“The cooktop put me two days behind at that stage – and $3700 out of pocket – but we’ve caught up since by working longer days,” Mr Reubinson said.

“The first thing I had to cook on the new cooktop was 30 litres of beef stock – I was scared to use it.

“And we’re praying the cob ovens don’t get rained on – the last thing we want are damp cob fairies,” he said, referring to the (possibly unlucky) cooks in charge of the hand-made wood-fired cob ovens.

“The hall looks really good as well. I’m not fully certain about what’s going on in there, but if all goes according to plan, it’s going to be quite spectacular.”

A dress rehearsal was held recently, with 100 workers, volunteers and sponsors acting as guinea pigs for the banquet, hoping to iron out any wrinkles in the process.

However, “it all went extremely smoothly,” Mr Reubinson was happy to report.

“I have a chef from the National Press Club helping me and he was so impressed he said he wanted to employ them all.”

And speaking of praise from on high, none other than the producer of hit TV series Masterchef has been in touch with Mr Reubinson to tell him the menu is “sensational”.

“The excitement is building, it’s a festive occasion.

“The guests who are coming know how special it is. If it’s anything like last time we’ll be picking people up to send them on their way at the end of the night because they won’t want to leave.

“I’m hoping it’s a night to remember for a long, long time for any number of reasons.”

As for Mr Reubinson himself – “I’m looking forward to Sunday,” he said with a tired laugh.