Long lunches and live prep kitchens — here’s a taste of the must-attend events for Noosa Eat & Drink Festival
Last weekend, our team was invited to venture north for a special preview of some of the hot-ticketed happenings in store for the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival, taking place from Thursday May 29 to Sunday June 1. Fire up your taste buds for this year’s must-attend events, from Mexican-inspired beach parties and luxurious long lunches to live prep kitchens.
Lucio’s Marina Tuna experience with Walker Seafood: After rave reviews from last year’s tuna triumph, chef Matteo Galletto from Lucio’s Marina and Alberto Vitassovich of Walker Seafood are teaming up for an extra-special one-off event. Matteo and Alberto will lead diners through the journey of live cutting a whole tuna, followed by a curated tuna-centric tasting menu. The experience will demonstrate the depth of flavour and versatility of tuna with each course, which will be expertly paired with a selection of premium wines.
The Sundowner Beach Party, Presented by VIVIR Tequila: Get your feet sandy at the Sundowner Beach Party on Saturday May 31. With the gloriously golden Noosa sunset as a backdrop, join in an unforgettable evening of flavours, music and drinks. For the very first time, Jason Jones of Noosa’s own Bandita and Jake Kellie from Adelaide’s Arhke will be joining forces on Noosa’s Main Beach to deliver a menu of canapes – think, a boozy Mexican-inspired barbecue on the beach. We also heard something about pig’s head tacos … but don’t quote us. Paradise Arcade will also pump up the party with complimentary cocktails by VIVIR Tequila and live DJs will help you dance the night away. With only a select few events held on Noosa’s Main Beach, the Sundowner Beach Party is a rare and unmissable evening.
Lanai X Stanley – East Meets West Long Lunch: Don’t miss out on this riverside culinary experience as Ryan Fitzpatrick of The Ohana Group teams up with Louis Tikaram of Stanley at Lanai Noosa. Blending bold Asian flavours with the freshest coastal produce, this multi-course share-style menu is designed to be savoured over a lengthy seating. Expect a top-notch combo of premium seafood and locally sourced ingredients, including Indigenous produce from SevGen (short for seven generations) and Galeru: Forever Fruits. Hot tip: order the kaffir-lime margarita to be transported to a Fijian beach-side oasis.
Live Prep Kitchen: Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look into how the chefs we know and love really work behind the pans with Noosa Eat & Drink’s live prep kitchen. Located right next to the main entrance, this fresh addition to the festival program adds another exciting element to culinary curiosity. View a roster of top-flight chefs filleting, sous-viding, slicing and dicing like the pros that they are. Just beware of the knives – they’re sharp!
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Olsson’s Salt Culinary Stage: Elevate your foodie game at the Olsson’s Salt Culinary Stage, where a range of guest chefs – including Peter Kuruvita, Alanna Slapwell-Stone and Matt Golinski – will share their wealth of knowledge through interactive masterclasses, live demonstrations and plenty of tips and tricks so you too can wow in the kitchen. Watch any session at the Culinary Stage for free with a general admission ticket, or get hands on with an Interactive Ticket (front row seats) for just $10.
Lilo Noosa: Want to splash out during the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival? Arrive in style aboard Noosa’s private luxury-boat charter, Lilo. This custom-built, 11-m and fully licensed vessel is guaranteed to get the party started for an intimate party of 12. Born out of a love of travel and good food and wine, owners Tess and Chris Pettigrew saw a gap in the market for a boat cruise that not only offered a five-star level of service, but could sneakily glide around the chambers of the Noosa River, assisting in every style of event. From private charters, wedding transfers and even marriage proposals, Lilo Noosa is a perfect luxury cruise add-on to the weekend.
Interested in visiting the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival this year? Book now as tickets are selling quickly. Check out the full program here.
$1 (2 meals worth) from every Restaurant Event ticket purchase will be donated to OzHarvest, helping provide nourishing meals to those who need it most.
Image credit: Tim Bond, Sencillo Creative and Noosa Eat & Drink Festival