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Same but very different is the best way to describe what’s happening this year for Noosa’s main food event, Noosa Food & Wine 2016.
It’s on from Friday to Sunday, 20 to 22 May with more than 30 events and nearly 50 chefs.
Yes, there will be food galore that will send your tastebuds into overdrive and yes, some of your favourite local and national chefs will be in attendance cooking up in beautiful locations around Noosa.
What’s different this year is that the action has moved closer to the beach with a tipi (conical tent), Noosa’s Hastings Street is going to be taken over by diners instead of cars and there’s a full moon party.
It wouldn’t be a Noosa food event without a cocktail party and the weekend’s opening event will set the scene with cocktails and nibbles on the beach. There will be plenty of high profile faces mixing with the crowd with Pete Evans, Peter Kuruvita, Shane Bailey, Ben Bertei and Sammy and Bella from MKR attending.
First up on Saturday is The Paleo Way, a ticketed event with Pete Evans. It's an opportunity to find out how this eating lifestyle works.
My best tip is to get in quick for the Noosa Street Feast Long Lunch on Hastings Street. Priced at $85 a person for a two-course lunch including wine and beer, this is an event that is sure to sell out. Many of your favourite Noosa restaurants - aromas, Boardwalk Bistro on Hastings, Bistro C, Gaston, Locale, Miss Moneypenny’s, Noosa Beach House, Rococo and Season – will be serving up some of their most popular food. I can imagine the buzz in the street. What a hoot!
Wine tasting has moved to the Sheraton Noosa with 22 top Australia wineries lining up to give you a taste on Saturday arvo. With free entry, three tastings priced at $3 and six tastings for $6, this is sure to be a popular stop. Take a tutored tasting through Australia’s great wine regions with a wine masterclass, also on Saturday, which will set you back $55.
Perhaps my favourite event (I reserve judgement until the weekend is over) is the Surfers VS Chefs Breakfast. This ticks so many boxes – it's on the beach, has chefs competing with surfing royalty, supports a charity, and there’s also a free pilates class. Not sure if I will join the class but you can be sure I’ll be tucking into a breakfast made by Pete Evans, Peter Kuruvita, Andreas Nielsen, Ben O’Donoghue and Samantha Gowing all fresh from the surf. Do I hear the words ‘photo opportunity’?
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| Photo credit Paul Smith Images |
Sunday will also see Noosa’s river shore come alive at the Lions Park in Noosaville with beef, beer and live music from Carl Wockner, described as a local legend and powerhouse band, Honey. I don’t know Carl’s music, but I’ve got a feeling that I’m going to like it and the combo of chefs serving up their fave sirloin dishes. With an entry price of $15, this is an event everyone can enjoy.
I’ve always wondered what it would be like to attend a full moon party on the beach, and although I might be a little too sensible to attend one in Thailand, Noosa Food & Wine’s closing event definitely scratches the itch. With food from Embassy XO, Spirit House and Junk, the Asian flavours will be flowing strong.
There’s much more on the program of course, including some very special restaurant chef dinners. My best tip is book early because if you think it might sell out, it probably will.
Get the full program at noosafoodwinefestival.com.au
Disclaimer: Ed+bK is an event partner. This is a sponsored post.
Photo credit for opening image: Paul Smith Images.