The Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival is returning to Spicers Tamarind Retreat on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4. Visitors to the verdant 18-acre property just outside Maleny will be served a spicy blend of the region’s most iconic Asian restaurants simmered in a nourishing afternoon of live music, chilled drinks, market stalls and masterclasses.
Come to savour unique, street-food style dishes from the iconic Spirit House restaurant, as well as local favourite Rice Boi and the Retreat’s own Tamarind Restaurant led by Sunshine Coast native and acclaimed Executive Chef, Daniel Jarrett.
Dan welcomes the chance to put on a feast of local produce for a happy crowd:
"For all of these Chefs, it’s an opportunity to put a spotlight on the amazing produce we get to use every day. We’ll cook for more people in an afternoon than we’d usually see in a week,” he says.
Giving foodies the perfect weekend escape to the country, Spicers is offering special one or two-day accommodation packages and transport options.
Return buses will be running to Spicers Tamarind Retreat from Noosa, Caloundra and Mooloolaba on Saturday and Sunday. Buses are timed to arrive 15 minutes before the festival opens at 1 pm and departing 15 minutes after the festival closes at 6 pm. A park-and-ride shuttle will run between Spicers and the Cooke Park Maleny throughout both days.
Leave the car at home, bring a picnic blanket, relax in the sunshine with your friends and family and savour the amazing tastes of Asia at Spicers Tamarind Retreat.
To match the sensational food on offer, an epic round of the Sunshine Coast’s own beverage producers will be pouring the drinks.
There will be craft beer from Brouhaha Brewery, inspired cocktails from Sunshine and Sons Cocktail Bar, Brockenchack Wines (locally owned Barossa Valley winery), as well as prestige Champagne by the glass and bottle from the prestige House of Taittinger. Sunny Coast Water will have the most delicious way to stay cool and hydrated through the day, with a thirst-quenching range of non-alcoholic beverages, including kombucha.
Tom Hitchcock, Head Chef of Spirit House in Yandina, first featured at the Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival in 2023 commented: "Asian cuisine has a big part of my background and we love showcasing our local produce in Spirit House style and it will be interesting to see what all these Chefs come up with.”
The Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival is part of The Curated Plate culinary festival, a celebration of the region’s produce, producers and Chefs, supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, the Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast. The Official 2024 Curated Plate program offers more than 100 events across the region from July 26-August 4, showcasing more than 300 local producers and suppliers.
To book, click here.
