Picture a balmy weekend, packed full of delicious local seafood and headlined by some of Western Australian best chefs such as Anna Gare, Kate Lamont, Don Hancey, Stuart Law and Bib & Tucker’s, Scott Bridger. An event where champagne and cider flow, DJ’s pump music loud and clear and the sun dissolves into the ocean – leaving behind a ray of exploding vivid colours whilst patrons dance into the night.
This event did not occur over east or overseas – it took place right on our doorstep, Port Beach in North Fremantle. The three-day and night event held on February 2nd, 3rd and 4th gave attendees the opportunity to choose from 30+ stalls such as the likes of Hoki Poke, Ole Paella, Kailis Bro’s pop-up lobster stand Crays in Lovel, Shark Bay Wild Prawn, What the Bao and Soul Cocina.
The event was an opportunity for the people of Perth to taste seafood dishes that they may have not had an opportunity to try such as pearl meat ceviche and chargrilled octopus salad. And flavour wise – it was incredible – there were unique flavours from every angle – Fremantle sardine pasties with sausage meat, Spanish mackerel kebabs, seafood paella, Louisiana Cajun whiting (served on corn chip) and scallop on pea puree or a garlic prawn. A bonus was having the chef, cooking right there in front of you, so you are guaranteed that the produce couldn’t get any fresher.
Fish and Sips Festival is the brain child of Coast owner Ian Hutchinson who said that idea of the festival was to showcase WA’s amazing local seafood – some of the best in the world – and to raise the profile of seafood as a staple item on the menu of every day Western Australians.
We say bring on 2019!