By MEGAN OGLE
NOOSA Food and Wine 2016 is set to be bigger and better than ever, with over 10,000 people expected to attend the much-anticipated festival this weekend.
Tourism Noosa CEO Damien Massingham said a fresh approach to the festival this year would see the event spread over Noosa and the wider region.
“Over the weekend we will have 40 different events, 50 chefs at a range of those events and 22 wineries in total,” Mr Massingham said.
“We will be welcoming around 600 people on Friday 20 May at our opening cocktail party, then after that a range of restaurants throughout Noosa are going to host a number of events.”
Festival director Alesha Gooderham said the event, which stretches from Peregian to Noosaville, has attracted record crowds from across Australia and New Zealand.
“At the moment about 37 per cent come from interstate, from outside Queensland, and we have a great catchment from Brisbane and further afield, but it’s great to see the Sydney and Melbourne team and we’ve got a few from Tasmania and New Zealand as well,” she said.
The event has attracted many national and celebrity chefs from across Australia including celebrity chef, author and restauranteur Luke Mangan.
Mr Mangan was in Noosa on Friday morning eagerly preparing for a friendly rival with long-time mate and Thomas Corner Eatery owner David Rayner.
“I’m cooking a dinner with chef David Rainer using all local produce, it’s a bit of a cook-off, but I think I’ll win,” he said.
After the friendly cook-off Mr Mangan said he would be joining the thousands of other visitors and locals enjoying all Noosa has to offer.
“I’m going to enjoy the weather, the water, and a lot of great local produce and I’m going to catch up with some great Australian chefs that have come up for the whole event,” he said.
For a full program of events or for more information head to www.noosafoodandwine.com.au.
