UPDATED: One of south-east Queensland’s premier food festivals has won a national honor at the 2024 Australian Event Awards.
The Curated Plate blends top-quality regional produce with leading chefs and restaurants and the magnificent natural surrounds of the Sunshine Coast region every winter.
The Sunshine Coast Council-supported food and drink showcase was named the nation’s Best Small Regional Event title in Sydney on Wednesday (October 23).
The Australian Event Award judges said: “This food event was imaginative and quirky and is an example of industry excellence.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said successfully coordinating so many diverse parties to deliver the event was not an easy task.
“My thanks go to Council’s Tourism and Major Events team for their hard work and commitment,” Mayor Natoli said.
“The nomination acknowledged the event’s achievements, particularly around providing education on sustainable practices for restaurants and venues, showcasing more than 400 local businesses and producers across the festival and continuing to help establish the Sunshine Coast as a food and agri-tourism destination.”
Mayor Natoli said the event created a strong alliance with the Sunshine Coast’s local industry association the Food and Agribusiness Network, destination marketing organisation Visit Sunshine Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland.
“This has ensured the industry’s best interests and aspirations are at the heart of The Curated Plate, while strategically promoting the Sunshine Coast across Australia and internationally.”
She said another important element to delivering a successful festival was building the capacity of local venues and producers to stage high-quality events while showcasing local produce and unique locations across the Sunshine Coast.
