Ten delicious days: Sunshine Coast launches 2023 foodie festival that brings fish to fork and paddock to plate

Coolum Beach

The Sunshine Coast’s legendary food scene is set to be celebrated in style, with The Curated Plate festival program revealed.

From Caloundra to Coolum and Buderim to Beerwah The Curated Plate will feature more than 100 events from over 300 local producers and suppliers.

The festival will run for ten delicious days from July 28 to August 6, involving 52 local businesses and event organisers.

The hospitality hubs of Maleny, Mapleton, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore are ready to welcome locals and visitors and give them an unforgettable taste of the Sunshine Coast.

Signature events on the program include the Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival, MooloolaBARS, a one-day beer and beverage event across Mooloolaba venues and bars, and a free, family-friendly From Paddock to Curated Plate event.

The festival will focus on the region’s outstanding produce. Visitors will be able to follow the trawlers bringing famed Mooloolaba prawns and other seafood to plates at the waterfront’s See Restaurant.

The rich soils of The Falls Farm in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland will see four young chefs tasked with creating a dish from one winter vegetable at the Mapleton Public House restaurant. Renowned chef Cameron Matthews will mentor the chefs through their culinary creative process to present a four-course degustation that celebrates the importance of sustainable agriculture and the impact of good food on our lives.

Sustainability will also be at the heart of Palmwood’s Homegrown Cafe with its Zero Waste Garden To Plate Lunch.

The festival will be both tasty and educative, with workshops in plant-based cooking, oyster shucking, and combining whisky & tequila + chocolate.

The Sunshine Coast’s recently-minted status as the Craft Beer Capital of Australia will be embraced in a number of events including a Beer & BBQ Degustation Dinner at award-winning Moffat Beach Brewing.

Indigenous food experiences will include a Taste Native Australia dinner and a Bush Tucker by the River cruise organised by Saltwater Eco Tours.

The Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) will present the CRAFTed Food Tourism Conference, as well as hosting a Meet the Makers event to provide industry members and the general public with the opportunity to taste and talk about the Sunshine Coast’s extensive collection of fine foods.

This year's Curated Plate festival will be even more accessible for interstate and regional visitors, with new airline, Bonza, bringing 13 additional direct services from state capitals and regional centres to Sunshine Coast Airport. Bonza joins Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and Air New Zealand in servicing Sunshine Coast Airport directly.

The Curated Plate is an event initiative of Sunshine Coast Council and supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, Sunshine Coast Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) and Visit Sunshine Coast.

Full event details: https://thecuratedplate.com.au/

*Source:Peter Hook, Communications Consultant, T (+61) 407 462 213
E peter.hook@visitsunshinecoast.com | W visitsunshinecoast.com