Nelson Bay will be bursting with food, wine, music and people this weekend when Tastes at the Bay returns.
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Organisers and Tastes supporters Port Stephens Council are expecting up to 10,000 visitors and residents to turn out and take part in this year’s festivities.
“A staple in the yearly event calendar, Tastes at the Bay has a significant impact on the local economy and provides a great opportunity for both visitors and our local residents to head out and enjoy the great food and wine offerings from across our region,” Janelle Gardner from the council said.
“We’re excited to use the newly-opened Yacaaba Street as part of the weekend’s events, featuring a number of food trucks and little tasters area for our smallest visitors in the space; while also welcoming over 60 stallholders in what is shaping up to be the biggest event yet.”
Tastes will begin with a Grant Burge Winemakers Dinner at Nelson Bay Golf Club on Friday night.
Tickets, on sale from the golf club, cost $75 for members and $90 for visitors.
Other ticketed events include the Moonshadow TQC Jazz Luncheon and progressive Tasters Trail on Saturday, and the all new Munch and Move on Sunday.
The popular jazz cruise will leave d’Albora Marina, Nelson Bay at noon and return at 2.30pm.
Tickets cost $85 per person.
There will be two Taster Trail sittings this year, at 3.30pm and 4.30pm.
The Tasters Trail will give participants an opportunity to sample showcase dishes and beverages from five Nelson Bay CBD cafes and restaurants.
This year the participating venues and their dishes are:
- Sandpipers, Magnus St - Homemade pork, chive and ginger steamed dumplings with a glass of sparkling wine
- Nigronis, Magnus St - Coconut chicken and papaya salad with a glass of wine
- Sienna's, Magnus St - Traditional bolognese arancini balls with a glass of sangiovese
- Evviva, Stockton St - Tapas plate of seafood bisque, salmon ceviche and seared scallops
- Paper Rose Café (formerly Ethica), Stockton St - Moscato poached pear with raspberry compote and walnut crumble with a cup of coffee or tea
Tasters are guided to each venue by a Tastes volunteer.
Tickets, $59 per person, are limited for each Taster Trail.
The Munch and Move coach tour will taking people to food venues around in and around the Bay.
The tour starts at 11.30am on Sunday at Mavericks on the Bay. The tour includes:
- Mavericks on the Bay – Salt and pepper squid accompanied with a glass of Graigmoor Sparkling wine.
- Valhalla Restaurant Bar, Bobs Farm – Wood fired pizza and a glass of Circa 1858 Sauvignon Blanc (WA)
- Murray's Brewery, Bobs Farm – Murray's Dark Knight Beer Scones with either a glass of wine (Skinny Dip Moscato or Tomaree Red) or half a pint of East Coast Lager.
The activities inside the CBD on Saturday and Sunday are free.
Festival-goers are invited to the Tastes Kitchen to see chefs in action from 10.30am each day.
Each chef, hailing from Port Stephens, Newcastle and Hunter Valley, will demonstrate how to cook some of their signature and favourite dishes, share some tips, tricks and answer questions in the Tastes Kitchen, which will be set up at the Yacaaba Street extension.
Magnus and Stockton streets will be closed to traffic and filled with stalls offering food, wine and handicrafts between 10am and 6pm on Saturday and 10am and 4.30pm on Sunday.
More than 60 stalls will be set up in the CBD during this time.
Two stages will be set up in the CBD for music acts to perform across the weekend including the FruiTTrees, Steph Russell Trio, Charlotte Rose Duo, Blue Suede Boppers and Rehab Brass Band.
