Taste Port Douglas Announces Its Chef Talent Line Up And Events

Australia’s Best Chefs Dish Up Their Expertise in Paradise

Taste Port Douglas returns for its sixth annual event from 11-14 August, with an all-star lineup of chefs, television personalities, cookbook authors, and wine experts from across Australia.

A stellar return of festival favourites will underpin the chef line-up this year, with a few new hospitality personalities joining in on the action and spicing up the vibrant and evolving culinary program. Delivering a smorgasbord of masterclasses, signature dinners and unforgettable food and beverage experiences across the idyllic far North Queensland resort destination, the official list of culinary talent and beverage specialists for the program includes:

New South Wales

Aaron Ward – Shell House – Sydney

Anthony Puharich – Victor Churchill, TV presenter, Author

Colin Fassnidge – Kitchen Nightmares – Sydney

Manu Feildel – My Kitchen Rules – Sydney

Samantha Payne – Wine Consultant, Communicator and Sommelier

Queensland

Alastair Macleod – TV Presenter & Chef – Queensland

Ben Williamson – Agnes, Bianca – Brisbane

Dominique Rizzo – Putia Food, Presenter, Author – Brisbane

Jake Nicolson – Blackbird, Donna Chang – Brisbane

Spencer Patrick – Harrisons – Port Douglas

South Australia

David LeMire – MW Shaw + Smith – Adelaide

Tasmania

Massimo Mele – Grain of the Silos, Peppina – Tasmania

Victoria

Adam D’Sylva – Lollo, Coda & Tonka – Melbourne

Adrian Richardson – Good Chef Bad Chef – Melbourne

Jerry Mai – Pho Nom – Melbourne

Raymond Capaldi – Industry Legend – Melbourne

Bente Grysbaek – Off the Grid Catering, Pope Joan – Melbourne

Shane Delia – Providoor, Maha – Melbourne

Since 2013, Co-Founders Reina and Spencer Patrick have been committed to championing and celebrating Australia’s culinary landscape, and in its sixth series, Taste Port Douglas continues to draw Australia’s biggest hospitality personalities and talents to Tropical North Queensland.

“It’s a great privilege to collaborate with Australia’s diverse and talented culinary community each year. They are the key ingredient to the festival’s reputation as one of Australia’s most celebrated and dynamic gourmet weekends of the year,“ says Spencer Patrick.

He continues: “Culinary events of this scale contribute to skill-sharing and fostering interstate relationships in the hospitality community, providing unique opportunities to connect key players to the region’s suppliers, growers and producers and a hungry audience of local chefs, budding cooks and interstate and overseas travellers.”

Heading up the sourcing and engagement of drinks experts from across Australia, Renia Patrick shares: “For those thirsty for more drinks experiences, we have a flowing and diverse beverage program across the festival grounds with a talented list of local and Australian producers, growers, winemakers, merchants, distillers and craftspeople ready to pour and share their expert knowledge.”

With new additions to the talent program and even more delicious experiences on the festival menu than ever before expect to snack, savour and graze your way through the exciting new events, which will include:

The Sheraton Festival Village’s Gourmet Lawn on the idyllic shores of Four Mile Beach. Day one celebrates a feast of pop-up food stalls with a host of guest chefs and local favourite eateries at the helm; while day two switches up to a coal-fired Fat Mango BBQ festival featuring six top chefs (Jake Nicholson, Ben Williamson, Jerry Mai, Aaron Ward, Bente Grysbaek) bringing their flame game to the grill and roving conversations with industry experts (Colin Fassnidge and legendary butcher Anthony Puharich) who will be there to answer you firing questions on BBQ styles and philosophies

The highly anticipated Collaboration Series is a dynamic round-up of Australia’s most inspiring culinary talent working together with the region’s most popular eateries and local legends. Joining forces with local haunts will be Manu Felidel, Colin Fassnidge, Adrian Richardson, Raymond Capaldi and Adam D’Sylva

Sunset Sounds is an evening lineup of the region’s best drinks producers, DJs, performers and live entertainment. Sip and sway the night away to chilled-out house tunes and enjoy a grazing feast of chef-prepared snacks and stations

Early starters will enjoy pre-noon tipples and a taste of Sicily over a sea-side long brunch hosted by Chef, Author and Presenter Dominque Rizzo

Splashing out with a robust new beverage program the festival will include sunset sipping soirees, barefoot bars, crafty pop-ups by local distillers and brewers and a long list of pairing, mixing, and tasting masterclasses, presented by nationally esteemed drinks and industry experts, producers, makers and growers

Book your tickets to the Taste Port Douglas four-day program online at www.tasteportdouglas.com.au with special deals for pre-purchased General Admission tickets and VIP packages expected to sell out fast

Source: Taste Port Douglas @tasteportdouglas