FNQ Food Magazine

13/08/2026

A FRESH CHAPTER AT HOPSCOTCH 🍹🍕🎶

Earlville staple Hopscotch Cairns is unveiling a fresh new look and an expanded menu this weekend with a special 3-day 'Reno Reveal' event.

Guests will enjoy $12 cocktail specials and an exciting live music lineup.

🎶 Friday (5:30pm–8:30pm): Drewboy live on the deck
🎶 Saturday (5:30pm–8:30pm): Gracie B for sunset sets and evening vibes
🎶 Sunday (4:30pm–7:30pm): Vidsehgalmusic for the Sunday Arvo Sesh

Gather your crew, sample the new menu, and relax with tunes on the deck.

📖 Read our full story:
https://www.fnqfood.com.au/index.php/2026/08/12/a-fresh-chapter-at-hopscotch/

12/08/2026

This weekend, Smithfield is the place to be for anyone who loves great local food and the people who make it happen! 🥖🦐🥩

Preston Fresh Food Collective is celebrating its official Grand Opening with two days of tastings and artisanal deliciousness!

Five local makers are coming together to showcase what they do best, with a free BBQ from 9am–12pm and complimentary tastings all day, Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 August.

From artisan bread and premium seafood to quality meat, handcrafted Italian salumi and fresh local produce, it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet the makers, discover something new and support local.

Preston Fresh Seafood Cairns
Tablelands to Tabletop
Fortunato Salumi
The Bread Attic
The Meat Emporium Smithfield

📍Preston Fresh Food Collective
2–4 Mac Peak Crescent, Smithfield

Bring the family, bring your friends and come hungry!

A great new addition to the FNQ food scene, and definitely one for the weekend calendar. ❤️

09/08/2026

We popped up to Taste Port Douglas - Festival Village today and what a way to spend the day! ☀️🌴

With stunning FNQ weather, the Village was buzzing with food, drinks, music and some of our region’s fabulous producers.

It was fantastic to catch up with Laza from Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery, Sergio and Orhun from Jack Murat Coffee, Antonio from Vitalia's italian Restaurant, Mark from Mt Uncle Distillery, Jason and the team from George & Sons, Darren from Wolf Lane Distillery, Max and the team from Preston Fresh Seafood Cairns, and Mark from Daintree Saltwater Barramundi.

We also loved chatting with Alastair McLeod about his connection to the region and the event, and hearing his appreciation for the incredible depth of FNQ produce shaping our region’s culinary identity.

Congratulations to everyone involved in a decade of Taste Port Douglas. 🥂

03/08/2026

This is the weekend every food lover has been waiting for. 🍷🦐🌴

From the star-studded culinary experiences of Taste Port Douglas - Food & Drink Festival to the vibrant flavours, live music and local producers at Salt House 'A Taste of the Tropics' Food & Wine Festival, our region is serving up an unforgettable celebration of food, wine and the tropical lifestyle.

Whether you're planning a gourmet getaway, gathering friends for a day of great food and drinks, or simply looking for the best events on the calendar, this is your guide to one incredible weekend.

👇 Read the full story. Link in comments.

30/07/2026

🎉 Far North Queensland has once again proven it's one of Australia's most exciting food destinations, with an incredible showing at the 2026 Restaurant & Catering Australia Hostplus Awards for Excellence.

A huge congratulations to our award winners:
🏆 IGNIS Palm Cove – Italian Restaurant (North Queensland) and Restaurant of the Year (North Queensland & Northern Territory)
🏆 Caffiend – Breakfast Restaurant and Café Dining (North Queensland)
🏆 Nautilus Restaurant – Contemporary Australian Restaurant (North Queensland & Northern Territory)
🏆 ISLA Port Douglas – New Restaurant (North Queensland)
🏆 CC's Bar and Grill by Crystalbrook – Restaurant in a Hotel/Resort (North Queensland)
🏆 Miguel's – Specialty Restaurant (North Queensland)

Congratulations also to the outstanding finalists showcasing the depth of talent across our region:
👏 Beach Almond Palm Cove
👏 Guyala Cafe
👏 Harrisons Restaurant Port Douglas
👏 Salsa Bar & Grill
👏 Piato Cairns Restaurant
👏 L'unico
👏 The Vine Room
👏 The Big Chill Clifton Beach
👏 Seabean Tapas Bar Restaurant Port Douglas
👏 The Pocket El Arish
👏 Mossman Bowls Club
👏 Tin Shed Port Douglas

From Cairns and Palm Cove to Port Douglas, Mossman and beyond, these venues continue to put Far North Queensland firmly on Australia's culinary map.

