BIG OCEANIC Taste By Andrea Rowe Photos Gary Sissons
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imon Higgs is recalling the time he first fell in love with And it’s in the kitchen where Simon’s seafood connection becomes a flavour to savour, and to share. seafood. He was nine-years-old and immersed in the vibrancy of the Billingsgate Fish Market on the Thames in As the Executive Chef at Portsea Village Bar and Grill, Simon London. His Grandfather, Alf Higgs was the Floor Manager showcases seafood and other modern Australian dishes with a twist through his extensive knowledge and skills with and the wide-eyed Simon, visiting from Finding seafood, chargrilled meats and seasonal local Australia, was fascinated.
“The atmosphere, colours and smell of all of that fresh fish excited me, and there was just such an energy amongst the fish mongers; I couldn’t get enough of it”. This oceanic streak seems to run through the veins of generations of Higgs men. Simon’s dad was an avid fisherman, and Simon and his 12 year old son regularly fish the Port Phillip and Western Port Bays from his renovated fishing boat. Migrating as a child from England to Australia in 1976, Simon fell in love with the coast, exploring it from the family holiday house at Inverloch and beach holidays at Portsea.
something interesting and pairing it with good food embraces that classic European feeling of socially sharing different dishes with friends and family
“Everything seemed so fresh. I couldn’t get enough of it: the food and the open spaces,” he recalls.
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produce.
Simon has partnered with Portsea Village Resort in re-opening the doors of Portsea Bar and Grill to the public. It was formerly a key dining and gathering place for locals and tourists in the 1960’s and, while the restaurant continues to serve resort guests, it had been years since the public had access. With a décor facelift, a welcoming alfresco area, lush garden setting and an impressive cellar, Simon is thrilled with the transition. “It’s like opening the doors on a hidden secret,” he says.
Once nestled inside Portsea Village Resort you certainly feel as if you’ve just checked into a tropical resort, enjoying lush gardens and swimming pool views and relaxing over a wine and fresh seafood. Then there’s the impressive wine cellar. Resort General
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