Fine drops and glorious food

Lovers of food will not be disappointed. Picture: PAUL SMITH

FOOD and wine lovers from across the country will descend on Noosa from 20 to 22 May for a fresh exciting approach to Noosa Food and Wine 2016.
With 36 events, 49 chefs, 21 restaurant partners and 22 wineries, event-goers can look forward to discovering new flavours, great Australian wines, artisan foods, and culinary talent with some of Australia’s leading chefs and producers.
The full program of activities, including beachfront events, river lunches, celebrity lunches and dinners, a food trail and lifestyle events, has been released, and Noosa Today has the first look at what Noosa Food and Wine 2016 has planned for the three-day food-lovers festival.
Events include:
Friday 20 May
Lunch with Nick Holloway at Sails Restaurant
Time: noon
Cost: $150
Paul Leete of Sails will be hosting Nick Holloway of NuNu to present a four-course menu featuring some of their favourite produce from their respective regions. Each course will be expertly matched with wines.
Noosa Food and Wine Opening Cocktail Party
Time: 5-7pm
Cost: $45
Join acclaimed chefs Pete Evans, Peter Kuruvita, Shane Bailey, Ben Bertei and Sammy and Bella from MKR and others under the Noosa Tipi, right on the beach, for a cocktail party with light canapes and drinks to celebrate the opening of Noosa Food and Wine 2016.
25 Years of friendship with Luke Mangan and David Rayner
Time: 6.30pm
Cost: $160
Join celebrity chef Luke Mangan for an evening with one of his good friends, chef and owner of Thomas Corner Eatery David Rayner. Enjoy a four-course dinner overlooking the Noosa River with a menu designed to pay homage to the beautiful location.
‘Midnight Harvest’ Blue Pyreness Wine Dinner
Time: 6.30pm
Cost: $135
Join Sirocco Noosa for an evening overlooking the Noosa River with enchanting Blue Pyrenees wines. Highly acclaimed celebrity chef Ben Williamson from Gerard’s Bistro will join with talented Sirocco chef Emmett Malone to create a beautifully matched four-course dinner with featured wines. Hear the Blue Pyrenees ‘Midnight Harvest’ story.
Dinner at Ricky’s with Richard Ousby and Cameron Matthews
Time: 6.30pm
Cost: $175
Set on the banks of the beautiful Noosa River, Rickys River Bar and Restaurant delivers a dining experience that encapsulates the Noosa Lifestyle. Together with guest chef’s Cameron Matthews and Richard Ousby, Ricky’s will offer a modern five-course dinner with matched wines showcasing the very best local produce and sweeping views of the Noosa River.
Other events on Friday 20 May include:
Dim Sum Banquet at Embassy XO
Time: noon-3pm
Cost: $88
A lunch banquet showcasing Embassy XO’s unique take on Yum Cha.
An evening at Season with Ben O’Donoghue
Time: 7pm
$170
Seasonal three-course meal featuring local produce and perfectly matched wines.
Sustainable seafood dinner at Locale Hosted by John Susman
Time: 7pm
Cost: $160
Four-course sustainable seafood dinner with matching wines.
Peppers Noosa ’Queensland Produce On Show’
Time: 7.30pm
Cost: $175
Three-course meal featuring Queensland produce, plus entertainment by jazz, funk and soul quartet, Jasper.
Saturday 21 May
The Paleo Way with Pete Evans
Time: 10am-noon
Cost: $95
Join celebrity chef and author Pete Evans for ‘The Paleo Way’ at The J Theatre. Enjoy a light bite and a welcome drink followed by a presentation from Pete on the Paleo Way and finish with a Q and A session. Guests will also receive Pete’s 10-week activation program, The Paleo Way, valued at $99 included in the ticket price.
Noosa Street Feast Long Lunch on Hastings Street
Time: 12.15-2.30pm
Cost: $85
Enjoy a long lunch on Noosa’s famous Hastings Street with some of Noosa’s favourite restaurants taking part in the Noosa Street Feast. The two-course lunch will be accompanied by wines and beer by Asahi. Choose your favourite restaurants from aromas, Boardwalk Bistro on Hastings, Bistro C, Gaston, Locale, Miss Moneypenny’s, Noosa Beach House, Rococo or Season.
Other events on Saturday 21 May include:
Sparkling Seafood lunch at Sirocco
Time: 12.30pm
Cost: $99
Three-course seafood lunch featuring fresh, local seafood.
