On Sunday 15 April, Spotswood will become seafood central as Slow Food Melbourne presents the inaugural Slow Fish Festival showcasing fresh seafood and flavours from several local ethnic communities.

The festival will share insights into the steps needed to save seafood and aquaculture for now and the future, whilst celebrating and savouring the catch on our very doorstep.

A series of educative talks will place a spotlight on the challenges and triumphs of Melbourne’s local seafood culture even though oceans and bays and those who rely on them for food or their livelihood are under threat on many fronts: including pollution, global warming, illegal and unsustainable fishing, and government regulation.

Families, multi-generational fisher folk, have carved a living from Port Phillip Bay; a living now under threat and Slow Fish Festival is a means to help them and raise awareness.

Meanwhile, a seafood market will offer a range of delicious seafood dishes plus a selection of fresh seafood while some of Melbourne’s most revered chefs and cooks will take to the pans to share their favourite seafood dishes and cooking tips.

Cooking demonstrations will provide fresh inspiration and some ‘Seafood 101’ as well as tips on how to find local edible seaweeds with a local foraging expert.

Frank Camorra (MoVida), Matt Wilkinson (Pope Joan), Ashley Davis and Sascha Rust (Copper Pot), Thi Le (Anchovy), and Marisa Ranioli Wilkins (All Things Sicilian) will be sharing their precious culinary experience.

Seafood lovers will be able to taste revered delicacies such as sea urchin and abalone, to skewered yabbies and scallop pies (plus fish and chips for the traditionalists), stallholders will feature all-local produce washed down with craft beers from Hop Nation and local wines.

The festival will be hosted by chef Rosa Mitchell (Rosa’s Canteen) who has been working with Slow Food Melbourne to develop the event, and believes there’s a lot to celebrate, and a lot to learn.

“Many people have no idea of the incredible seafood bounty in Port Phillip Bay,” she says.

“We want to provide an opportunity for Melburnians to learn how to get their hands on this seafood and to support our local fishers in their sustainable fishing efforts.”

Attendees can savour seafood dishes from Ink-redible Calamari, Batterbing, Kimu Korean Japanese Eatery, and Gourmet Pies and wander through a range of other stallholders offering Aussie and multicultural delicacies.

Kirsten Abernethy, winner of the Victorian Rural Women’s Award will also be there, encouraging more women to explore a career in the seafood industry.

This is a family friendly event.

 

 

When: Sunday 15 April, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm

Where: Spotswood-Kingsville RSL and grounds (16 Mary Street, Spotswood, VIC)

Cost: Gold coin entry; with nominal fee for select cooking demonstrations and talks (bookings via website)

For further information and bookings: slowfoodmelbourne.com.au