Just one big food lover’s party is how the organisers of the 11th Noosa International Food and Wine Festival describe the action-packed program for the 2014 event.
Taking over Noosa from May 15 to 18, founder and director of the Noosa International Food & Wine Festival Jim Berardo says this year’s festival will see over 250 invited chefs, producers, winemakers, entertainers and media joining festival patrons for one big party set against the sparkling backdrop of Noosa.
Hastings Street and the adjacent beach, park, river and headland areas will all play a role in the festival program taking visitors to some of the most beautiful parts of the region.
I'll be at the festival catching up with friends, chatting with chefs and checking out the food displays - there are always lots of new products to be tasted too. Join me on Sunday in the Courier Mail Annexe at the Festival Village where I'm part of a panel discussion - Let's Throw Some Mud! Foodie Television, Celebrity Chefs, Social Media, Traditional Media - Any More Gripes. See you at 2.30pm!
Some of Australia and the world’s best chefs will put their feet in the sand for the festival including Franck-Elie Laloum (Shanghai), Alvin Leung (Hong Kong), Bruno Loubet (London), Neil Perry AM (Sydney), Julien Royer (Singapore), David Thompson (Bangkok) as well as Shane Delia, Guy Grossi, Peter Kuruvita, Andrew McConnell, Brent Savage, Ryan Squires and many others under direction of the Festival’s new Executive Chef Timothy Montgomery.
As the name says, it’s not all about food with more than 80 of Australia’s best winemakers and wine authorities presenting a series of world-class wine celebrations and Masterclasses hosted by Aaron Brasher, Peter Forrestal, Ken Gargett, Tony Harper, Tony Love, Bernadette O’Shea, Peter Scudamore-Smith MW and Tyson Steltzer .
What shouldn’t you miss?
Top of the list is the Foodie Fandango Opening Concert, a delectable confection of mouth-watering music served up by musical ‘chefs’, David Hobson, Taryn Fiebig, Jud Arthur and Guy Noble, accompanied by the Queensland Virtuosi Orchestra.
Slip on your 60s gear and twist the night away at a fun Sixties Beach Party on iconic Noosa Main Beach. While you Mash Potato and Limbo to Beach Boyz cover band in the Qantas Beach Marquee, a retro BBQ will be prepared by six of Australia’s hottest chefs - Jonathan Barthelmess, Colin Fassnidge, Dan Hong, Justin North, Louis Tikaram and Matt Wilkinson.
Up for more? There will be two Qantas Seafood Feasts on Noosa Main Beach with Neil Perry AM preparing award-winning seafood with wines from Qantas epiQure and two fabulous International Premier Degustations featuring world renowned chefs.
Another highlight will be the final event in the Australia’s Best Home Cooked Dish competition which will bring competitors from all over Australia to compete for over $23,000 in prizes, including a trip for two to London.
There’s much more in the entertainment line-up with Friday night’s Westpac Welcome Concert starring X-Factor winner, the fabulous Dami Im, supported by high energy Brisbane ‘classic hits’ rock band, The Deadliners, and seven piece powerhouse, Honey. Let’s just say – bring your dancing shoes!
Vocalist Paulini continues the fun on Saturday night and Thomas Crane’s Bohemian Rhapsody will return to cap off Festival fun on Sunday.
The weekend will culminate with a sunset concert performance by Maria Venuti at Noosa National Park’s Lookout and a stunning eight-course Italian feast at berardo’s restaurant & bar prepared by Lucio Galletto, Guy Grossi , Massimo Mele, Alessandro Pavoni, Tony Percuoco, Giovanni Pilu and Nino Zoccali.
Other festival favourites are the famous river and hinterland Food Trails, Lifestyle Lunches, Riverside High-Teas, Picnics, Wine Masterclasses, Suntory Cocktail Competition with Australia’s best mixologists, sunset concerts at Noosa Lookout, guest chefs at Sunshine Coast restaurants, Bush & Bluegrass Adventure at the historic Apollonian Hotel and lively discussions with Australia’s best food critics and journalists deconstructing the latest in foodie trending topics.
Download the free Festival Smartphone app or visit Noosa Food and Wine for more information.
