BIGGEST SEAFOOD FESTIVAL AIMS FOR 10TH YEAR
OK so eating fish eyes is not my idea of a great seafood dish!
Even watching celebrity chefs and a top wine connoisseur taking on the challenge was not at all appetising but it did do a great deal to boost a charity for fishermen which was what the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival is about!
FISH EYES ANYONE?
Before tasting Sophie Michell Head Chef from the Gorgeous Kitchen at London Heathrow’s Terminal 2
This is the largest free such festival in the UK and although the fish eyes went down well as a money spinner with the public judging by the faces of those brave enough to try them on stage it was pretty obvious that it did not go down well with them!
Sophie Michell after eating the fish eye.
Away from the extreme fish dishes the more conventional ones of lobster, crab, scallops and paellas were a great hit. As was the sponsor’s champagne there to accompany so many different varieties of fish from the local area. Over 60 stall holders served many thousands of seafood meals to the visitors that attended over the two day event in the Dorset town of Weymouth, UK.
With the event centred on the town’s pretty harbour much of the seafood came from fishing boats moored just feet away from the quay itself.
Forget food miles, here its ‘food feet’!
Pommery champagne m making the whole two days very special.
This was the 9th year of the event, which is now getting bigger and more high profile as each year has passed. Its 10th year coming up in July 2017 is sure to be even more special and there is planning already starting as this year’s event finished.
LARGEST FREE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
With record breaking giant oysters on display and many top chefs attending this year and demonstrating their skills at producing fabulous seafood dishes, it is hoped that Pommery Champagne one of the largest of the French champagne houses will also be there to compliment perfectly this prestigious event in the UK culinary calendar.
Pete Miles and possibly the world’s largest oyster weighing in at 2.15 kilos.
This year saw the likes of Jack Stein, New Zealanders Pete Gordon and Matt Follas plus adding some extra-added glamour with top female chef Sophie Michell from London Heathrow’s Terminal 2 award winning restaurant The Glamorous Kitchen there to co-present and even took on the fish eye eating challenge.
One new feature was the ‘Louise and Lobster’ stand, here your could lounge in comfort on the harbourside and enjoy a glass of premier crue ‘Louise’ champagne from the Pommery range accompanied with a half of lobster.
As well as showcasing the very best of sustainable seafood for the public there is a serious element and that is to raising money for the Fishermen’s Mission a charity that provides assistance to those who go to sea to catch the amazing seafood that is around the coast of the UK.
Do put this event into your diary for 2017, as it is sure to be the very best yet!
