Shore Leave 2024: Chef Scott Bridger to take helm at Abrolhos long table lunch with world class local produce

The head chef and owner behind Freo culinary hotspot Bib & Tucker, Scott Bridger, is coming to Geraldton, taking the reins this year to deliver the Shore Leave festival’s marquee Abrolhos long table lunch. Held on East Wallabi Island, the lunch is celebrated as one of the most exclusive events in the State when it rolls around as part of Shore Leave. It has been running for five years and each year it recruits a special guest chef to captain the multi-course feast to more than 200 guests. Bridger was approached to be at the helm of the event, which will be held on April 26, last year. “It’s one of those bucket lists things for a chef,” Bridger, who began his career as a chef on super yachts, and is no stranger to cooking with a view, said. The lunch is a celebration of Mid West produce, which Bridger described as “world class”. “It’s things that travel, that they send all over the world, because everyone wants the produce that’s coming from this region. So it’s really exciting to get up there and see firsthand where it’s coming from,” he said. Western rock lobster is an obvious staple for the menu each year as one of the most prized exports for the region — and this year, it’ll be cooked on an open fire. Geraldton scallops cured in Abrolhos Island gin, Mid West beef and a dessert harnessing the native flavours of wattleseed and neptune’s seaweed found at the Abrolhos will also feature. The stand out dish for Bridger is the crayfish, who said the visual appeal was just as enticing as the taste. All hands will be on deck to deliver the lunch with a team of 10 behind Bridger, starting the preparation in the days leading up to the lunch by building fire pits and getting ingredients ready. Bridger said he could not take credit for the skill it takes to execute such an event. “They’ve done it before. They’ve thought of all the little things that could go wrong .... there are a lot of moving parts for an event like this and I am lucky the team that’s coming up from Perth has done the event a few times now,” he said. There are limited spots available for flights over to the lunch, which is the only mode of transport to East Wallabi Island aside from private boat travel. A small number of tickets remain at events.humanitix.com/2024-abrolhos-long-table-presented-by-western-rock-lobster. It is not all business for the top tier chef, who has family based in Geraldton and is looking forward to catching up with them while he is in the area. Matt Stone, a Melbourne-based chef, is travelling to curate and cook the Yanget Farm Paddock to Plate on April 27 event as part of the four-day Shore Leave calendar. “Hopefully I’ll be able to get to his dinner. He’s an awesome chef, he’s got a big stance on sustainably caught ingredients and cooking sustainably,” Bridger said. The head chef and owner of Young George in East Fremantle, Melissa Palinkas, will also be a guest chef at the festival. Visit shoreleavefestival.com.au/.