Entertainment
20 June, 2025
Tantalising festival on menu
TASTE Port Douglas will be turning up the heat in August, returning to the tropics for its annual four-day food festival.
For its ninth year, co-founders Reina and Spencer Patrick will be bringing a world-class line-up of hospitality talent to Far North Queensland, putting on a menu of unparalleled dining experiences, expert masterclasses, parties and more.
Backdropped by the reefs and rainforests of Australia’s tropical paradise, Taste Port Douglas, sponsored by Sheraton, will include stand-out signature events as well as new additions to the line-up.
Local hotspots will welcome the ‘Takeover Series’ presented by Singapore Airlines, including sell-out long seaside lunches, while the Daintree Rainforest will come alive with Night of Fire: ‘Flames of The Forest’, a spectacular fire-licked feast that immerses diners in FNQ’s natural beauty.
As well as drawing Australia’s very best talent from across the country, this year three international chefs will take to the Taste Port Douglas kitchens.
Pâtissier extraordinaire and Fortnum and Mason executive head chef Roger Pizey will be flying in from London, re-creating his ground-breaking tarte tatin. The dish was created when he worked as head pastry chef for Marco Pierre White, at the very time the restaurant earned three Michelin stars.
Chef-patron of Singapore’s Michelin-Starred Marguerite restaurant, Michael Wilson, will also be returning to the festival, bringing his ‘creative cuisine’ from the iconic Flower Dome at Gardens By The Bay, while Ryan Clift, chef consultant for The Cave in Bali and chef and owner of one of Singapore’s oldest cocktail bars, The Tippling Club, will be bringing his avant-garde and innovative expertise.
Reina and Spencer Patrick said they had been running Taste Port Douglas for 10 years and “we’re overjoyed to see what our home-grown festival has become”.
“Every year it gets bigger and better with a spectacular lineup of events and masterclasses, hosted by Australia’s own impeccable culinary talent – both chefs and producers – as well as international chefs of Michelin-starred pedigree,” they said.
“We hosted more than 15,000 visitors last year, many of whom travelled from overseas to feast with us, and we can’t wait to welcome both returning and new faces this year.”
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A snapshot of this year’s events include:
Thursday, August 7
The official festival launch party presented by Olsson’s Salt – Kicking off the festival under the stars. Expect exceptional views and infectious beats with Taste Port Douglas’ VIPs. With the iconic Four Mile Beach at one side, and the blue lagoons of the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas, on the other, flowing food and drinks will celebrate the start of the region’s gourmet weekend
Friday, August 8
Brit Pack 2.0 presented by Singapore Airlines – MC Colin Fassnidge will be accompanying Ryan Clift, Nelly Robinson, Raymond Capaldi and Roger Pizey as they take over Spencer Patrick’s newly refurbished Harrisons restaurant, bringing their British training and techniques to serve a show-stopping four course dinner
The Lexus Long Lunch – Australia’s favourite MC, Manu Feildel, will host the festival’s signature long lunch, presenting al fresco dining at its finest. This year’s brigade will see Ben Williamson, Louis Tikaram, Massimo Mele and Michael Wilson, serving up a three course feast under the canopy of Poinciana trees against the breathtaking backdrop of Dixons Inlet
Saturday, August 9
Night of Fire – The hottest ticket in town, MC Matt Preston will be joined by chefs Telina Menzies, Oliver Gould and Matt Stone lighting up the night with a fire-licked feast. Set deep in the heart of the world’s oldest rainforest, the evening will offer an unforgettable sensory feast like no other in the country.
Fat Mango Music Festival – Ocean-side beats will be served up by some of Australia’s favourite DJs, inviting guests to dance the night away under the stars and by the blue lagoons of the Sheraton. For those who want to take the night up a notch, premium seats with a private bar and complimentary canapes are available in the Estrella Damm VIP lounge
Festival Village at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas – Running across Saturday and Sunday, August 9-10, Festival Village is the bustling hub of Taste Port Douglas, where festival-goers can watch live demonstrations from guest chefs on The Moffat main stage, take part in expert masterclasses from Australia’s finest producers and growers, and stroll through the food stalls, sampling culinary treats
Sunday, August 10
Official closing party by Harrisons Restaurant – Celebrate the final night of the festival with live music, food and drinks, and raise a glass to the ninth Taste Port Douglas Festival.
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