Dining Delights

With more deliciousness in Port Douglas and the Daintree than you can shake a sugar cane stick at, there’s a reason it’s been dubbed the ‘Northern food bowl of Australia’. A treasure chest of wild, weird and wonderful flavours, the tropics has an endless bounty of delicious delights designed to whet the appetite and leave you hungry for more. Here’s some delectable must-eat treats that are locally owned and grown in TNQ (and that any local will certainly have on their ‘last meal’ list).

1. CALLING ALL SEAFOOD LOVERS

Here in Port Douglas, seafood is king and the only way you could get it fresher is if you caught it yourself. While lobster ranks high on the luxury-ometer, Coral Trout is without a doubt the gold star fish you must try here. Legendary dining spot Nautilus have their Whole Fried Coral Trout, a feast for the eyes as much as the belly; while Port Douglas Surf Club offer their Baja Coral Trout Tacos... mouth-watering.

2. GO COCONUTTY OVER COCONUTS

Seabean's Coconut Brulee

Coconuts and tropics go hand in hand, so that’s a perfectly good reason to scoff these nutty treats by the handful. Beach Harvest Coconut Chips, found at the Sunday Markets, are made from coconuts that are handpicked directly from Four Mile Beach, dried and seasoned to a variety of sweet and savoury flavours. For a sit-down affair, do not miss Seabean Tapas & Bar’s Coconut Brulee. You're welcome.

3. CHOCOLATE DELIGHTS

What list would this be without chocolate? Not this list that’s for sure. Up here in the north we are blessed to be able to grow pretty much anything including pure A-grade cocoa, hand-picked by local farmers, made in small batches to achieve the most distinctive Australian chocolate. Daintree Estates Chocolates are award winning and can be found expertly crafted into the Chocolate Souffle at Salsa Bar & Grill.

4. WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM

Stop For Ice Cream at Daintree Ice Cream Company

Image credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

Ice cream like you’ve never had it before. With the philosophy, ‘from tree to cup’ it’ doesn’t get much more from-the-source than Daintree Ice Cream. Proper ice-cream made onsite using classic artisan methods, Daintree Ice Cream produce is all locally grown and sourced. New flavours each day are made from exotic tropical fruits from their orchard including breadfruit, Davidson’s plum and sapodilla, as well as homegrown chocolate and vanilla. Taste the rainforest!

5. GET FRUITY

Mangosteen, Queen of the Fruits

Image credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

Righto. So, there’s a long list of weird and wonderful fruits found in the tropics that need to be on your gastronomic must-eats. Mangosteen (the queen of fruits), jackfruit (vegan’s delight), sapote (hello, chocolate fruit), dragonfruit (if Mardi Gras was a fruit, it would be a dragonfruit), just to name a few. These are most readily available at Mossman and Port Douglas Markets, Yum Yums, Scommazons, and roadside stalls (if you’re lucky!). To catch them prepped by the pros, try the Pulled Jackfruit Burger at Masons Cafe, and indulge in a fruit tasting at Cape Trib Farm.