Sailing the menu, Crab Fest culinary extravaganza

This year’s Crab Fest Progressive Dinner Cruise has been organised by Mandurah Cruises, and hopes to promote the cuisine of local chefs while showcasing the beauty of Mandurah’s waterways.

“People don't realise the good quality restaurants that we have in the region, so it’s a good way to showcase that,” Mandurah Cruises marketing officer Melissa Jones said.

“Some of the restaurant and accommodation and all the other aspects of Mandurah are fantastic and I think people need to realise that more, especially from Perth.”

Ms Jones said tickets are selling fast, with more than a third of the seats already booked out.

“There’s nowhere really else that I know of in Western Australia that’s doing a progressive cruising dinner,” she said.

“This being on the waterways, it obviously showcases the beautiful waterways that we’ve got here as well. 

“It’s such a unique, different event.”

The cruise will depart the Mandurah Cruises jetty at 5.45pm and will first stop at Stage Door for a canape style entree, before cruising through the canals towards Mandurah Quay while listening to singer Shannon White.

The entree will include goats curd cheesecake with beetroot crisp, corn and baco cake with smoked crab and avocado salsa, mini beef tartare with fresh quail egg and roast port belly and plum glaze.

After enjoying some of Mandurah’s best views, attendees will sail towards Erskine to enjoy a main of their choice at Mandurah Quay Resort.

Options include seared beef medallions served on roasted sweet potato with chargrilled asparagus and hollandaise sauce and seared salmon served with cherry tomato salsa, potato skordalia and lemon evoo.

During sunset, the cruise will sail along Mandurah’s waterways to Catch 22, at Mandurah’s Ocean Marina, for an indulging dessert and a glass of sparkling wine or beer.

Dessert options include melted chocolate nougat and banana spring rolls with silky chocolate ganache, praline and vanilla ice cream and a citrus tart with anglaise blueberry coulis.

Mandurah Cruises will also be holding special 4-hour crabbing tours around Boundary Island to teach both locals and visitors how to scoop crabs, use crab pots from a boat and cook the catch afterwards.

A special fireworks cruise will also be available to those who wish to see the show while sailing down the canals, and $10 half-an-hour cruises will give a sample to newcomers of what Mandurah’s waterways are about.

To book tickets call Mandurah Cruises on 9581 1242 or book online at mandurahcruises.com.au.