Whether you choose to abstain from meat on holy days, or you just love seafood, this menu is for you. Making the most of the abundance of glorious seafood we have Down Under, it brings you juicy oysters, chargrilled prawns and scallops, roasted fish and buttery bugs. Be sure to pair it with a zesty cocktail, and raise a glass to a very merry Christmas!

Oysters with cucumber and fennel vinaigrette

Fresh oysters in summer are the ultimate canape.

Cultured butter, oxheart tomato and anchovies on sourdough

This light sourdough snack is perfect for summer or Christmas day.

Gin and tonic seared scallops

Credit: Mark Roper

These adults-only scallops are the perfect seafood soiree snack.

Chargrilled prawns, spuds, caviar and pickled eschalots

This seafood starter is perfect for festive entertaining.

Matt Moran’s Moreton Bay bugs with herb and garlic butter

Moreton bay bugs with herb and garlic butter

Learn how to cook Moreton Bay bugs with herb- and garlic-loaded butter, thanks to this easy recipe from Matt Moran that’s perfect for barbecue season.

Spanner crab gratinee (pasta bake)

Nothing says comfort more than a warm and cheesy seafood bake. Chef Scott Pickett uses local produce to make this nostalgic recipe.

Roasted rainbow trout with fennel, pine nuts and sumac

Shake up your repertoire of roasts with this easy, low-fuss whole rainbow trout, stuffed with a delicious mix of dried fruit, nuts and spices. When you're searching for a red-meat alternative, this delicious seafood option makes the perfect table centrepiece for entertaining.

Saltbush soda bread

"You could also use bush tomato, lemon myrtle, strawberry gum, pepperberry or wattleseed for this recipe. It’s best eaten hot out of the oven with plenty of butter."

Blistered tomato and butter bean salad with sliced pickles

“Salad can be cooked on the braai (barbecue), too, and here it blisters tomatoes perfectly to intensify their sweetness and give them a bit of a smoky edge. Beans are eaten widely across South Africa, and turn this salad into a meal. You can add them to the spiced pickles 30 minutes before draining, as they’ll absorb all that incredible flavour!” – Warren Mendes

Gin Basil Smash cocktail

“Gin Basil Smash is a modern, more aromatic interpretation of a Southside by way of a Whiskey Smash, using basil instead of mint. It was created in the summer of 2008, when it was fifirst referred to as ‘Gin Pesto’. Since then, the muddled refresher has become one of the most popular drinks in all of Germany.” Recipe from Signature Cocktails by Amanda Schuster.