Discover Tastes of Moreton Bay over six delicious weeks

Published 7:00pm 10 June 2021

Words by Kylie Knight

When your seafood comes fresh from Moreton Bay, your cows graze in verdant Samford Valley, your vineyards grow atop the D’Aguilar Ranges and craft beer is in your blood… it’s no wonder the Moreton Bay Region is home to one of Australia’s fastest-evolving foodie cultures.

That’s why the region has dedicated a whole six weeks to celebrating and showcasing the Tastes of Moreton Bay, from August 1 to September 19, including the return of the Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival.

Tastes of Moreton Bay will take visitors on a culinary journey with a rich diversity of unique local produce events and dining experiences, brewery tours, cooking schools, masterclasses and more, right across the region.

Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism (MBRIT) has partnered with Moreton Bay Regional Council alongside local producers and businesses, to cook up and serve a tantalising program for food fanatics, attracting some of the nation’s most talented chefs to showcase our gastronomic offerings.

MBRIT Chairman Shane Newcombe says it has been a while between courses, but foodies won’t have to wait much longer for Tastes of Moreton Bay, with more than 15 events on the program, including the return of the Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival.

“Tastes of Moreton Bay is the chance for local tastemakers and foodies to come together. Venues and producers will be hosting culinary events and masterclasses and offering special menus and creating food trails across the region, guaranteed to tantalise the tastebuds,” Mr Newcombe explains.

Popular festival returns

This year will also see the return of the program’s signature event the Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival.

Organisers have announced a limited release of festival precinct weekend passes (entry for Saturday and Sunday), plus a free reusable festival cup, for $30 + booking fee. Visit the website to get yours. When weekend passes are sold out, only single-day passes will be available.

“Get your tastebuds ready because Moreton Bay Food + Wine is back, with a new location at Woody Point, famous for its red cliffs and spectacular sunsets,” Mr Newcombe says.

“We’re particularly excited to be joined by some of Australia’s biggest names live across three stages over the weekend including celebrity chefs Matt Golinski, Alastair McLeod and Dominique Rizzo, as well as the ABC’s gardening guru Costa Georgiadis.”

Alongside Moreton Bay Food + Wine Festival, the Tastes of Moreton Bay’s program includes more than 15 foodie events, delivered in partnership with local producers and businesses, in spectacular settings from the bay to the hinterland.

“With an abundance of passionate local producers, amazing restaurants, boundary-pushing cafes on board with unbeatable views, Moreton Bay Region indulges visitors and locals alike with choice,” Mr Newcombe says.

“Combine that with our region’s spectacular natural landscapes from the bay to the hinterland ranges, our food tourism offering is the cherry on top of a perfect holiday.”

Reputation grows

Mayor Peter Flannery says the Moreton Bay Region deserves to be recognised as a food bowl for South East Queensland.

“This is my favourite time of year, when we proudly showcase the depth of talent and passion coming from our agricultural, fishing and culinary sectors,” Mayor Flannery says.

“We bat well above our average in terms of the quality of our produce and appreciation for cuisine, Moreton Bay has well and truly come of age and it’s time we made the nation pay attention to that.

“Our subtropical climate offers a bounty of products from pineapples and raspberries to shellfish and wagyu products, and we have chefs daring enough to try truly exciting things.

“Best of all Moreton Bay is just minutes away from Brisbane, so get in your car to discover our amazing food trails and pioneering tastemakers.

“And I implore locals to go discover a new corner of our region, the variety of products and hospitality stylings on offer from the cafes of Samford and hidden restaurants around Mount Mee to the iconic venues around Bribie and Redcliffe - there really is no better place to be.”