Gourmet shopping
Made in heaven
When the sun shines an average of 300 days each year onto rich soils, the earth offers a bounty of fresh produce. When the coastline curves to calm some of the Pacific Ocean's rolling waves, marine life respond by schooling in abundance.
This destination combines the bounty of the earth and ocean, and then adds a passion for excellence in the creation of gourmet delicacies.
The Gold Coast's unique climate and geography is the perfect recipe for fresh local produce and gourmet products that are unique to this area of the world. The city's food sector is a key industry that generates millions of dollars and includes the exportation of numerous products to various countries around the world. In this city you can be part of the process, purchase its spoils or simply enjoy them from one of the menus of 500 restaurants and cafés.
Fresh & local
Aside from the city's acclaimed wine industry, the Gold Coast delivers a large variety of fresh produce including teas, coffees, grapes, cheeses, avocados, strawberries, kiwifruit, herbs, bananas, tropical fruits, honey, meat, poultry, vegetables and a stunning diversity of seafood.
In a tribute to the city's deliciously interesting cultural heritage the Gold Coast also offers fresh gourmet products featuring international flavours so authentic it is easy to believe they have been made locally for hundreds of years.
Crisp organic Turkish bread and sun dried tomato hummus create an appealing appetiser. For the main fare take advantage of the Gold Coast's rich history of dairying and farming that has now evolved into the production of organic grass-fed meats and the exotic flavours of game. A mixture of local cheeses including marinated milk feta, baked ricotta or bocconcini coupled with Danish pastries ensures a sweet ending to a feast of local produce.
There are a number of gourmet food producers that allow visitors to see the secrets involved in creating their delicious products. Watch The Chocolate Kingdom's chocolatiers create exclusive hand-made chocolates and confectionery through the factory observation windows or visit Belgian Delights Chocolate for delicious truffles and marzipan.
Go one step further than watching the creation of gourmet products and do it yourself with cheese-making classes at Witches Chase Cheese Company. Complement your cheese with freshly-picked strawberries at The Strawberry Farm, where you can pick your own strawberries from August to November and indulge in strawberry cakes, ice creams and jams all year round.
Straight from the ocean
Some of the world's cleanest waters can be found in the Gold Coast's inland dams, protected waterways and its bordering Pacific Ocean. Within these bodies of water lie an abundance of fish and crustaceans. Whether you choose to catch it yourself or leave it to the professionals and simply enjoy it straight from the menu, you will taste the difference in its freshness and quality.
Hire a small boat, rod and reel and try your luck, join a professional fishing trip or call in to one of more than 50 specialty seafood outlets on the Gold Coast. In any case the day will probably end in a fresh seafood barbeque. The oceans and waterways are home to snapper, mackerel, blue fin tuna, pearl perch, cod, flathead, mangrove jack, whiting, squid, oysters and mud crabs while the fresh waters of the Hinze Dam offer silver perch, Mary River cod, Australian bass and saratoga.
This seafood becomes the sushi, steaming seafood noodles, rich Italian tomato mussels, pan-fried fish, champagne Moreton Bay bugs and infused Thai seafood stir fries that grace the tables across the Gold Coast's restaurants and cafés.
The art of perfect pasta
The five partners behind the success of the Gold Coast's multi award-winning Ristorante Fellini once again combined their four generations of experience to create Pastificio Fellini an unrivalled range of pasta and pasta sauce products.
After importing specialised machinery from Italy, the masters behind the Fellini empire worked closely with food technologists to turn pasta-making into an innovative work of art. Not satisfied with the flour available to the market, an additive-free, unbleached, high-protein flour was developed to give the pasta dough strength and integrity. The finest Australian grown durum wheat and spring water from the natural sources of Springbrook Mountain are also used to create Pastificio Fellini's ever-increasing collection of pastas.
Pastificio Fellini also offer balsamic vinegars, olive oils and Italian sauces. However, if you do not feel like donning the chef's hat you could simply stop by Ristorante Fellini and have these delicious gourmet products served to you.
