Resort town’s dining pageant

Chefs at Taste of Port Douglas will tantalise and enrich tastebuds over four special days

l PORT DOUGLAS

| Isaac Colman

TASTE returns to Port Douglas next week for its seventh year of flavour-filled deliciousness, top-level chefs and exemplary dishes.

This year it is bringing a lineup of some of the country’s best chefs and hospitality talent, as well as local producers and restaurants.

From August 10 to 13, Port Douglas will be thriving with amazing signature dishes from chefs such as Alistair McLeod and Laura Sharrad as well as local restaurants.

There are a number of event highlights, including top chefs Bente Grysbaek and Ben Williamson lighting up the festival’s first tropical night with Night of Fire x Flames of the Forest with the thrill of live fire cooking and selected wines from The Other Wine Co. South Australia.

Overlooking Dickinson’s Inlet, the second night of the festival will have an Italian theme that will mimic the Sicilian waterfront.

A renowned lineup of Austral- ia’s top Italian chefs including Massimo Mele and Laura and Max Sharrad present Taste Port Douglas: La Dolce Vita.

Hosted by Italian chef Guy Grossi, guests will be greeted with a refreshing Aperol Spritz upon arrival, followed by three courses of Italian cuisine.

The festival’s final night is sure to be a hit, as Café Del Mar partners with Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort for an amazing sunset.

The all-inclusive dinner package features roving canapes and food stations, accompanied by multiple bars serving a wide variety of beverages.

Since 2013, co-founders Reina and Spencer Patrick have been committed to championing and celebrating the unique and widespread culinary diversity that lies within Australia.

“We are stoked to collaborate with Australia’s diverse and talented culinary community at Taste Port Douglas,” Mr Patrick said. “They are the key ingredient to the festival’s reputation as one of Australia’s most celebrated and dynamic gourmet week- ends of the year,” he said.

“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 trav- ellers.” The full line-up at Taste Port Douglas this year includes:

• New South Wales - Aaron Ward (Shell House), Samantha Payne (wine communicator, sommelier.

• Queensland - Alastair McLeod (TV presenter and chef), Ben Williamson (Agnes, sAme sAme, Honto), Charly Pretet (Terra Firma Dining), Jake Nicolson (Blackbird, Donna Chang), Kerry Heaney (Eat, Drink and Be Kerry).

• South Australia - Laura Sharrad ( Nido Bar and Pasta), Max Sharrad (Fugazzi, Nido Bar and Pasta), Penny Grant (Shaw + Smith).

• Tasmania - Massimo Mele (Grain of the Silos, Peppina). Victoria - Adam D’Sylva (Lollo, Tonka, Coda), Bente Grysbaek ( Pope Joan), Guy Grossi (Grossi Group), Ian Curley (The French Saloon, Kirk’s Wine Bar), Jerry Mai (Pho Nom, Bia Hoi), Matt Preston (journalist, author, TV presenter), Michael Lambie (The Smith, Lucy Liu), Raymond Capaldi (chef, Wonder Pies).

Tickets to the festival are now available at tasteportdouglas.com.au