Home to the likes of Fleet and Paper Daisy, the North coast of New South Wales already has quite the reputation when it comes to quality cuisine. But that culinary status is set to grow with the news that head chef of Sydney favourite Fred’s, Danielle Alvarez, will be moving to Cabarita. Rest assured Sydneysiders, that the move is only a temporary one, with Alvarez taking over boutique hotel Halcyon House for a gourmet weekend from August 17-19.

The epicurean getaway will allow guests to immerse themselves in all things food throughout their time at the luxury establishment; from cooking classes to feasting. Guests will be involved in a masterclass with Alvarez herself, be served a daily a la carte breakfast at Paper Daisy (helmed by ex-Noma chef Ben Devlin), tuck into cocktails and canapés poolside, and enjoy a four-course dinner and paired wines presented by both Alvarez, and Devlin, as well as the rest of the Paper Daisy team.

The weekend’s activities follow the same farm-to-table mantra that Alvarez is famed for. “I can’t think of anywhere more wonderful to cook, a short walk from pristine sands and blue waters, in the company of people who enjoy locally and ethically sourced food,” says Alvarez of the event.

General Manager of Halcyon House Mauro De Riso is excited to welcome Alvarez to Cabarita. “There are few chefs in Australia like Danielle—and Fred’s is widely hailed as one of the country’s best place to eat in Australia.” he says, “This is a rare and special opportunity for people to experience cooking brilliance up-close, to not only taste Danielle’s dishes in a completely new context, but to learn skills they can take home and use in their own kitchens.”

The weekend is one of many specialised events Halcyon House have introduced in recent months. They are proving an increasingly popular option says De Riso. “We’re bringing together the country’s best and brightest to a tiny, long-overlooked beach,” he explains, “there’s something so easy, open and quintessentially Australian about that.”

As for Alvarez’s weekend appearance, the weekend will run from August 17-19 with packages available for $890 per person, twin share. There are also opportunities to experience just the masterclass and showpiece dinner on August 18 from $195 per person. Tickets and more information can be found online.