Oyster fest a sell-out
There was a common theme at this years Bluff Oyster and Food Festival – the joint love of the famed Bluff delicacy.
People from throughout the country and overseas braved low temperatures and rain to attend this year’s festival on Saturday.
Two couples made the most of the event by making it a fine dining experience. Diane and Jeff King, of Mosgiel, and Michelle and Justin Moore, of Dunedin, kitted out their table with candles, flowers and silverware to eat from. ‘‘One year we came and saw a lady come with her own bottle of lime juice and we thought ‘ we can do better than that’,’’ Michelle said.
This year was the group’s seventh year attending, but the second year they set their table. ‘‘We challenge other people to do the best table,’’ she said.
Festival chairman John Edminstin, who is in charge of the event for the 11th year, said not a lot had changed since he started.
The event has been running since the mid-1990s.
Each year, thousands flocked to the southern town to eat, drink, compete and be entertained, he said.
About 20,000 oysters were consumed this year.
It was expected about 5000 people attended, and usually 60 per cent were from outside the region.
Sarah and Gary Adair were visiting for the first time from Sydney.
Sarah said although it was colder than the 20 degrees Celsius they were used to back home, they were loving the food and atmosphere.
‘‘It tastes pretty good, and we don’t have the battered oysters back home,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s freezing but we’re rugged up and the music is good.’’
Katheryn Grifkins, of New Plymouth, was at the event for her third consecutive year and said she would definitely be buying a ticket for next year’s.
‘‘I’m making the most of the day because I absolutely love oysters; I can’t get enough.’’
She had won the women’s oyster eating competition in two previous years, she said.
Geoff Swift, of Marlborough, said it was the fourth time he had brought a tour group with his business, Southern Lakes Tours, to Bluff.
‘‘I just love the oysters and the atmosphere,’’ he said.
The festival was livestreamed for the first time by Big Screen Advertising producer Bryan Campbell, meaning potentially tens of thousands of people could watch the event.
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