Port Phillip Bay Mussel Festival

The Port Phillip Bay Mussel Festival kicks off Saturday, 12 March and is a clear standout in the sensational Melbourne Food and Wine Festival schedule. The two-day street party is located at the iconic South Melbourne Market and is a free event. From the sneak-peek tasting I attended, it certainly earns its reputation for providing a winning mix of fresh seafood, flowing vino and jazzy tunes.

‘Melbourne is famous for its festivals and this has quickly become one of the best. It’s a vibrant celebration of local food and culture and we welcome locals and visitors to spend the day in the sun with family and friends, feasting, dancing and celebrating seafood from our local waters,’ says Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss.

Activities and attractions are onsite for people of all ages, but all eyes eventually turn to the festival’s shining star: the mussels. Five tonnes of locally-sourced and extremely fresh molluscs will clatter, clap and crack in communal pots and serving plates all weekend.

If your mind is on everything mussel, you may want to check out a ‘cook-up’ led by some of Melbourne’s innovative chefs, where you will be able to scribble down quick and easy recipes. Did you know that mussels that remain closed up during cooking are still perfectly edible? It’s a common misconception that leads to thousands being discarded each year! The mussel just requires a little elbow grease to open them up – a bit more effort for an all the more delicious reward.

If your mind is somewhere between good food and great drinks, then Claypots, Evening Star, Köy and Paco y Lola – some of South Melbourne Market’s top restaurants – will have something for you. Claypots do a really tasty abalone sautéed with garlic, while other options include grilled cuttlefish with squid ink. Quench your thirst with local Bellarine Peninsula wines, craft beer and sangria.

Elegant jazz music sets a light and frivolous atmosphere to backdrop your seafood consumption. It is worth checking out some of Melbourne’s best Dixieland and New Orleans jazz bands and solo acts, including Margie Lou Dyer, Happy House and Pearly Shells.

With sultry jazz, an abundance of seafood and beverages, the Port Phillip Mussel Festival is a must on your calendar. Spend the weekend with friends or family at one of Melbourne’s most anticipated annual events. Enjoy!

Port Phillip Mussel Festival
South Melbourne Market, Cecil Street, South Melbourne
Saturday March 12 - Sunday March 13, 12pm
southmelbournemarket.com.au/mussel-fest