The Brisbane 4 Day Seafood Challenge

Dedicated to Ms21 who went toe to toe with me in my quest for seafood

She was amazing

The Brisbane 4 Day Seafood Challenge. Not something everyone can do or afford, but if you love seafood, it’s something I dare you to do.

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Day 1

Tempest Seafood Restaurant and the Scarborough Platter for New Year’s Eve lunch

Here is a link to my review.

I suggested we go find somewhere and have a seafood lunch. Mum suggested Tempest which is near Morgan’s Seafood Market.

I was with my parents and one of my daughters. Without a reservation we were seated at a table for six on the upper level, which as it turned out was perfect. It gave us more elbow room.

On perusing the menu we agreed to two Scarborough Platters. Each platter has both hot and cold seafood suitable for two people.

We had to wait about 30 minutes but it was worth the wait. The platters were large rectangular metal trays on a heavy wooden stand. The set up is impressive.

Each platter consisted of Moreton Bay bugs, hot garlic prawns, cooked cold prawns, battered whiting fillets, a pot of cooked mussels in a tomato-based sauce, sushi rolls with the associated accoutrement of pickled ginger and soy sauce, natural oysters, kilpatrick oysters, smoked salmon, calamari, mixed fruit, salad, and the best chips I’ve eaten in a long time.

This would have to be one of the best value hot and cold seafood platters I’ve enjoyed in a long time. The mussels were a real treat, my had daughter had been expressing how she was not a fan of mussels because she had only experienced the cold variety on offer at seafood buffets. Such mussels are often a little chewy and tasteless. These hot mussels were tender and very tasty.

The oysters were small but plump and full of flavour. The Moreton Bay bugs were quite large and full of flesh. I really liked the addition of the sushi rolls too.

The only disappointments, if I can call them that, were the beer battered fish and the crumbed calamari. Both were a little soggy. That said the fish was delicious and the calamari was tender.

I’d highly recommend the Scarborough Platter for two at Tempest Seafood Restaurant.

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Day 2

Morgans Seafood Market and New Year’s Day lunch

Here is a link to my review.

I had been planning on a seafood lunch for new year’s day.

Morgans Seafood Market is easily accessible to anyone in Brisbane and is a short walk away from Tempest Seafood Restaurant which I assume sources its seafood from Morgans Seafood Market.

I wanted some lobster, Moreton Bay bugs, and prawns.

The lobsters looked magnificent and were priced ¿magnificently¿. I had originally wanted three to allow for half a tail between six people but ended up opting for two. The Moreton Bay bugs looked so good. I bought six and when I got them home realised three had large amounts of roe attached.

I also bought 1½ kilograms of Endeavour prawns (widely regarded as the best value prawns available for the size and price).

Lunch was spectacular with fresh white sandwich bread, melted butter with garlic, dill, and chives, garlic aioli with dill and parsley mixed in, plus Mum’s seafood sauce.

If you’re in Brisbane and want fresh seafood, I can highly recommend Morgans Seafood Market at Scarborough Boat Harbour.

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Day 3

Alfie’s Mooo Char & Bar Seafood Platter Tower for Two

I’d already had a Scarborough Platter for 2 at Tempest Seafood Restaurant on Monday, a seafood extravaganza from Morgans Seafood Market on Tuesday, and I was shooting for more seafood on Wednesday.
After a swim and surf at Kings Beach, I was in the mood for an hot and cold seafood platter.

Alfie’s Mooo Char & Bar offers a hot and cold seafood tower for two.
In each tower there is one seasonal crab, six fresh Mooloolaba king prawns, one Moreton bay bug, six natural oysters, four pieces of crumbed fish, six tempura king prawns, six Kilpatrick oysters, salt and pepper calamari, fat chips, and a salad.

Sadly there were no Queensland nuts in the salad we had and instead of a whole crab, we got a couple of legs but we also got an extra half of a Moreton Bay bug.

Everything on the platter was delicious. Unfortunately, we were seated close to an air conditioning unit which blew a cold air stream that cooled the hot elements of the tower. That said, I would approach the tower strategically. Of the hot elements, it’s the Kilpatrick oysters and tempura prawns you want to eat hot. You also don’t want to fill up on fat chips and calamari before enjoying the cold elements. In my mind, leaving some chips and calamari does not signal defeat. Like a game of chess, these elements are the pawns of the tower.

I’d highly recommend the hot and cold seafood platter tower for two at Alfie’s Mooo Char & Bar.

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Day 4

Sandgate Fishmonger and the pineapple fritter

I was on day four of a 4 day seafood challenge. After an array of crab, lobster, Moreton Bay bugs, prawns, calamari, oysters, fish, and mussels, I wanted to round out the four day seafood challenge with a piece of grilled cod, some prawn cutlets, the best crumbed calamari I’ve ever tasted, and an amazing pineapple fritter cooked in doughnut batter and sprinkled with white sugar.

While I would normally have a piece of battered cod, after so much food for the previous three days, I needed to slow down. The grilled cod was really very nice. The prawn cutlets and calamari didn’t disappoint either. Everything was rounded off with the pineapple fritter which was exquisite.

The Sandgate Fishmonger is not just a place for fish and chips, it’s an institution in Sandgate and a must do.

I highly recommend the cod cooked anyway you want, the calamari, the potato scallops, and of course the pineapple fritter. I’ve never seen a pineapple fritter outside of Queensland, so it’s another reason why Queenslanders are better in every way.

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For dinner that night I also had soft shelled crab from Motto Motto

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Questions and answers

Why a seafood challenge over New Year’s Day?

Hey, why not? I mean I see food and I need to eat it. If I see seafood, I really need to eat it.

After the Christmas eve seafood dinner, I was craving more and I knew in Brisbane I’d get fresher and better quality seafood.

What was the best meal?

New Year’s Day of course. I got to prepare a meal for my family and from what I could tell, they loved it.

There’s not much better than fresh seafood.

Could you go for 5 days?

Well, on Friday, I had smoked salmon for breakfast and for dinner I had a fillet of salmon which I baked.

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Final thoughts

• Do you like seafood?
• What’s your favourite seafood?
• Could you do a four day seafood challenge?
• Could you do a Brisbane Four Day Seafood Challenge?

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Serious eating in Brisbane

Alfie’s Mooo Char & Bar Restaurant Review