If you're a fish lover and happen to be in Sydney, you can't miss the Sydney Fish Market, a place like no other. An Australian economic hub, the vibrant and colourful Sydney Fish Market is the only market owned by fishermen. It's the place where the entire industry and consumers come together, where the biggest auction sale in the entire southern hemisphere takes place every morning: 1000 crates an hour as 65 tonnes of fresh fish heads out to restaurants and cities. Beginning at 5:30 a.m., fishermen from Australia, as well as from New Zealand, Singapore and the Pacific Islands gather here.

Later on, consumers and tourists are the ones disembarking. Here you can find local specialties such as local Balmain Bugs and Sydney Rock Oysters, mud crabs from the north, salmon from Tasmania, and so on. You can buy sashimi-grade sliced salmon or sample some barbequed shrimp or fried calamari right on site.

But what I found most interesting and innovative was the cooking school that offers courses throughout the week on filleting and preparing all kinds of fish and seafood, given thematically. You can sign up for a two-hour evening class or a three-hour long course on Saturday. The classroom accommodates 66 people and is fitted with large mirrors that let you see the guest chef's every move. After the practical part, you move on to the cooking component itself, divided up between eight work stations. For a very reasonable price you'll be able to discover, learn and taste.

In the same building you'll find Doyle's Restaurant, the New South Wales Fisheries department, the Master Fish Merchants Association and Oceanwatch.

The Sydney Seafood School program for August - October 2004 has just been released with a mouth-watering line up of classes to take us through the autumn months and into winter (reverse seasons).

CHEFS SHARE THEIR SKILL & PASSION AT SYDNEY SEAFOOD SCHOOL
Australia has a wealth of talented chefs, many of whom are eager to share their skill and passion with Seafood School guests...

In September
Learn to prepare the world-famous Singapore Chilli Crab and stir-fried crab; Seafood BBQ; Bisque and Chowder...

The excitement continues on 18 September when the School hosts “Gusto”, the first Italian Food and Wine Festival organised by CIRA (The Council of Italian Restaurants in Australia). Gusto will be an all day event, featuring cooking demonstrations, wine and olive oil workshops, chat sessions on Italian regional cuisines, and exhibitions by some of Sydney’s leading Italian chefs, producers, provedores and importers. There will be 6 cooking demonstrations, 5 wine and olive oil tasting workshops and 5 interactive presentations on Italian regional cuisines at $60/session or $240 for a one-day pass including 5 sessions and parking at Sydney Fish Market. As well as the opportunity to watch demonstrations of Italian produce being made (such as gelato, pasta, risotto and sausages), there will be exhibitions and tastings from leading producers and provedores such as Fratelli Fresh, San Pellegrino, Simon Johnson, Enoteca Sileno and Vittoria Coffee. Entry to exhibitions and produce demonstrations will be by way of tasting tickets available on the day (each $10 book contains 10 tickets).

In October
Strictly Seafood - A comprehensive 4-lesson course on the fundamentals of seafood preparation, storage, species identification and cooking methods; Barbecuing with Peter Howard daytime class; Thai Cuisine ... and much more...

October program - First residential cooking school
Seafood School Manager Roberta Muir says: “We’re very excited to have guest chef Peter Evans, from Hugo’s, conducting a 5-day residential cooking school for us at luxurious Capella Lodge, located just 2-hours flight from Sydney on beautiful Lord Howe Island. Commanding spectacular ocean, lagoon and mountain views, Capella Lodge is located on the secluded southern end of the World Heritage Listed Island. The all inclusive package includes daily cooking sessions with Peter, as well as the option of a couple of fishing expeditions as Lord Howe is famous for wahoo, tuna and kingfish.”

To make a booking or request a full program of classes call 9004 1111 or visit www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au