Media Release Organisers promise another sensational seafood soiree!

24 August – Immediate release Organisers of the NZ.s best seafood event – The Whitianga Scallop Festival – are promising their fourth festival will be the best ever! The festival is held this Saturday 30th August.

“Expect plenty of new standout scallop dishes, great entertainment and plenty of fun! The Scallop Festival once again promises to be another hugely successful showcase of Whitianga and the wider Coromandel region.” Says Carl Muir, Marketing Manager for Tourism Coromandel.

Tickets for the event sold out in May – testament to the popularity of the event. Around 8,000 people are expected to pack the picturesque harbourside at Whitianga, indulging in over 100,000 juicy scallops, creatively cooked and matched to Monteith.s beer, Maven wine and local produce.

Over 3,900 sqm of marquees have been constructed by the harbourside in Whitianga to house the event, although the weather looks as if for the fourth year running the sun will shine on the Scallop Festival!

Al Brown from the popular TV Show .Hunger for the Wild. will be cooking two recipes live on the 100% Whitianga stage, and Ray McVinnie who has demonstrated at the festival every year will once again be back with two recipes designed especially for the festival.

New dishes being sold at the festival include Scallop and Monkfish Macadamia Fish balls, matched with a Monteith's Golden, from the team at Cathedral Cove Macadamias and scallops seasoned with smoked paprika flambeed with sherry, served on a bed of creamy quinoa and leek matched with a Maven Pinot Gris from .Koru at Rapaura..

Monteith.s – a major sponsor of the Scallop Festival have shipped a huge containered bar to Whitianga for the event, helping to provide an even more polished feel to the festival this year.

Organisers say the festival generates $3m in economic benefit to the region, and is a platform for many community groups to fundraise on the day including Whitianga Coastguard, Hot Water Beach Surf Lifesaving, St Johns, fire brigades, sports groups and more.

The Waterways stage boats some of NZ.s best entertainment this year – including acclaimed live band DDub and NZ soulstress Hollie Smith. Some of the other delicious dishes on offer on the day include Scallop and squid skewers, and Seared scallops served on caramelised funnel bulb and pasted anchovies dressed with a Native seaweed Butter matched with a Monteith.s Golden.

So many scallops, so little time! Indulge yourself!

ends

© Scoop Media