Farm-to-Fork feast opens Curated Plate festival

A farm-to-fork experience at historic Yandina Station, led by a star chef, provided a fitting opening to one of Queensland’s finest food and drink festivals.

Held in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, the opening event of The Curated Plate set the tone for a program designed to celebrate the region’s rich agricultural roots, premium local produce and vibrant hospitality scene. 

Guests explored the picturesque grounds, met leading local growers, and sampled their finest ingredients before gathering for a live cooking demonstration and long lunch led by Festival Culinary Director Peter Kuruvita .

Each dish was inspired by the region’s seasonal produce, thoughtfully paired with craft beers and beverages. 

A sunset hot air balloon flight with Sunshine Coast Ballooning added an unforgettable finale, elevating the event – and the festival – to new heights.

“The Curated Plate is such a special celebration of what makes the Sunshine Coast unique - the quality of our local produce, the people behind it, and the incredible diversity of food experiences on offer,” said 

“Across the festival, you’ll see everything from modern Australian menus to vibrant Asian flavours, native ingredients, classic seafood feasts and more - all brought to life by some of the country’s most passionate chefs,” he added.

There is much more to come and more than 10,000 people are expected to attend events across the festival, including visitors from interstate and overseas who are combining their experience with a Sunshine Coast holiday.

Must-do experiences still available

With more than 50 events still to come, there are plenty of opportunities for locals and visitors to take part. You can search by date on the festival website and take your pick of menus and events.

This weekend, Picnic on Kings makes its festival debut, transforming the Kings Beach Amphitheatre into a family-friendly picnic, with a special appearance from Bluey. Tickets are still available online or at the gate by scanning the QR code.

Tickets are now limited for the first-ever Mooloolaba Seafood Market Day this Sunday July 27,  celebrating the region’s world-class seafood with tastings, demos and a vibrant seaside atmosphere.

Next weekend the Asian Food Festival at Spicers Tamarind Retreat on August 2 and 3 will be a real treat, as well as Jazz on a Plate in Kenilworth on Friday August 2. 

Spotlight to shine on local produce and talent

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the festival was delivering real benefits for the local economy.

“The Curated Plate has become a powerful platform for our region,” Mayor Natoli said.

It puts a spotlight on our producers and our food culture, and we’re seeing that translate into increased foot traffic and meaningful connections for local businesses.

“Importantly, the festival is built on a local-first philosophy. 

“To participate, restaurants and venues must showcase Sunshine Coast produce, ingredients and beverages wherever possible. 

“This approach is driving genuine collaboration and long-term connections between chefs, venues and producers.

“The Curated Plate is also proving to be a strong driver of visitation, with growing numbers of travellers attending from across Queensland, interstate and overseas – including our largest international market, New Zealand. 

“With direct flights now operating from Auckland to the Sunshine Coast via both Air New Zealand and Jetstar, this is great news for our agri-tourism sector.”

Menu highlights from the Farm-to-for Yandina Station featuring Peter Kuruvita

• Drink on arrival paired with  Buffalo Kofta  from Maleny Buffalo, cooked on a Wild Fire Pit
• Tanglewood Organic Sourdough  with Coconut Sambal Butter
• Slow Roasted Shoulder  of Mary Valley Lamb with Jaffna Spice, Hummus, Crispy Chickpeas, and Tamarind Chutney
• Roasted Reef Fish Fillet  from Rockliff Seafood Mooloolaba with Ginger and Chilli Shallot Sauce
• Chicken Biriyani  from Mountain View Poultry with Mint and Coriander Chutney
• Grilled Eggplant  from Suncoast Fresh with Bengali Salad
• Cooroibah Greens  with Ponzu Dressing
• Crispy Hand-Cut Potatoes  from Good Harvest Organic Farm with Peter Kuruvita’s Chilli Salt
• Roasted Carrots  from Falls Farm Mapleton with Pomona Honey, Orange & Tahini Dressing, and Pistachio Dukkah
• Noosa Reds Tomatoes  with Preserved Lemon & Red Onion Salad
• Pannacotta  made with Maleny Buffalo Milk, paired with Green Valley Finger Limes and Macadamia Praline from Yandina Nutworks

Dishing up tourism success for the Sunshine Coast 

Regional events will play a large role in growth across the State, making up half of Queensland’s $4 billion events calendar by 2045. 

Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said The Curated Plate was already a standout on Queensland’s regional events calendar and a major win for the Sunshine Coast. 

“The Sunshine Coast food scene is really making a name for itself, and The Curated Plate gives us the chance to share that with the rest of the country,” Minister Powell said. 

“This year’s program is packed with flavour and fun, from a seafood industry showcase to Picnic on Kings, a new family event featuring Bluey in Caloundra. 

“Visitors often travel with their stomachs, and this event proves that regional Queensland can serve up the best – especially if it serves up the expected half-million-dollar boost to the local economy – and we are proud to support it.”