Tickets are now available to “shellabrate” the bounty of Peconic Bay at the third annual Shellabration festival in Greenport Village, Dec. 6 and 7.
“We happen to be in the epicenter of some of the best seafood in the world,” said event founder John Kramer. “Scallop season is open [during the festival]. We have local oysters and local clams. There’s not a place in the world where you can get that kind of seafood.”
A $15 donation nets visitors wristbands for the two-day food festival, a glass of Harbor Ale from Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. and a sampler platter of clams, oysters and scallops from the Southold Project in Aquaculture Training at Cornell Cooperative Extension, a program that encourages locals to grow shellfish.
One wristband is $15, two wristbands are $25, three wristbands are $37.50 and four wristbands are $50 and can be purchased here.
During the festival participants can sample $5 tapas-sized shellfish plates at participating restaurants and enjoy $3 wine pairings.
The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. both days.
“The chefs get really excited about it and prepare all kinds of wonderful dishes because they know it’s really [an unofficial] competition,” Kramer said. “The conversation always revolves around which restaurant was best.”
The event drew about 746 participants in its first year. That number grew to about 850 in 2013 and organizers are hoping for even bigger turnout in 2014, Kramer said.
“We’re limiting sale to 1,000 people,” Kramer said. “We don’t want to overwhelm the restaurants.”
Proceeds from wristbands will be split 50-50 between Southold Project in Aquaculture Training and Community Action Southold Town (CAST).
Wristbands can be purchased at Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. or The Little Creek Market. Participants can pick up a tour map at either location.
Pairings will include the following: Bedell Cellars at Noah’s; One Woman Wines & Vineyard at Biere Bar & Restaurant; Sparkling Pointe at Frisky Oyster; Sannino Bella Vita Vineyard at Vines & Branches; The Lenz Winery at Salamanders on Front; Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. and Crook Ladder Brewing Co. at Rhumbline; Lieb Cellars at First and South; Raphael at Cuvée; Palmer Vineyards at Front Street Station; Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. at Bruce’s Cheese Emporium; and Paumanok Wines at Scrimshaw.
