Australia wouldn’t be Australia if there wasn’t sea food for Christmas, New Year, Australia Day any other occasion where people get together. ‘Chuck a few prawns on the Barbie’ is a sort of a joke but it is also what happens. All summer in Australian households across the country, sea food is being ‘chucked’ on the BBQ.
On a recent trip to the South Melbourne Market I was stopped in my tracks by the variety of sea food on offer – both cooked and raw.
Some of the sea food on sale
Aptus Seafoods have established an oyster bar where you can buy freshly sucked oysters then turn around and eat them at the table behind you. You don’t just buy six oysters from anywhere. The oysters come from St Helens, Blackmans Bay, Coffin Bay, Bruny Island to name just a few sources. You can become very fussy about what oyster you swallow.
There are oysters from many places -is there a difference? It’s a chance to find out.
The Oyster Bar, complete with all the condiments you need to tuck in.
Live spiky sea urchins or kina as New Zealanders call them are available– break them open, add your preferred condiments and scoop out the lush flesh from inside. Try them but in my opinion it is an acquired taste.
The black spiky things are sea urchins. It’s a chance to try them.
Sea urchins are decorative when their spikes have been removed. They come in various colours depending on where they have lived.
Sea urchins are very beautiful with their spikes removed – photo from google.
Aptus Seafoods now have an area where they cook this wonderful sea food for you. You can buy one Oyster Rockefeller for $2. Try it. Like it and go back for more. Hate it and you can move onto something else.
My only regret here is that there are no recipe cards. I would grab one for Oysters Rockefeller. Although when I think on it why should I bother to make them at home when I can shoot off to the market and indulge in two or three or more that someone else has prepared for me?
Char-grilled lobster tails.
Char-grilled sardine
Soft-shell crab sliders
Feel at a loose end over the holiday season? Got friends staying? Take a trip to the sea food area of the South Melbourne Market for a browse and lunch. Of course there is plenty else to eat and see there but this post is all about the sea food.
Where:- South Melbourne Market
Corner Coventry & Cecil Streets, South Melbourne
Web:- https://southmelbournemarket.com.au/
Open:- Wed 8am – 4pm, Fri 8am-5pm, Sat & Sun 8am-4pm
Getting there:- 96 Tram from CBD:-get off at the South Melbourne Stop.
Car:-There is parking on top of the Market and some parking in the neighbouring streets (a lot of street parking is Permit Only Parking – so watch out for that).
