Peter Kuruvita announces first event for Curated Plate food and drink festival

Spicy offerings are promised in an Asian food festival on the Sunshine Coast as celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita takes the helm of the Curated Plate Festival for 2025.

Curated Plate 2025

The Curated Plate food and drink festival will return in 2025 with the first of many events being announced.

The Asian Food Festival will be a “vibrant” celebration of “exceptional culinary offerings” and live entertainment.

Held on the Spicers Tamarind retreat in the Maleny hinterland, some of the Sunshine Coast’s finest chefs will collaborate to present an Asian-inspired menu.

The two-day showcase in August will showcase the chefs from Spirit House Restaurant, Rice Boi and Spicers Tamarind, with support from Peter Kuruvita.

From left to right, Tom Hitchcock from Spirit House, James Fraser from Rice Boi, Peter Kuruvita, Festival Culinary Director and Dan Jarrett from The Tamarind

Renowned chef, TV presenter and author, Mr Kuruvita will be curating the lineup for the Curated Plate festival for the first time this year.

He has promised it would be the biggest celebration of local food since the festival’s inception six years ago and is personally excited about the program.

“The program is shaping up to be a rich mix of cuisines set across various venues, from the Sunshine Coast’s beaches to the hinterland, all showcasing local produce on their menus,” Mr Kuruvita said.

He said his focus has been to highlight the Sunshine Coast’s food and drink producers and foster collaborations between chefs, restaurants, venues, growers, producers, brewers, distillers and more.

Peter Kuruvita and Dan Jarrett

“Promoting diversity has also been really important and we want to showcase the various cuisines across the coast and there is no better way to celebrate cultures than by bringing people together with food,” he said.

Mr Kuruvita said the Asian Food Festival is a flagship experience for the Curated Plate and is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the Sunshine Coast’s leading Asian-inspired restaurants.

Following its success last year, the Oyster Bar will also make a return alongside a champagne bar and desserts crafted by local favourite, Maleny Food Co.

He said early release tickets are expected to go on sale in March and the first people to know when tickets are live, will be those subscribed for updates.

Originally published as Peter Kuruvita announces first event for Curated Plate food and drink festival