Noosa Food and Wine Festival hots up

Saturday at the Audi Noosa Food and Wine Festival was filled with a hugh selection of cooking demonstrations from some of Australia's bestchefs - think Alla Wolf-Tasker, Matt Moran, David Pugh, Geof Lindsay, Peter Doyle and more.

Usually held on the Sunday, this year Saturday was the day for the critics cook-off which saw the likes of Matt Preston, Tony Love, Simon Thomsen, Valli Little and Lizzie Loel on the other side of the bench.  They were all cooking their hearts out, up to their arm pits in lettuce or flour, and serving the multitudes. 

The competition was fierce but friendly with some chefs (the more snappily dressed according to some) overwhelmed by helpers and others feeling more than a little stressed.

Despite the huge queues outside Tony Love's stall, the vote at the end was by popular acclaim and Matt Preston was the winner. Lizzie Loel and Bob Heart were the judge's choices.

It was a great day, full of sunshine and good spirits.

Sunday is promising to be another day of beautiful Noosa weather.  Today Noosa's restaurants are putting on food tastings and there's a Queensland Cheese Exhibition with chance to talk cheese. Restaurants involved today include Berardo's, Bistro C, Blue Angel, Cato's at the Sheraton, Humid, Lindoni's, Ma'Mensa, Ricky's River Bar & Restaurant, River House, Sails, Season and the Spirit House.

There are more celebrity chef cooking demos and discussions in the The Courier Mail Lifestyle Annexe.

Come along and enjoy the fun!