Calm before the Storm…quick eats in Noosa

The food techy and I have just returned from a few days in Noosa sampling the delights on offer. Our timing was impeccable with Cyclone Marcia bearing down but providing some excellent swell for the surfing food techy and brilliant sunshine pre the strong winds and rain. Our thoughts are with the locals of the Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland as they wait out this extreme weather. We hope all are well and will be safe from harm.

Noosa has been a favourite of ours throughout our marriage. It was the destination of choice when I was pregnant with the beloved son and we have had a wonderful holiday there with “Finger on the Pulse of Sydney – Fiona” and her lovely family from the UK. Noosa itself has been through many transformations, often dependent on the financial climate of the economy and always at the behest of mother nature. This trip we found her in good form, thronging with tourists of all nations and buzzing with excellent food, and so many surfers off the point that one could have walked on water across their boards (quote from the food techy).

So where did we eat? My sole purpose for choosing Noosa for our quick getaway was to finally treat ourselves to the wonderful food of Peter Kuruvita. He has taken control of the Sheraton kitchens and named his latest adventure the Noosa Beach House. And she is a beauty! There were 4 of us and we had the choice of a wonderful degustation menu, the special menu celebrating Chinese New Year or the a’la carte. We chose the latter and were very happy with our decision. The Seafood tapas plate and the signature Seared Yellow Fin Tuna, Ruby Grapefruit, Sweet Pork, and Crackling were our shared entrees accompanied by a cold glass of Ros Ritchie Pinot Gris 2013. Both dishes were amazing in their taste as well as visual appeal. Mains included Kuruvita’s other signature dish of Sri Lankan Snapper Curry, a deconstructed dish of beautifully cooked fish with the most delicious curry sauce on the side. Sri Lankan curries are very different to their sub continent cousins in Indian, providing a lovely delicate balance of spice, flavour and heat. I had food envy though with both the Spiced Duck with oat crumble, medjool date, cavalo nero and dehydrated grapes, and the food techy’s choice of Tajima Wagyu Sirloin with smoked potato, beetroot, horseradish, slow cooked short rib . The short rib meat literally melted in your mouth (yes I pinched a bit). Desserts were scrumptious and consisted of the playfully named Sri Lankan Love Cake with peach, coconut, palm treacle and freeze-dried raspberries and the Mexican Vanilla Bean Pannacotta with hibiscus, honeycomb and pistachio.

Our other treat for the night was Mr Kuruvita’s presence. We were told that he was eating at the restaurant that night and were delighted that he came to our table for a chat and to answer our concerns regarding his freeze dried raspberries and the recent Hepatitis A outbreak. He had a charming sense of humour and spent time with us explaining the intricacies of Sri Lankan Palm Treacle – known as Kitul. The food techy and he also got political over the regulations surrounding raw milk production and supply. PK would love to have access to buffalo curd to accompany his Kitul! The food techy was looking into how we could supply that for him….stay tuned for pictures of buffalo grazing under my Hills hoist! Mr Kuruvita (Peter to his staff) is a generous man and one who is obviously enjoying this new venture and the relaxed atmosphere it provides both him, his family and his customers.  A memorable night thank you Noosa Beach House and considerably reasonable in price coming in at $85 per head including 2 bottles of wine. Yes we will definitely be back!

Other eats around the area included breakfast at Corb-ns at Maroochydore on our way to Noosa. Good coffee and a decent breakfast menu with all the usuals. I did enjoy the smashed avocado with some goats cheese mixed through as a small change to the norm. If you are an Op Shopper like moi, Maroochydore has a whole strip “Vegas style” of charity shops to browse. Head south on Aerodrome Rd and you’ll find them. A quick bite to eat and the obligatory mango smoothie was had at Canteen. A great lunch stop whilst browsing the beachy stores of Noosa junction. Make sure you browse the wonderful wines at XO Cellars  next door to Coles for an eclectic but great array of drinking. Their sister restaurant Embassy XO at Sunshine Beach is out of this world (we ate there last visit with the aforementioned Fiona and clan).

If you are after good coffee head to Belmondos where Clandestino Roasters are hiding and will provide you with a decent brew. Belmondos is chock full of organic paleo type things that does my head in, but it is worth a browse and a look out for the day old sourdough basket with reduced price loaves! Other great coffee can be found in Noosa via Streets of Harlem. A hole in the wall right at the end of Hastings st serving strong and flavoursome macchiato.

Our final eatery was a sneaky indulgent lunch at Thomas Corner Noosaville before heading back to Brisbane Airport. Here the food techy and I shared some delicious sardines on sourdough with an eshallot paste and the sourdough sandwich with leg ham and melted comte cheese.(I was obviously missing my own sourgdough by this stage). An interesting dry ginger beer from Keith and Sons was consumed as we sat catching a cool breeze off the Noosa River. We finished off with an apple tart tartin with prune and brandy icecream….a treat for the trip home.

 

 

Thank you Noosa for another restful break. We’ll be booking our next trip north shortly! Stay safe Queenslanders…. TBHx