Delicious Australia – (04)April 2019

KNOW YOUR PRODUCER

ForAdelaidechefDavidSwain,KingGeorgewhitingisoneofAustralia’sbesteatingfish,andhe

nominates the exceptional examples caught by Ashley Perkins for a 2019delicious. Produce Award.

GREAT CHEFS CELEBRATE THE GREATEST INGREDIENTS

ATRUETREASUREFROMTHESEA

WearefortunatetobeabletocatchKingGeorgewhitingstraightoffSouth

Australianbeaches,fromatinnyoutintheSpencerGulforwatersoffthe

YorkePeninsula,saysdelicious.ProduceAwardsstatejudgeDavidSwain.

“Ashley’s line-caught King George whiting is fish at its best,” the chef adds.

“Sustainablycaughtandhandledwiththeutmostrespect,itisanexceptional

producttocookandeat.Whethercookedwholeoverachargrill or filleted and

cooked in butter, the flesh is firm, pure and delicate.”

PHOTOGRAPHY

BRETT STEVENS

STYLING

KIRSTEN JENKINS

MERCHANDISING

EMMALY STEWART

ASHLEY PERKINS PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

WILDCATCH FISHERIES SA INC.

THE PRODUCER

ASHLEY PERKINS,

PERKINS FISHERIES,

YORKE PENINSULA, SA

King George whiting are Ashley

Perkins’bread and butter.

Specialising in hand-line catching,

Perkinsisamasterofhiscraft.“It’s

themostbasicformoffishing,but

it’s also the most environmentally

friendly,”he says.

Qualityisalwaysattheforefront.

“I could never compete with the

bigger operators in volume, but

I’llalwaysaimtoproducebetter

quality.Overtheyears,I’veasked

questions, I’ve learned, I’ve made

mistakes, but eventually cottoned

on to the technique.

“Ittakesabout12or13seconds

from when the fish first feels the

contactwiththathooktowhenit

isintheiceslurry.Peoplethinkit’s

some sophisticated thing, but it’s

really simple: get ‘em cold, keep

‘emcoldanddon’tplaywiththem.”

It’sthisblendofskill,careand

experience that makes Perkins’

whiting the best of the best.

PRODUCE AWARDS.