IT MIGHT have been cold and stormy outside but inside the huge marquee on the foreshore at San Remo on Friday night the hospitality was warm and the food and friendship inviting as diners at the cocktail dinner kicked off the 2024 San Remo Tidal Seafood Festival in style.
The night featured an eight-course roaming menu curated by the Westernport-Hotel and the Phillip Island Vineyard and Winery of local lobster, Phillip Island scallops, king prawns and gummy shark.
There were Boomer Bay oysters served three ways and a traditional, sumptuous seafood paella served with well-matched wines, cocktails and beers.
To round it all out on the homeward bound part of the night was dessert buffet to die for and live music for dancers and minglers looking to soak up the atmosphere.
But in case you think you’ve missed the main event, no, it all continues from tomorrow Saturday, September 21 with the blessing of the fleet on the jetty in the morning, bay cruises and kids’ activities, from 9am to 4pm and of course plenty of food, featuring again, the great seafood of San Remo.
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There’s cooking and seafood preparation demonstrations in the small marquee throughout the day. There will be fishing clinics and industry and information stalls in the large marquee, offering plenty of giveaways.
A larger food court area in the marquee will feature a bar, wine, and craft beer tastings and sales. This marquee will open onto an area where you can sit outside, eat, and enjoy the view, conveniently located next to outside food trucks and other food vendors.
The event will also have SES and CFA displays and activities, a huge kids’ area with various activities and games, live music from Newhaven College students, roving entertainment, market stalls, and artisan and fresh produce vendors. Additional attractions include spinning wheels, raffles, a prawn peeling competition, fresh seafood sales, and more to come.
The festival continues on Sunday, September 22 featuring the "Clean Up San Remo" event which kicks off early also with more fresh seafood sales, roving entertainment, and market stalls.
The kids’ area will still be in place from Saturday, along with food trucks and the food court in the marquee. Bands and live music will entertain all afternoon on the stage in the main marquee.
So, don’t let a little cool weather and some coastal winds scare you off, it’s all part of the atmosphere of an authentic seafood festival in an authentic fishing village.
