Chef Mehmet Faruk Yardımcı from JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea (image supplied)
If food is your love language, get ready to swipe right on every course! The JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa is turning the humble dinner into a four-night intergalactic flavour odyssey with the return of Culinary Stars – the resort’s annual showcase where international culinary heavyweights collide, collaborate, and conquer.
Running from November 10 to 13 at the award-winning Citrique Restaurant, this year’s theme is inspired by the earth’s natural rhythm. The menu is built around four key elements; Root, Leaf, Flower, and Fruit will deliver a sensory spectacle worthy of the stars.
In its fourth year, Culinary Stars is uniting JW Marriott’s finest chefs from across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. Each night focuses on a different element, with six courses designed to honour nature’s own recipe for creation, from earthy beginnings to full-blown fruity finales. And of course, it’s all tied together by JW Marriott’s signature mix of sustainability, creativity, and pure indulgence.
Root Culinary Stars, JW Marriott Resort & Spa Gold Coast (image supplied)
Kicking off the culinary constellation on Monday, November 10, is Root – a night devoted to the foundations of flavour. Expect dishes that dig deep into earthy richness, like Red Prawn Lokma with black garlic and sweet potato, Poached Glacier Toothfish bathing in lemon myrtle beurre blanc and caviar, and a melt-in-your-mouth Pork Belly Nem that’ll make your tastebuds forget their manners. As for dessert, it’s a cheeky nod to JW Marriott’s origins with the JW Root Beer Dessert, a nostalgic, fizzy finale that’s a bubbly blast from the past with a five-star twist.
Leaf Culinary Stars, JW Marriott Resort & Spa Gold Coast (image supplied)
Tuesday’s Leaf dinner takes things up a (herbal) notch. Fresh, fragrant, and greener than your average wellness influencer’s smoothie, this night is all about renewal and vibrancy. Diners will be treated to the likes of Baby Lettuce with goat cheese and lavender, Pan-Roasted Snapper with celeriac and apple purée and char siu, and a shimmering Golden Leaf Dark Chocolate Delice so pretty you’ll be tempted to frame it before you fork it.
Flower Culinary Stars, JW Marriott Resort & Spa Gold Coast (image supplied)
By Wednesday, things are in full bloom with Flower, a show-stopping ode to beauty and brilliance. Think Sea Bream Leche de Tigre Ceviche with passionfruit and nasturtium, Charred Wagyu with lobster and zucchini flower, and a Red Rose Hazelnut Mousse that practically flirts with you from the plate.
The grand finale lands on Thursday, November 13, with Fruit – the juiciest chapter of the series. Expect culinary fireworks from Newton’s Apple with scampi and citrus, Miso Black Cod with yuzu sake foam and the Mandarin Illusion, a Chocolate Mousse Cake that will convince you dessert is, in fact, an art form.
Fruit Culinary Stars, JW Marriott Resort & Spa Gold Coast (image supplied)
Guiding this gastronomic galaxy is JW Marriott Gold Coast’s own Executive Chef Paul Smart, a man who knows how to make a plate sing (and possibly perform interpretive dance). He’s joined by an all-star lineup including Wallace Mua from JW Marriott Auckland, Mehmet Faruk Yardimci from JW Marriott Istanbul Marmara Sea, and James Paul Lorenzo from JW Marriott Hanoi. In other words, a masterclass in global gastronomy, right here in our own backyard.
Citrique, JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa’s crown jewel of dining, is the perfect stage for this culinary showcase famous for its Modern Australian flair and luxurious seafood spreads. The restaurant’s culinary team is internationally renowned for combining premium local produce with inventive global influences, and when paired with JW Marriott’s signature JW Garden-grown ingredients, you just know this series is going to be next-level delicious.
Executive Chef Paul Smart, JW Marriott Resort & Spa Gold Coast (image supplied)
And if the food alone doesn’t make you swoon, there’s always the wine. Each evening comes with the option to add a carefully curated wine pairing for $69 per person, because the only thing better than six courses is six courses with perfectly poured company.
Each night is priced from $129 to $159 per person (plus $69 for wine pairing) and also supports the Gold Coast Community Fund. Yes, this event provides indulgence with purpose – and it feels just as good as it tastes.
Chef James Paul Lorenzo, JW Marriott Resort & Spa Hanoi (image supplied)
Plus, it’s a great excuse to book a little stay-cay and enjoy all the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa has to offer! So, if you’re ready to trade your weeknight stir-fry for a six-course standing ovation, your table at Culinary Stars awaits!
Bookings are now open here.
Where: 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise
When: Monday 10 – Thursday 13 October
Words by Bianca Trathen
STORY SPONSORED BY JW MARRIOTT GOLD COAST RESORT & SPA
Dining and Cooking