Glorious Greek at Lyra
An Ocean Street icon is bringing a Mediterranean twist to one of the Coast’s premier culinary celebrations, Charlie Shelley discovers.
The best dinners are more than just a feast for the senses: they’re immersive experiences where friendships are formed, lasting memories are made and everyone leaves feeling happy and full.
Lyra, on Ocean Street, specialises in creating these kinds of joyful gatherings – and this winter they’re bringing three fantastic Greek-inspired events to The Curated Plate, the Sunshine Coast’s beloved home-grown food and drink festival on from 24 July to 2 August.
First up is OPA! Smashing Supper on Friday 24 and Friday 31 July, 6pm-9pm, an entertaining night out centred around a playful Greek tradition. All four courses are served on plaster plates and, when the final bite is taken, the instruction is simple: collect your plates, throw them at the ground and shout “Opa!” to attract good luck and ward off bad spirits. It’s safe and guaranteed to be oodles of fun for all involved.
Live bouzouki music and traditional sirtaki dancing will set the mood for a menu that showcases everything Lyra does best. Crispy fried whitebait with lemon and oregano leads the way, followed by chargrilled lamb chops – ethically sourced by premium local butcher Fresh Meats – with lemon garlic cream, smoky cauliflower purée, salsa verde and tzatziki alongside.
A watermelon and grilled halloumi salad offers a cool, bright counterpoint, and the whole evening wraps up with a Portokalopita, that gorgeous, syrup-soaked orange cake that tastes like a sweet summer afternoon.
Also worth clearing your calendar for is the Suncoast Ladolemono Lunch on Sunday 26 July, 12pm-3pm. Ladolemono – a vibrant, silky lemon dressing that Greeks pour over everything from fish to salad greens – is the star of the show, and this event turns it into something eminently accessible for experienced cooks and novices alike. Guests are invited to create their own ladolemono at an interactive bar with help from chefs, using fruity and peppery olive oils, tangy lemon and lime juices, and tart vinegar. Optional add-ons like garlic, oregano or capers can also be thrown in the mix for different flavour profiles. Plus, there’s bottomless warm pita and fresh vegetables for testing your creation, which is exactly as delicious as it sounds.
The four-course menu flows from grilled halloumi with ladolemono and honey-thyme drizzle to a classic horiatiki salad, before the main event: fresh fish of the day from Suncoast Seafoods, grilled and served alongside brussel sprouts and roasted lemon potatoes. Dessert is Loukoumades – traditional Greek doughnuts soaked in honey, topped with chocolate and pistachio crumbs.
The lunch will also feature some good old-fashioned fun in the form of a fastest lemon squeezer contest, where guests can show off their lemon squeezing skills and compete to win Lyra Food Vouchers valued up to $100. Those who wear lemon print on the day will also be treated to a free ouzo, an iconic Greek liqueur with a sweet, liquorice-like flavour.
And finally, save something for Sunday 2 August, because the final Lyra event of the festival – the Fresh Meats Feast, on from 12pm-3pm – will be giving The Curated Plate a perfect send-off. This lunch is built around a partnership with Fresh Meats butcher shop, whose reputation for providing only the finest free-range, ethically-sourced produce puts the provenance question firmly to rest before a single plate hits the table.
Lyra’s expert chefs have crafted an eight-course grill-centric banquet that moves from bottomless pita and tzatziki through to cheese saganaki accompanied by Attiki honey and fig jam, before arriving at the twin centrepieces: charcoal-grilled pork souvlaki and a 12-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder – pull-apart tender, served with skordalia, tzatziki, lemon potatoes and kale. There’s a secret main dish too, because a good feast always has something surprising up its sleeve. The lunch is rounded out with a mouthwatering Greek watermelon salad and charred broccolini with crumbled fetta, followed by a dessert of Portokalopita – a traditional Greek orange cake; or galaktoboureko (a traditional custard pie). Bouzouki music and Greek community games will be played throughout for a truly immersive dining experience designed to make you feel like you’ve stepped straight into the heart of Greece.
What Lyra has pulled together for The Curated Plate isn’t a handful of events bolted onto an existing menu. It’s a considered, layered program that uses food as a way into something bigger – culture, connection, the particular kind of joy that only comes from breaking bread (or plates!) with friends old and new.
Secure your tickets to these events and more – visit www.thecuratedplate.com.au
SCRUPTIOUS SEAFOOD AT SOKA
Hungry for more exciting culinary experiences? You won’t want to miss Walker’s Seafood & Soka’s Tuna Cutting Show – an unforgettable Japanese dining event where food, theatre and flavour collide. Witness an expert chef carve a mammoth 70kg yellowfin tuna at Lyra’s sister restaurant, Soka, then indulge in an exclusive tasting menu featuring sashimi, nigiri and cooked tuna cuts from the carving.
Plus, learn how to make your own delectable nigiri at home and take part in a spirited live auction for your favourite premium tuna cuts.
PRICE: $115 per person
WHEN: Saturday 25 July and Saturday 1 August, 12pm-3pm
Visit www.thecuratedplate.com.au to secure your seat today!
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