Feast for everyone’s senses

NOT even persistent rain could dampen the appetite of the crowds who poured into Innisfail for this year’s Feast of the Senses, as hundreds packed Jack Fossey Park and Canecutter Court for a vibrant weekend of food, flavour and tropical fun.

By Maria Girgenti

Jenny Fey and Eleanor McCarthy, from East Palmerston QCWA branch and Country Kitchen facilitators who cooked five vegetable meatballs, are pictured with volunteers Trish Ernst and Cr Renee McLeod. Picture: Maria Girgenti

The four-day festival once again cemented its reputation as North Queensland’s premier celebration of local produce, drawing visitors from throughout Queensland and Australia.

Mayor Teresa Millwood said the festival was a mainstay of the region’s identity, celebrating local produce, culture and talent.

“This festival is a cornerstone of our region’s identity, bringing together locals and visitors to celebrate the incredible produce, culture and talent we have here in the Cassowary Coast,” she said.

“Congratulations to the committee and all those hard-working volunteers who helped with another Feast of the Senses,” she said

Feast of the Senses president Ros Jensen echoed the sentiment.

“In more than 20 years, we’ve only had to cancel once during COVID. Not even an imminent cyclone could slow us down,” she said.

In a major boost for the festival’s future, Cassowary Coast Regional Council announced a new three-year sponsorship agreement worth $7500 annually. The funding aligns with the Cassowary Coast Events Strategy 2024-2028, supporting economic growth, regional promotion and sustainable event development.

The festivities kicked off on 21 March with a lively Gone Troppo trivia night at the Innisfail RSL, where teams dressed in their best tropical attire and battled it out.

The indulgence continued at Brothers Leagues Club with the Taste of the Tropics dinner, featuring standout dishes, such as crispy coconut prawn cutlets with strawberry and dragon fruit salad, sticky pork belly paired with pineapple-mango salsa atop green pawpaw and banana and coconut bread, as well as butter pudding served warm with vanilla ice cream.

Now in its 23rd year, the Feast of the Senses also marked the ninth anniversary of its Guinness World Record attempt for the longest banana split, an achievement that remains a quirky and beloved part of the festival’s identity.

Despite the weather, the Australian Bananas River Feast Market Day was buzzing, with food vans, stalls and fruit tastings drawing steady crowds.

The Canecutter Stage hosted a full program of demonstrations, which included Alison Salleras from Fruit Forest Farm who presented a steamed breadfruit salad, while Cr Jeff Baines cooked lime and mango prawns with coconut rice.