CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The tent is up, the oyster shuckers are poised, musicians are tuning up and chefs are sharpening their knives as the 24th annual P.E.I. International Shellfish Festival gets set to open at noon on Friday Sept. 20.
All the usual favourites are on the three-day agenda with celebrity chefs, plenty of music and lobster, oysters and mussels on every plate, plus this year some new events have been added.
Eat the Raw Bar Dry is a fun way to enjoy the Island’s delicious oysters, and some talented junior chefs will be competing, just like the big guys, on Sunday afternoon. Also on Sunday, popular entertainers J.P. Cormier and Dave Gunning will perform on the Festival Stage.
This year, the Shellfish Culinary Pavilion is presenting some intriguing menu items like popcorn mussels, lobster quesadilla, lobster tacos and, of course, the ever popular “Buck a Shuck” oyster happy hours on Friday and Saturday.
Well-known Canadian chefs Lynn Crawford and Michael Smith are co-hosting the festival again in 2019, and look for some fun demos involving lobster rolls, shucking lessons and mussel steaming.
The competing chefs are arriving from across North America for the $10,000 prize offered by the Garland Canada International Chef Challenge. P.E.I.’s own Jesse MacDonald of David’s at Rodd Crowbush will be competing for the second year in this prestigious culinary event.
Over the course of the weekend a total of more than $24,000 will be awarded to skilled chefs, shuckers and shellfish industry workers.
Day passes are still available. Check out the schedule and book tickets at www.peishellfish.com.
