MEDIA RELEASE
21st September 2006

Succulent Seafood to Savour at First Auckland Seafood Festival

The inaugural Auckland Seafood Festival will boast seafood treats for the whole family on Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October 2006. Located at the Auckland Fish Market, Jellicoe Street the Festival will include many of your seafood favorites while also challenging your knowledge and taste-buds!

Auckland Fish Market retailers and The Rotary Club of Auckland East will offer many of the seafood sensations including; barbecued prawn kebabs, steamed crayfish, paua fritters, freshly shucked oysters, bouillabaisse, steamed snapper, smoked fish, salt and pepper squid, seafood pizza, wok fried diamond shell and surf clams, macadamia encrusted scallops, whitebait fritters, seafood wraps, smoked fish pies and of course good ‘ole kiwi fish and chips! Danish Delights, Paella Pan, The Drake and The Horse and Trap are amongst other reputable retailers that will also offer guests much choice and variety at Auckland’s first and only Seafood Festival.

Nigel Thomas, Auckland Fish Market Manager, says “Aucklanders have increasingly embraced the Auckland Fish Market and already enjoy the huge variety of fresh seafood that is available seven days a week. The Festival is a fantastic opportunity for the public to join in celebrating our thriving seafood culture, by getting up close to the boats and fishermen of our community, and of course tasting some of the spectacular seafood specialties on offer.”

As well as the many seafood favorites at the Festival there will also be a chance to taste some not-so-familiar seafood delicacies. These will include Kina (sea urchin), sea cucumber, and sea snails. A highlight for some will be the Northland oysters and scallops being brought in especially for the Festival. The variety of seafood on offer will create a great chance for the public to increase their knowledge about the creatures found in our surrounding waters and New Zealand’s unique connection to the sea.

For those less-enthusiastic about seafood there will be some wild food options including venison and ostrich and also a classic sausage sizzle and steak sandwich to ensure nobody leaves the Festival hungry!

There are three areas to the Festival; The Jellicoe Street Party, Free Family Area and VIP Lounge where guests will find a wide selection of seafood. The VIP Lounge and Jellicoe Street Party are licensed creating great opportunities for seafood matching – whether oysters with French Champagne or Fish and Chips with a great NZ Chardonnay.

Where: Auckland Fish Market, Jellicoe Street, Western Viaduct,
When: Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October, 2006
Time: 11am – 6pm Saturday and Sunday
Blessing of the Fleet 10am Saturday only
How much: Blessing of the Fleet – Free entry
Family Area – Free entry
Street Party - $20 Tickets available from Ticketmaster (excl booking fee) or at the gate (0800 111 999 or www.ticketmaster.co.nz),
VIP Lounge – >From $500/table for 10 (call 09 524 2336 or email festival@xtra.co.nz to book tickets)
www.aucklandseafoodfestival.co.nz

ENDS

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