THE Curated Plate, a new four-day destination food festival on the Sunshine Coast, has announced an exciting line-up for its debut event to be staged from August 8-11.
In a region famed for its produce, the event will showcase the best chefs from Australia and around the world.
Unlike many other food festivals, The Curated Plate will be staged throughout the region from the hinterland rainforests and valleys to the Glass House Mountains and beaches. In doing so it will promote the Sunshine Coast's leading restaurants, brewers, producers and food and beverage innovators.
Feature events bring together some of Australia's brightest young talent as well as local and international heavyweights.
The first is The Legends Lunch to be held on August 8, when Peter Gilmore (Quay, Bennelong) and Analiese Gregory (Franklin) will join forces in the kitchen for a lavish long lunch at Yandina Station, overlooking Mount Coolum.
That evening there will be the Seasonal Stars at Mooloolaba Beach, a four-course meal featuring Raymond Blanc (UK), Alejandro Cancino and Troy Rhoades-Brown.
The next day, Raymond will also prepare, together with local chefs, A Hinterland Harvest. Other events include Wild Forage Dining, also at Mooloolaba. It will be led by Japan's Zaiyu Hasegawa of Den (winner of 2019 Asia's 50 Best Chef's Choice Award), Chase Kojima of Sydney's hatted Sokyo and the Gold Coast's Kiyomi, and Matt Stone, joint executive chef of Yarra Valley's stunning Oakridge Estate restaurant)
For something simpler The Beach Cinema will transform Eleanor Shipley Park, Moffat Beach, Caloundra every night. Here you can savour the sunset with a burger in one hand and a beer in the other, while Gelato Messina serves up candy bar staples.
There will be free entry to the Food Fair at Black Swan Park, Maroochydore, but pre-registration is required.
The Curated Plate also has an extended program of food- and destination-led experiences put together by locals.
These will offer everything from jet ski food safaris, hinterland helicopter tours, horse riding along the picturesque Sunshine Coast beaches, craft beer tours and opera and fireworks displays