Taste of Palm Cove

31st July, 2010

Now that MasterChef has drawn to a conclusion, there will obviously be many people suffering withdrawal symptoms for their foodie fix. Don’t despair; Cairns is about to get its first real food event with the Taste Paradise Food & Wine Festival held in conjunction with the new regional food brand and with Festival Cairns.

It all starts at Palm Cove with a Long luncheon right on the Beachfront at Angsana’s Far Horizon’s restaurant; a superb way to kick-start a host of events to follow. On Friday 20th August, Chef Lee Shaw and his team will serve a fabulous luncheon in an amazing setting that will defy beating. There are not too many places in Australian where you can sit under the shade of coconut palms and take in a five-course platter lunch featuring regional iconic ingredients. This is surely Paradise.

Then the star of the festival; Ben O’Donoghue will be your guest chef for a luncheon at Sea Temple Palm Cove on Saturday 21st August. Ben is well aware of our great local food from filming ‘Surfing the Menu’ here a few years ago, so his four-course luncheon menu assisted by Sea Temple’s chef Patrick Aebi, will be a real treat.

The Taste of Palm Cove on Sunday 22nd August is a casual affair that allows you to just stroll down Williams Esplanade and choose grazing dishes (starting at $10.00) from a number of great restaurants along the beach. You will find the tasting plates at restaurants; Far Horizons at Angsana, Sea Temple, Deli aDrift, Nu Nu's, Bella Baci, Lime and Pepper, Il Forno, Beach Almond, Après Beach Bar & Grill, Vivo Bar and Grill, to name a few. There is even a kids cooking class at Pepper’s Beach Club

Look, you may as well check out some good deals with accommodation and stay the whole weekend in Palm Cove. Then you can finish a perfectly indulgent weekend with drinks at sunset on Sunday evening (22nd August) at The Sebel Reef House where Ben O’Donoghue will be your guest celebrity chef for a stunning four course dinner. Ben is a familiar face at The Reef House and has worked with Chef Phil Mitchell on past ‘Chefs of the Reef’ events, so this is not to be missed.

But don’t think it finishes there. I will tell you more about Taste Paradise Food & Wine Festival next week. Till then check out www.festivalcairns.com.au and go to Taste Paradise.