The Port Macquarie Marina played host to a celebration of local food businesses at the weekend.
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The Marina Street Food Markets transformed the area into a foodie's delight, with restaurants showing off the best they have to offer in fun and quirky ways on Friday and Saturday May 10 and 11.
Organiser Scott Mesiti said they battled a little bad weather on Friday night, and people scattered to their cars but when it stopped raining, they came back.
"The vibe was really great, the sun is out today, and the demographic is really broad which is good. We approached all the restaurants and they were all quite keen to be involved, and do something different. They get to serve food that isn't necessarily on their menus and promote their businesses," he said.
Fellow organiser Lee Wood said the biggest reason for holding the markets was to support the local economy, in a new and exciting way.
"You get to try restaurant quality food at really low prices, entry is free, and there is a serious message which is that the event is waste-wise and plastic-free. All the compostable products and food waste from the event will be composted, and all the cans and bottles will be collected by the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie West to be put through the Return and Earn system before being used on community projects," he said.
"The Port Macquarie Marina came to us originally and said they wanted to do something new and different with this space and they have been great supporters. Hopefully we will be back next year," he added.
Chris and Jaye Messenger tucked into Bills Fishhouse's yellow-fin tuna tacos with avocado relish and said they were delicious, and that it was great to have something different to do on a sunny day.
Raju Tanna from Devon in England, who now lives on the Gold Coast, was making her first visit to Port Macquarie and was very impressed, promising that she will definitely be back.
Thom Klein was helping his friend, Drury Woolnough on the Drury Lane stand which was serving vegetarian food.
"The venue is great and if they run it next year, it will get even bigger and better," he said.
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