Coffin Bay’s Gazander Oysters named best produce in the ocean at SA’s inaugural Eat Easy awards
Plucked from the Eyre Peninsula coast and shucked in some of South Australia’s top restaurants, a family business is harvesting the finest catch in the state.
Port Lincoln
Don't miss out on the headlines from Port Lincoln. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Plucked from the ocean off the Eyre Peninsula and plated up in South Australia’s top restaurants, a family business’ harvest has been named the finest in state waters.
Gazander Oysters has claimed first place at the Eat Easy Awards an inaugural event highlighting the state’s best produce.
The Coffin Bay business took out the wild harvest category designed to showcase businesses who catch or harvest their produce from the ocean.
Gazander Oysters’s owners husband and wife team Steven and Carly Thomson sell their harvest to businesses and restaurants.
Named in memory of Mr Thomson’s late brother, the oysters are plated up to 22 South Australian food vendors including some of the state’s top rated restaurants.
“I don’t have the whole list in front of me but Restaurant Botanic, Osteria Oggi, Sol and Hentley Farm to name a few,” Mrs Thomson said.
“We thank and value our hospitality colleagues and friends who serve and showcase our product to the end consumer.
“Our products are only as good as they are presented.
“We cannot do it without them and to be recognised by them is very special.”
Eat Easy Awards founder Tamrah Petruzzelli said nominees were considered based on their impact on community and environment, food quality and service quality with the winners decided judges Marque’s Mark Best, Africola’s Imogen Czulowski, The Australian’s John Lethlean and food and wine journalist, Tony Love.
“The Eat Easy Awards are celebration of delicious and responsible food that will find and reward the producers, farmers, restaurants, and chefs making a difference with good food and responsible practice,” she said.
“I like that they acknowledge the sustainability of producers too, the awards aren’t solely based on the product itself.”
The awards also put more Eyre Peninsula seafoods in the spotlight with Eyrewoolf Abalone placing third and Coffin Bay Marron fourth.
Winning seems to run in the family with Mrs Thomson’s brother’s Chad Owen and Todd Owen recently winning the 2021 Beyond Bank business excellence award for their business, Coffin Bay Shellfish.
Surprising suburbs where homes are most at risk
Cost of living and high interest rates are pushing SA households to the brink, the latest mortgage stress data shows. Search the suburbs most at risk.
Exposed: The unprofessional lawyers disciplined in SA
Misleading a client, misappropriating trust money or failing to meet regulatory requirements, these lawyers have been found guilty of professional misconduct. See who ended up in hot water.