The Curated Plate celebrates Sunshine Coast’s Indigenous heritage with exciting bush tucker experiences

Saltwater Eco Tours

The Sunshine Coast’s rich produce and cuisine will be celebrated during The Curated Plate festival between 26 July and 4 August.

A focus of this year’s festival is the opportunity for visitors to experience native ingredients produced locally on the lands of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara peoples. The events include:

Saltwater Eco Tours is hosting From Land to Sea - A culinary cruise of Native flavours throughout the festival. Simon Thornalley is an Indigenous man of Torres Strait Islander descent who has made a name on the Sunshine Coast for offering bespoke cruises around Mooloolaba on an historic sailing vessel combined with Indigenous foods and culture. Guests will be treated to an exquisite contemporary menu infusing fresh produce and native ingredients. The 5-course menu incorporates sustainable seafoods, local dairies, bushtucker and locally foraged flora to enhance the flavours. The two hour cruises will operate from The Wharf Mooloolaba between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Cost: $99 p/p including the cruise, 5 courses and a glass of sparkling wine or local Jarrah Boy beer.

Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World will launch its new native bush tucker gardens to coincide with The Curated Plate. The gardens have been curated in partnership with the Jinibara Peoples Aboriginal Corporation and Brush Turkey Enterprises. The Bush Tucker Experience will be held on Sunday 4 August and will enable guests to view the bush food plants and talk to the local rangers and producers about the vast array of bush tucker foods and their use while taking in the spectacular Glass House Mountains backdrop. A Devonshire Tea will be served with scones featuring wattle seed, lemon myrtle and Davidson plums, accompanied by bush tucker infused tea and soft drinks. The event will be held from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM and is a perfect family outing. Adult $34 | Concession $32 | Child $20, Family of 2 adults and 2 children $84.

Dale Chapman

A collaboration between Harry’s on Buderim and Indigenous foods producer My Dilly Bag has almost sold out, but a few seats remain. Harry's On Buderim - Dinner on the deck is being held on Friday 2nd Aug, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM. The special event underneath the lights in the rainforest will be one of the most atmospheric events of The Curated Plate. The dining experience will blend traditional French cooking techniques with Australian Bush Foods. Harry's on Buderim chef/owner, Stuart Bell, and My Dilly Bag chef/owner and proud Yuwaalaraay Kooma woman, Dale Chapman, will lead guests through each course outlining the ingredients used, the preparation techniques, sourcing, harvesting, and the communities that produce them. Trish Thorn, owner of The Little Bar Cart will pair drinks with each dish, using the same key bush food ingredients.

Beachtree Distilling specialises in local native botanicals for for their small-batch craft gins. They will host two sessions during The Curated Plate during which they will embark on a guided exploration of their innovative techniques and products. Welcome cocktails, tastings and a gift bottle of gin or vodka are included in the packages. The two sessions are being held on Friday 2 August at their craft distillery in Caloundra. The Bush Tucker Gin Journey: Discover Local Flavours is from 3:00pm to 4:30pm ($79pp) and Bush to Bottle: Your Native Gin Botanical Journey is from 5:00pm to 6:30pm ($149pp).

About The Curated Plate festival

The Curated Plate is a delicious celebration of the Sunshine Coast’s local produce, producers and chefs, and unique natural assets from the sea to the hinterland. The program is developed through collaboration between local producers, suppliers and businesses who come together to tell their stories not only through food but experiences. The festival runs over 10 days - from 26 July - 4 August - and offers a delicious spread over two weekends, with plenty of options to feast on throughout the week.

Further information:

Bookings and further information about The Curated Plate: https://thecuratedplate.com.au/