Our New Foodie Delights
Indulging in delectable food and wine in gorgeous surrounds is a big part of the Whitsundays experience. It is all about fresh local seafood and the abundance of fresh regional produce that feature on the region's menus, enjoyed against the backdrop of stunning scenery.

From unforgettable culinary journeys at the Whitsundays' five star island resorts to the new contemporary dining scene of Airlie Beach and the abundance of fresh seafood in Bowen, the Whitsundays has got a few exciting new foodie delights to tantalise your taste buds and leave you longing for more.

WHAT'S NEW

Spanish tapas served with a view
Last week, Airlie's hottest new tapas bar barcelona opened its doors offering authentic Spanish tapas and priceless views over Abell Point Marina and the coastline beyond. barcelona is open for lunch and dinner and makes the perfect spot for a sundowner drink. The food is superb and served with a range of wines, a unique gin cocktail menu or non-alcoholic beverages.

The Chocolate Café
Whether you are lazing at the Airlie Beach lagoon and need a break, you feel like dessert or you simply love chocolate – this is for you! The Chocolate Café is full of naughty treats from chocolate fondue to chocolate waffles. But wait, there is more. The Chocolate Café offers salads, pastries, pies and more. And right next door is the Gelato Bar. So soak up the sun, satisfy your sweet tooth and people-watch.

Just Wine & Cheese
The Port of Airlie precinct features a hotel, marina, shops and restaurants and is home to the new Just Wine & Cheese bar which has become a popular spot for those enjoying the finer pleasures of life. You are spoilt for choice with over 120 specialty wines and exquisite cheeses to try. Holy Goat's La Luna is one of Australia's best and is a must-try. After a day of enjoying the beauty of the Whitsundays, this is just what you need.

Denman Cellars
The famous beer café at the Port of Airlie is expanding. Their tapas menu will stay - from crocodile spring rolls to duck pancakes and lobster ravioli! The cafe offers a great selection of over 700 beers and ciders (and a good selection of wine for those who don't favour the brew). Their App guides your way through the beverage menu and together with a great atmosphere, this is the perfect hangout.

TASTE OUR FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE
Surrounded by lush agricultural land, with fields of sugar cane, tomatoes, mangoes, coffee, and the like, the Whitsunday region boasts fresh, local produce. Head to the Whitsunday Gold Coffee farm in Proserpine and enjoy a freshly roasted Whitsunday bean and a home-made treat. The café is set amongst the lush green cane fields and coffee bean plantation and welcomes visitors 7 days a week. Taste the best local produce at the weekly markets in Airlie Beach, Bowen and fortnightly in Proserpine.

THE ULTIMATE SWEET FIX
Mini foodies will love this unique family holiday. BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort's famous 'Kids in the Kitchen' presents Chocolate Week, a choc-a-block full of wicked indulgences and great gooey all-you-can-eat fun for kids. From 3-9 July, every activity is dipped in mouth-watering fun from chocolate coin treasure hunts, chocolate cooking classes and demos, chocolate-theme movies, chocolate fountains in reception, to local businesses showing their chocolate craft and much more.

OUR WHITSUNDAYS TOP 10:
1. Freshly made pasta and home-made pizzas served in an al-fresco setting at La Tabella
2. The flavoursome and exquisite Moroccan cuisine at Cha'mah
3. A casual and fresh hungry sailor's feed at the Whitsunday Sailing Club
4. The combination of fish and rum at Airlie's bustling fish café, Fish D'vine
5. A degustation menu coupled with live music and unforgettable views at Déjà Vu Restaurants's famous long lunch
6. One&Only Hayman Island – the resort is currently closed and will re-open on 1 July. The famous Chef's table will stay and is an absolute must! Did you know the resort had its own chocolate room?
7. Long Pavillion, qualia, Hamilton Island – At qualia, Executive Chef Alastair Waddell will create the finest. Book a private 'talk and taste' event and be swept away by an unforgettable culinary journey.
8. The hand-made pizzas, delicious tapas and a lazy front row view of the Airlie Beach lagoon at Mr Bones.
9. Arabon Seafoods – for freshly caught seafood, head to Bowen's marina. Coupled with award-winning beaches and stunning views this makes for a perfect day trip from Airlie Beach.
10. A romantic dinner at Daydream Island's Mermaids Beach or Lover's Cove – illuminated by flaming torches, the moon and the stars.

MEET THE MAKER
Gregory Devine brings an outstanding culinary background to Tides Restaurant at Peppers Airlie Beach. As Executive Chef to Governor General Quentin Bryce, Gregory brought his high calibre cuisine to international head of state and Australia's Premier Minister. Now he is providing guest's with menus based on organics fruit and vegetables sourced in the local Bowen region, succulent fresh fish and prawns sourced from nearby reefs plus the freshest Queensland scallops, crabs, bugs and Queensland's finest beef. Gregory describes his goal as providing guests with the highest standard of cuisine and continues to raise the bar.

Notes to editors:

The Whitsundays
The 74 islands of the Whitsundays lay in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, cradled by the tropical waters of the Coral Sea, a truly remarkable icon of beauty. The Whitsundays is an invitation into a world of tropical wonder. The vibrant colours of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforest provide plenty of scope for activity and adventure. Easily accessible by air, road and rail, the Whitsundays are located on the central eastern coast of Queensland in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The area is characterised by world class resort facilities blending harmoniously with the pristine natural attributes of the area. Sail, Explore, Dive, Dine, Play, Relax, Enjoy. The opportunities are endless… which is why there is no better place to take a well-deserved holiday than the Whitsundays.

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Chelsea Hauschka
Marketing Executive Communications
Whitsundays Marketing and Development Limited
E: communications@wmdl.com.au 
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