Cheers to 10 Years! with Locale
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of not one, but two, businesses is not a common occurrence so to mark the occasion for both Locale and IN Noosa Magazine they are reuniting for a divine afternoon commemorating a decade of decadence, Tony Cox peruses what’s on offer.
The site which now houses Locale had a few false starts before a truly successful concept filled the space. It was a matter of timing: Rio Capurso was no longer at Lindonis and there was a premium Hastings Street location crying out for a quality operator – the two got together and Locale has continued to set the bar for quality Italian food, superb drinks and great service ever since.
IN Noosa Magazine was started to INform, INdulge and INspire Noosa locals and visitors through the power of storytelling as well as signature events that celebrate all things local. One of the key things being a series of sell-out wine lunches that began in 2014 with the first one held at the newly-opened Locale.
The long lunch will celebrate the longevity of both businesses and will kick off with another local success story, Seabourne Distillery.
To start, Locale barman Kamen has created an exclusive cocktail utilising Seabourne Distillery’s After Dark Amaro, a bottle-aged gin fortified with cherry and citrus peel and paired with pineapple juice and passionfruit to deliver a fresh, tropical cocktail that will celebrate the beginning of summer. It is perfectly suited to the welcome canapé of Noosa Reds tomatoes with mozzarella on a house-made beetroot cracker – basically, a mini Insalata Caprese, according to head chef Chris Hagan who has developed the rest of the menu with memorable moments and exclusive flavours in mind.
For the wines, the team have worked with Twelve Bottles to choose drops from central and southern Italy that will be matched to regional Italian dishes with a strong Noosa flavour. The first wine to be served is from the Lazio area of Central Italy, about an hour from Rome. The Cincinnato Pantaleo Greco is a wonderful colour grown on volcanic soil. It is textured, savoury, very slight lemon notes with a hint a saline/minerality with persistent acid to close. Served with tuna crudo, the fruit weight provides enough power to match the tuna with pickled fennel, freeze-dried mandarin and mandarin oil providing freshness within the dish to work in tune with the acidity of the wine. A seaweed and rice cracker adds a punch of flavour.
The second wine is Tenuta Scuotto Oi ni Fiano di Avellino from Campania in southwest Italy, which is surrounding the city of Naples. Fermented in barrels and aged on lees it is rich and mouthcoating and ideally suited to the Australian Bay Lobster ravioli. This dish is exclusive to this event and you won’t find it on Locale’s menu – or any other venue in Noosa. Similar to Moreton Bay Bugs, this particular species has been developed in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales with an outer similar to a soft shell crab – but with all the flavour and meat size you expect from a Moreton Bay Bug. More than a decade in the making and just preparing to hit the market, it will be something to savour!
Next up, a rolled lamb saddle filled with mustard and shallots will be paired with a Varvaglione Salice Salentino from Puglia, the heel of Italy, which has become a tourism hotspot in the last decade. Made from negroamaro grapes it features dark fruits, spices, aniseed and has a seamless flow across the palate. Juicy with medium tannins it has great length to cleanse the palate between mouthfuls. The lamb will be accompanied by seasonal vegetable offerings from Maravista Farm – so fresh we don’t know what they’ll be until they come out of the ground, off the tree or vine.
To close, semifreddo with Kenilworth Dairies’ Yoghurt, Maravista Farm honey and citrus compote; marinated lemon and a wedge of honey meringue. Paired with Elio Perrone ‘Sourgal’ Moscato d’Asti this is the ideal way to close. Aromas of freshly crushed grapes, a gentle frizzante and refreshingly light alcohol you could even enjoy at breakfast, if you are that way inclined.
As with all IN Noosa Magazine and Locale lunches, the day will feature chats with Rio, Chris Hagan and the winemaker as well as a few very special surprises that are sure to delight. A stunning event to celebrate two businesses achieving the significant milestone of 10 years in operation. This is sure to sell-out!
DECADE OF DECADENCE
Join us for a truly special occasion as Locale Noosa celebrates its 10th anniversary in conjunction with IN Noosa Magazine’s 10-year milestone.
This is more than just a lunch—it’s a celebration of a decade of culinary excellence and community spirit.
Date: 18 October, 12noon
Price: $149 per person
Includes: Cocktail on arrival – Canapés – 4-course lunch – Matching Italian wines
Special thanks to Seabourne Distillery and Twelve Bottles.
Be part of an intimate and exclusive gathering, celebrating two local icons that have been at the heart of Noosa’s vibrant dining and cultural scene for the past decade.
