Recipe for success: culinary showcase in national spotlight

The Curated Plate, which blends top-quality regional produce with leading chefs and restaurants and magnificent natural surrounds, has been named as Best Small Regional Event at the 2024 Australian Event Awards.

The Sunshine Coast Council-supported food and drink showcase, held each winter, was awarded the title at a special ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday, October 23, where Sunshine Coast Council officer Lucy Ravenwood (pictured below) accepted the accolade. 

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 praised all the hard-working and talented producers, chefs, industry and tourism representatives and sponsors, who worked together to make the Curated Plate such a success story.

Mayor Natoli said successfully coordinating so many diverse parties to deliver such a special 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.

“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 State Government - 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.

“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.”

The program of curated events takes place in a variety of settings – on a farm, under the stars, by the seaside, next to a majestic mountain, on a boat, in a distillery as well as at some of the Sunshine Coast’s most well-known, well-loved and award-winning restaurants.

This Curated Plate Food and Drink Festival is an initiative of Sunshine Coast Council, supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism & Events Queensland, the Food and Agribusiness Network and Visit Sunshine Coast. The Curated Plate returns in 2025 from July 25 – August 3.