Chef and 'White Heat' Author Marco Pierre White Is Returning to Australia for a Three-Day Gold Coast Culinary Residency
The Gold Coast's HOTA, Home of the Arts played host to the kitchen star and restaurateur in 2023 — and now he's coming back.
Add Marco Pierre White to the list of acclaimed British culinary figures, such as regular visitors Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver, who are fond of trips Down Under. Back in 2023, the famed chef and White Heat author brought his first-ever live theatre show to Australia. On that visit, he also made a date with HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast for a four-course dinner. The latter experience clearly left an imprint, because that's where White is heading again in 2025 — this time for an exclusive three-day stint.
HOTA has announced that White is hitting the venue, and the kitchen, for a three-day culinary residency in June 2025. There's multiple parts to this visit, whether you're keen to eat or learn — or both. The luxe meal at HOTA's restaurant Palette is back, but that's just part of the program.
On Thursday, June 5, White will get chatting at an in-conversation event hosted by HOTA's Executive Chef Dayan Hartill-Law. Certain to receive a mention: that he was first British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars, earning that achievement when he was just 33, making him the youngest chef to do so. Then there's his 1990 cookbook White Heat, which played up his "bad boy" image — and the fact that he's been dubbed "the first celebrity chef" as well.
Also likely to fuel the chat: that White has popped up on everything from Hell's Kitchen to MasterChef, including in Australia — and that he's trained fellow well-known food figures such as Mario Batali, Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone. Or, there's his beginnings in the culinary world, after he arrived in London with just "£7.36, a box of books and a bag of clothes", as White describes, before his tutelage under Albert and Michael Roux at renowned French fine-diner Le Gavroche.
At HOTA, White is also taking part in a masterclass that's part-discussion, part-demonstration — so you'll dig into his life story, plus get his tips and tricks.
If you're keen to sit down for a meal, the return of the Palette x Marco Pierre White dinner involves a chat, too, plus a five-course spread. On the menu: dishes that showcase southeast Queensland produce alongside White's culinary philosophy.
Or, if you're feeling flush, you can head along to the intimate White Heat dining experience, serving up five courses of dishes that scored White his three Michelin stars — and only 30 people can attend.
Another five-course dinner will cap off the residency, featuring not only White but also Hartill-Law and fellow Gold Coasters Tim Stewart, Koki Anekawa and Melanie Day. Each is putting together a course, while HOTA's beverage team is picking the drinks. The setting: the venue's outdoor stage lawn.
"I'm thrilled to be returning to HOTA for this exclusive Australian residency. There's something truly special about the Gold Coast — the energy, the people, the passion for food. Palette is a restaurant that understands the artistry of cuisine and experience. These events are about more than just cooking, they're about sharing stories, experiences, and creating unforgettable moments together," said White about his return Down Under.
"Having Marco back in the kitchen with us is an honour. His knowledge, his storytelling and the way he approaches food is truly inspiring. This time around, we've taken it even further — from fire-fuelled outdoor events to the most intimate of dinners — and I can't wait for guests to experience the incredible lineup of flavours, talent and creativity we've curated together," added Hartill-Law.
Palette
HOTA, Home of the Arts' 2025 Marco Pierre White pop-ups are taking place across Thursday, June 5–Saturday, June 7, 2025. For more information and tickets, hit up the HOTA website.
Top image: Derek Dsouza.
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