president of the King Island Long Table Festival, working with volunteers to pull off one of the island’s most popular events. Megan explains that the seed from which the Long Table grew was planted when local man Paul Daniel met his nowwife Cynthia, from Malaysia. The couple lived in Melbourne but when it came to their wedding, they decided on Paul’s homeland, King Island. “Paul is a cray fisherman and a hunter, so he had their 100 or so friends and family out hunting wallaby, catching crayfish and fish, diving for abalone and foraging for fresh produce such as herbs and salad ingredients,” explains Megan. “The next day everyone prepared the food together, and then on Sunday they all sat down to enjoy the feast they’d created. By the wedding day, they were all friends.” Fast-forward 16 years and the event has grown to feed, educate and entertain around 100 guests a day, with Pure South Dining as the caterers. “At first it was a convoy of cars heading out to farms and the sea, foraging and hunting, but we knew we had to raise the bar and make it more professional,” says Megan. “Now we have two tours – one on Friday and one on Saturday – and one year we’ll hold it in February and the next in April, so that the food offerings are different.” In February the event is all about summer, with everything light and bright. “Think boysenberries, strawberries, blueberries, and island staples such as abalone, lamb, beef, crayfish and wallaby,” says Megan. In April the offerings include delicious apples and cider along with things such as
mutton bird, mushrooms, pumpkin and coriander. “I get a real sense of pride seeing the quality of food produced on King Island,” says Megan. “King Island fare is different because it is incredibly clean here. There’s no pollution and the water is incredibly clean. The raw produce is so good for you, which makes you healthy and happy. There’s no need to be in a rush here either. And the farmers, like Fred, are content because there is so much rainfall and everything is lush. Then there is the light too – it makes everything beautiful. King Island is so real.” For a full list of King Island fare, please visit: kingisland.org.au/food/restaurants-cafes KING ISLAND 31