Spotlight on
Bringing an ancient concept of togetherness to life with food
“Most of us try to escape our four walls whenever we can thanks to a year of restrictions and lockdowns caused by Covid-19,” - that’s the thoughts of Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Sunshine Coast chef and cofounder of events company The Ohana Group. Ryan spent much of the earlier Queensland lockdown focused on putting together new, immersive food experiences for corporates and organisations who will be looking to reconnect with one another and strategise the way forward.
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Ryan, and his business partner Rashi, who takes care of the event styling and logistics, says the region is prime to develop its own identity for food experiences. “Food can tell the story of every region in the Sunshine Coast. From the rolling green dairy farms across the Hinterland to wild herbs foraged from the ocean near Noosa; our produce offers a deep, personal and earthy connection to place.” Ryan’s career has indulged his passion for food, foraging, sustainability and the ocean with gigs on luxury and celebrity yachts sailing across Europe, Hawaii and The Pacific Islands (in addition to top Melbourne and Noosa restaurants like The Press Club).
THE SHORTLIST EDITION ONE 2020
He worked with villagers, locals, producers, and foragers to source and create new dishes for guests. In 2018, Ryan returned to Noosa to start something of his own - The Ohana Group - Ohana being the Hawaiian word for extended family. It is this togetherness that Ryan knows board members, corporate groups and staff will seek out in the coming months and years as businesses and organisations face pivotal times ahead. “Nothing connects people together better than food. Our carefully curated experiences on the Sunshine Coast bring visitors together with local food producers from fourth generation beef producers in Maleny to Mooloolaba Fisheries and our many craft beer brewers.”
