CROWDS will eat their way through up to six tonnes of mussels as the annual Port Phillip Mussel and Jazz Festival celebrates its fifth birthday on March 10-11.
Designed to showcase the humble mollusc, harvested from structures in the waters of Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay, the eating binge will take place in the streets around South Melbourne Market.
Market favourites will join other city restaurant pop-ups to cook and serve mussels in every conceivable way.
Previous delights have included sangria and piping hot mussel paella, wok-cooked drunken mussels and craft beer, mussels cooked in Bia Ha Noi with a crisp white wine.
Those who are not mussel lovers can savour other seafood delights such as oysters, prawns, bugs and calamari, as well as European treats like raclette poured over crunchy potatoes.
Festival goers can accompany their seafood selection with local wines, craft beer, cider and sangria, and finish with artisan-made ice-cream, fresh fruit salad, donuts, handmade sweet treats and iced tea.
Throughout the weekend there will be entertainment by some of Australia’s best jazz musicians, giving the event a New Orleans flavour.
Setting the mood from noon on both days will be leading jazz performers, including Margie Lou Dyer and the Paul Williamson Hammond Combo.
Organisers have secured a performance by the Melbourne Singers of Gospel, a 100-voice ensemble resident in the City of Port Phillip, renowned for foot-stomping energy and songs of soul and purpose in the gospel and Motown traditions with jazz-blues accompaniment.
Both sides of Cecil Street will be closed between Coventry and York streets to allow plenty of room to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
Entry is free.
