Just when you thought Queensland’s gorgeous regional food festivals couldn’t get any better, the Sunshine Coast hands us another on a silver culinary platter.
Introducing The Curated Plate, a two-week festival boasting over fifty events, twenty-five chefs, and a whole bunch of delish, locally-sourced dishes on August 5-18!
For those with a lot on their plate, the G&G is here to help you out! Without further ado, here are our top picks from The Curated Plate’s festival inaugural program.
The Mary Valley Rattler DeguSTATION Train | August 8
Chugging down regional wines and a five-course degustation while chugging along the picturesque Mary Valley? We’ll toast to that.
To take the term ‘culinary journey’ to a whole new level, nab a ticket on the Mary Valley Rattler degustation train, where you’ll find a star-studded cast of Aussie chefs, including Matt Golinski, Mark Johnson, and James Barden serving up a stunning feast with matching wines.
Bush Tucker Journey | August 9
For those looking to get to the roots of this foodie festival, look no further than the delicious three-course Australian feast and traditional dances taking place at August 9’s Bush Tucker Journey experience.
Not only will guests of this traditional dining experience get to enjoy an authentic dinner and performance by the Gubbi Gubbi Dance group, but also a guided bush tour of Sunshine Coast’s Eumundi township before ending the night with damper and tea at the Deadly Espresso Café!
A Hinterland Harvest | August 9
Christmas comes early for the gourmands who buy tickets to this winter hinterland event!
A Hinterland Harvest is the gold-plated event of the program, with big celebrity chef names like Raymond Blanc (of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons fame), Nelly Robinson (nel. Restaurant), and Alejandro Cancino (ex-Urbane) forming a tour de force whose creative collaborative dinner is set to blow its guests away.
One can expect culinary masterpieces along the lines of smoking (literally) beef short rib, brilliant babaganoush, exotic fruit ravioli, and more.
The Food Fair at Cotton Tree Park | August 9-11
Watch as the Sunshine Coast’s love affair with food comes to life at Cotton Tree Park’s three-day Food Fair on August 9-11.
The number one stop for those who love to bake their cake and eat it too, this market festival comes full of great masterclasses, pop-up food stalls, food fair exhibitions, and more!
Find out more about the food and flavours up for grabs here.
Spicers Den | August 10
Flexing his Michelin-star finesse and culinary skills will be Japanese chef Zaiyu Hasegawa when he teams up with Spicers Tamarind’s Daniel Jarret and Gelato Messina’s Donato Toce at The Curated Plate’s Spicers Den!
Guests who enter the Den will find a Japanese-fusion seafood dinner awaiting, including dishes like monaka miso-marinated foie gras and quail dressed in Sichuan-style steamed crab sauce, before Toce ends the night on a sweet note with his divine buttermilk and dulce de leche gelato.
Seasonal Tastings at Falls Farm | August 11
Prepare to fall in love with winter vegetables at Falls Farm’s budget-friendly seasonal tastings event! Spring on in to enjoy the freshest seasonal produce in the form of bento lunches, walks through the farm’s extensive market gardens, and samples of local Konpira Maru Wines.
Please sir, can we have some more?