Read the full story here: https://www.fnqfood.com.au/index.php/2026/07/30/far-north-queensland-shines-at-2026-restaurant-catering-awards

27/07/2026

Yorkshire Day is coming to Far North Queensland! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🍺

This Sunday, 2 August, head to Macalister Brewing Company for a celebration of all things Yorkshire, complete with a special British-inspired menu by Whatever food truck by Cater2u_fnq and the exclusive White Rose Yorkshire Special Bitter on hand-pull. This limited brew is expected to sell out fast, so get there early! Pair it with hearty favourites including fish and chips, Scotch eggs, pork pies, a loaded Yorkshire pudding Sunday lunch, Ploughman's lunch and more.

If you're craving a true taste of Yorkshire, this is an event you won't want to miss! 🍻

24/07/2026

🏆 Congratulations to Tha Fish

Congratulations to the team at Tha Fish, whose Coral Trout Cassava Crisp has emerged as the public's favourite in the Cairns Post's poll to help determine Cairns' signature dish.

The poll, launched in partnership with Mayor Amy Eden and Cairns Regional Council, invited Far North Queenslanders to vote on which locally created recipe should represent Cairns in A Shared Table, a commemorative cookbook celebrating the Local Government Association of Queensland's 130th anniversary.

The winning dish is a fitting ambassador for our region, showcasing locally caught coral trout alongside pickled local coconut, green papaya, fresh herbs and a vibrant tom yum mayonnaise, all served on a crisp cassava chip. It's a dish that celebrates the extraordinary produce of Tropical North Queensland and the connection between reef, rainforest and hinterland.

At FNQ Food Magazine, we're always proud to see local chefs and venues champion regional ingredients and tell the story of Far North Queensland through food. Congratulations to the team at Tha Fish on this well-deserved recognition, and also to the other talented entrants; Oliver James from Guyala Cafe, Craig Squire from Ochre Restaurant, and David Hart from Cairns Convention Centre, whose outstanding dishes showcased the depth, diversity and creativity of our region's culinary talent.

👏 We can't wait to see Cairns represented in A Shared Table.

Tha Fish Team
L-R: Alain 'Bondy' Giuca - General Manager, Jessie Marshall - Head Chef, Carolyn Wearne, Founder & Co-Owner

https://www.fnqfood.com.au/index.php/2026/07/24/tha-fish-for-tha-win/

12/07/2026

A Fresh Wake-Up Call for the South Side ☕🇮🇹

Oliver James has become one of Far North Queensland’s most influential café operators, with a knack for creating venues that locals genuinely embrace. Villa Zucchero looks set to continue that tradition.

The creative force behind Caffiend, Guyala, Newell St Café, Tattooed Sailor Coffee Roasters and Riverstone Bakery, Olly has now brought his wealth of experience to Gordonvale with the opening of Villa Zucchero at Cutters Rise.

We dropped in for a visit yesterday and came away impressed (and well caffeinated!). Inspired by Gordonvale’s rich Italian heritage, Villa Zucchero blends quality coffee, fresh food and genuine hospitality into a welcoming space that already feels like part of the community. The quaint café piazza, with uninterrupted views of majestic Walsh’s Pyramid, is reason enough to stop in.

Leading the day-to-day operation is Mike, barista extraordinaire, whose beautifully crafted coffees are perfectly matched with an irresistible selection of little cakes, croissants and paninis, and with Mamma’s Lasagna soon to join the menu, there’s another delicious reason to make the trip south.

Perhaps the smartest part of Olly’s latest café model is the drive-through. It recognises that great coffee should be as accessible as it is enjoyable—whether you’re on your way to work or have time to settle into the little piazza with friends.

Congratulations to Olly, Mike and the team. It was a pleasure to visit, and we have no doubt Villa Zucchero will become another much-loved destination in Far North Queensland’s thriving café scene.

Villa Zucchero is open Monday to Saturday 6am to 2pm.

10/07/2026

Far North Queensland is home to some of Australia’s most extraordinary produce and some of its most talented chefs. From pristine seafood and tropical fruit to premium beef, rainforest ingredients and native flavours, our region has all the ingredients for world-class cuisine.

Now, a selection of local chefs has put forward their ideas for the dish that best represents Cairns—and they are outstanding examples of the creativity, passion and quality that define our food scene.

If you’ve ever needed proof that FNQ is one of Australia’s great food destinations, these dishes make a compelling case.

Cast your vote, then tell us in the comments: What dish do you think best captures the taste of Cairns and Far North Queensland? 🌴🍤🥭

Read more and vote here:
https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/vote-now-cairns-called-on-to-vote-for-citys-signature-dish/news-story/f418e331ebd24b02a916df2a69cccf38

Celebrating the people, produce and places that make Far North Queensland one of Australia’s most exciting food regions.

— FNQ Food Magazine

From coral trout to crayfish, Mayor Amy Eden has called on Far North Queenslanders to choose Cairns’ signature dish to feature in a landmark statewide cookbook📍Vote for your favourite recipe here ➡️ bit.ly/4gwuA2k