A New Dawn with Peter Kuruvita
Deb Caruso discovers what awaits when an award-winning chef creates a multi-faceted foodie destination.
Image caption: ALBA by KURUVITA team: Executive Chef Brendan Dedini, Chefs Kitchen Manager Bree-anna Brunjes, Owner Peter Kuruvita and Reservations Manager Jessica Iapella
Celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita planned to never work in a restaurant kitchen again, let alone own the actual restaurant. Yet the potential offered by the site of his newest venture, Alba by Kuruvita, was too good to pass up.
Since first coming to Noosa to open Noosa Beach House by Peter Kuruvita at Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort (then-Sheraton Noosa) he hasn’t looked back, settling into the seaside village with wife Karen and three sons.
During his eight years at the helm of Noosa Beach House, the restaurant received many accolades including Business of the Year at the 2019 Sunshine Coast Business Awards.
Peter’s time at Noosa Beach House came to an end a few months ago with him saying at the time that it was a truly memorable era with an incredible and hard-working team and strong community support.
“I thought I was done with restaurants,” Peter laughs. “But the opportunity to do a restaurant and so much more really excited me.”
Situated on Alba Close at Parkridge and tucked behind Noosa Springs; the venue sits on the site of the original Noosa White sand quarry, ALBA is fittingly the Latin word for ‘white’ and Spanish for ‘sunrise’ or ‘dawn’.
The project will certainly herald a new dawn in one-stop food experiences as a hub of food and beverage offerings.
“We’ll start in the morning as a café with fresh juice or First Batch Coffee for takeaway or sit-down breakfast, the bar menu and pizzeria will fire up and run all day and at midday our lunch menu will start in the dining room,” Peter said.
“Happy Hour kicks off from 4pm to 5pm, and the restaurant evolves into a more formal dining experience in the evening with table service and a different menu of signature dishes.
“Breakfast on the weekend will offer a few Sri Lankan specials like Egg Hoppers, String Hoppers” he said. “We’ll close at 5pm on Sunday but locals can pre-order
a takeaway Sunday roast.”
Expect the Peter Kuruvita favourites including his famous Sri Lankan Snapper Curry; Black Pepper & Curry Leaf Prawns; and Ginger Chilli Mud Crab.
“The bar will have Boiling Pot on tap and we’re working with them to create our own beer; Noosa’s newest distillery, Seabourne Distillery, will also feature.
The self-serve Providore will offer convenience with a strong focus on local produce and ready-made meals including George’s Soul Kitchen, from the founder of Voodoo Bacon as well as Peter’s own ready-made Kuruvita Curries and a collaboration with Olssons Salt.
But it is the ‘Chef’s Kitchen’ that really excites Peter with a purpose-built creative space that has been custom-designed to host not only a Cooking School but Chef’s Kitchen and creative Studio Space.
“I can’t wait to start on a cooking school and chef’s table programme,” he said. “We’ll even be able to hire the space out as a fully-wired studio kitchen with audio visual technology and cameras already in place.
“It’s a chef’s dream!”
The décor incorporates natural elements and coastal hues with sound-proofing and being a good neighbour to the Parkridge residents considered a top priority.
Peter has substantial support behind him including the likes of the Stoddart Australia, who will deck out the Chef’s Kitchen space with Giorik and Smeg appliances. Then there’s the stars of the foodie world including the likes of Ora King Salmon, Fino Food, Olsson Salt and Chef’s Works.
With the launch of Kuruvita Curries, a restaurant, bar, café, providore, cooking school and creative studio, it doesn’t look like Peter will be hanging up the apron anytime soon – and for that we are very grateful.
Alba Noosa opens December 2021!
Listen now to our Podcast with Peter Kuruvita