Wine Masterclass by Treasury Wines Estate
Time: 3pm-3.45pm
Cost: $55
Take a journey through Australia’s premier wine regions exploring amazing Australian wine gems.
Wine Tasting Quarter at Sheraton Noosa Resort and Spa
Time: noon-5pm
Cost: free
Enjoy wine tastings from 22 of Australia’s best wineries at the Wine Tasting Quarter. Purchase a token for $3 for 3 tastings or $6 token for 6 tastings or a glass.
Cory Campbell at Rump House
Time: 6pm
Cost: $150
Five-course dinner showcasing some of the region’s best flora and fauna.
Tony Percuoco at Noosa Waterfront
Time: 6.30pm
Cost: $145
Five-course dinner showcasing superb cuisine, seamless service and award-winning wines.
Taste of Noosa dinner Arcuri Restaurant
Time: 6.30pm
Cost: $110
Four-course dinner combining the flavours of Europe with classic tastes of contemporary Australian cuisine.
Pete Evans and Peter Kuruvita reunite at the Noosa Beach House
Time: 7pm
Cost: $195
Enjoy dishes from two of Australia’s top chefs, reuniting after many years to provide a range of culinary delights.
XO meets Bar H at Sunshine
Time: 7.30pm
Cost: $150
Enjoy a four-course modern Asian dinner with Chinese and Japanese influences with matching premium wines and champagnes, prepared by Embassy XO Chef Seungjoo Kim and visiting chef Hamish Ingham from Sydney’s Bar H.
Sunday 22 May
Surfers v’s Chefs Breakfast
Time: 6.30am-10am
Cost: $30
Noosa Food and Wine 2016 is not just about food and wine, it also celebrates lifestyle. And what better way to do this than by heading to the beach on Sunday morning for a surf! Enjoy breakfast presented by taste.com.au on Noosa Main Beach with guest chefs including Pete Evans, Peter Kuruvita, Andreas Nielsen, Ben O’Donoghue and Samantha Gowing and watch them compete in the waves with surfing royalty. The competition is in support of SurfAid. Also enjoy a free Pilates class from Luxe Fitness Escapes.
Producers meet the Chefs Cooking Demos at Noosa Farmers Market
Time: 8am-11am
Cost: Free
Enjoy a morning at the famous Noosa Farmers’ Market where a selection of our local and visiting chefs will meet the producers, growers and farmers and showcase their produce with live cooking demonstrations between 8am and 11am.
Noosa Boathouse presents ’You’re better on Beef’ barbecue by the river
Time: 11.30am-4.30pm
Cost: $15
The Noosa River shores will come to life when Noosa Boathouse presents a celebration of Australian beef and live music from Sunshine Coast music legend Carl Wockner and powerhouse band Honey. Renowned chefs Matt Golinski, Alastair McLeod, Sunny Gilbert and Shane Bailey with Sammy and Bella from MKR will serve up their favourite sirloin dishes along with Stone and Wood craft beers and selected great Australian wines.
Full Moon Asian flavours farewell party
Time: 5pm-8.30pm
Cost: $65
You’re invited to dine under a full moon on the beach for the finale of Noosa Food and Wine 2016 with an Asian Hawker style feast presented by Ben Bertei, Hajime Horiguchi and Hamish Ingham, with local culinary talent from Embassy XO, Spirit House and Junk.
Other events on Sunday 22 May:
The Queensland Table
Time: noon
Cost: $120
Pitchfork in Peregian Village comes together with Spencer Patrick from Port Douglas to create a five-course lunch with matched wines.
Lunch with Peter Kuruvita
Time: noon and 1.30pm
Cost: $89
Enjoy an intimate lunch with celebrity chef, author and owner of Noosa Beach House, Peter Kuruvita. Maximum 10 guests per table.
Wine Masterclass by Treasury Wines Estate
Time: noon-12.45pm
Cost: $55
Enjoy wine tastings from 22 of Australia’s best wineries at the Wine Tasting Quarter.
Sparkling Seafood lunch at Sirocco
Time: 12.30pm
Cost: $99
Sirocco’s three-course Sparkling Seafood Lunch will feature fresh local seafood and sparkling wines from Blue Pyrenees.
Biota Dining at Wasabi
Time: 6pm
Cost: $250
Finish the Noosa Food and Wine 2016 weekend in style by booking an exclusive seat for the 10-course Kaiseki Degustation.