Celebrity chef has big kitchen plans

Celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita is striking out on his own again with the launch of Alba in Noosa Heads,  Queensland, in late November. 

Kuuvita established his reputation at Sydney's iconic Flying Fish from 2003 to 2011 before launching several venues in Fiji and most recently manning the pans for eight years at  Noosa Beach House at the Sofitel. 

A protegé of the late Tony Bilson, the chef of Sri Lankan heritage has a global reputation and is a well-known TV presenter. 

His new restaurant will be called Alba by Kuruvita and will encompass a café and pizzeria, cocktail bar, restaurant, providore, cooking school and event space. 

His signature dish, snapper curry, will be back on the menu. 

Situated on Alba Close and built on the site of the original Noosa White sand quarry, Alba is the Latin word for ‘white‘. 

The Alba Chefs Kitchen will be a creative space for cooking classes, private chefs‘ tables, and a complete studio kitchen.

Kuruvita's childhood experiences cooking with his grandmother in Sri Lanka inspired him to become a chef and incorporate spice and tradition into modern cuisine.

His three cookbooks, Serendip, My Feast and Lands of the Curry Leaf and five series of TV shows have further expanded his reputation. 

Alba by Kuruvita will be a relaxed all-day bar that offering that evolves into a stylish restaurant and cocktail bar as the day progresses. 

“It is really exciting to be building a new venue again from the ground up," Kuruvita said. "Working with the designers and developers - it is going to be a beautiful destination. 

"I wanted Alba to have a diverse range of offerings – there’s something for everyone! There’s a great opportunity to keep the surrounding community happy with the café, take-away wood-fired pizza and a boutique providore. 

"A stylish bar and all-day menu will draw golfers straight from the 18th hole at the bottom of the road, while the dining room will offer either intimate dinners or open up for large events."

Kuruvita is also excited by the cooking school. 

"I can’t wait to start on a cooking school and chef’s table program," he says. "We’ll even be able to hire the space out as a wired studio kitchen with camera solutions. It’s a chefs dream!”

For full details see www.albanoosa.com.au

Also new in Noosa are an Italian offering, a creperie and a revamped favourite. 

Sydney's Italian institution Lucio's is set to reopen an Aperitivo bar and river views at the Noosa Marina in late November. The restaurant will be run by Lucio Galletto's two children, Michela and Matteo, and Matteo's wife Dieuwke Albertsma, who was a chef at Lucio's for seven years. www.lucios.com.au

Flo's Creperie has recently opened in Noosa Junction with a range of savoury and sweet crapes and some vegan offerings. There is also a  cocktail menu. https://floscreperie.com/menu/

Long-time favourite Rickys Noosa, meanwhile, has recently completed an extension of its restaurant, creating more space and even more absolute Noosa River frontage. www.rickys.com.au/

For more Noosa info visit https://tourismnoosa.com/