EAT || Woy Woy Fisherman's Wharf takeover series

 Photos by Jackielyn Powell at Woy Woy Fisherman's Wharf. Words by Kaitlin Gordon. 

Set over the tranquil Brisbane waters, 'Woy Woy’s Fishermen’s Wharf' has been dishing up seafood of the highest quality, caught straight from local catchments since 1974. Well known amongst the locals and a definite stop off for coastal visitors, this part take-away, part-waterfront dining experience is currently run by Sam Clayton, a third generation family member.

With a passion for sustainable food and the promotion of local produce, Sam has teamed up with nine highly regarded chefs within the Sydney and Hunter regions to launch the monthly ‘Woy Woy Fisherman’s Wharf Takeover’ dinner series held on the first weekend of each month. The standard has been set high for all involved, with each of the chefs running restaurants with at least one hat or more in ‘The Sydney Morning Herald Food Guide 2016’

Launched in July this year, this dinner series is definitely worth planning a coastal weekend escape for in the coming months! The Eat, Read, Love team was lucky enough to be a part of the October takeover as Matteo Zamboni from the iconic Pilu restaurant in Freshwater took over the kitchen at the Woy Woy Fisherman’s Wharf, taking us on a four-course Italian inspired journey that both challenged and excited all of our taste buds.

The food was a very contemporary take on traditional Italian seafood dishes, with unusual flavour combinations such as grapefruit, asparagus and school prawns as well as hearty favourites such as the seared albacore tuna with a capsicum and preserved lemon risotto and a reinterpretation of the classic “alla puttaneseca” using local red gurnard fish. Each of the dishes were paired exceptionally with a selection of Italian wines by family wine specialist Michaela Clayton, helping to enhance these flavor sensations.  

The line up for the coming months is as exciting as ever, with Hunter Valley star chef Troy Rhoades-Brown of ‘Muse Dining and Kitchen’ and Khanh Nguyen from Sydney favourite ‘Mr. Wong’s’ taking over in the respective months. For the full line up or to purchase your tickets head over the the Woy Woy Fisherman’sWharf website. For only $80/person, this four-course authentic dining experience is certainly one not to be missed.

Words by Kaitlin Gordon - Eat, Read, Love contributor