TRAVEL website WOTIF recently announced the winners of their Uniquely Aussie Awards 2020, covering a range of categories that included the best Big Thing (won by our own Big Banana) and Potato Scallops among others.

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While the best Potato Scallop was awarded to Blue Lips Fish & Chips in Exmouth, WA, the Coffs Coast had three of the top six finalists.

In positions four, five and six respectively were Coffs Harbour Fishermen’s Co-op, Sea Salt Fish & Chips in Sawtell and Banana Coast Seafood.

News Of The Area visited each of them last week to check out the quality on show.

The Fishermen’s Co-op knew of the awards and how well they had done.

Shop supervisor Lenny said, “We have noticed an increase in demand for our already popular potato scallops and are looking to reduce the price on them to celebrate the recognition from the awards.

“Like all of our products, we cook our scallops with care.”

In Sawtell, the news came as a happy surprise, and at Sea Salt making the scallops by hand is a task that the whole team helps with.

Potato scallops are one of the shop’s most popular items, particularly during the holiday period where business has been extremely busy.

At Banana Coast Seafood in the jetty precinct, news of the result was joyfully received as well.

Their scallops are also handmade, with most of the process handled by Nikki, who said, “I don’t even eat them, I just make them with love, and we use a twice cooked method to ensure they are so tasty.

“They’re extremely popular, and we would sell up to 500 a day on weekends.”

While there are arguments over whether they are potato scallops (NSW, QLD, ACT, WA), potato cakes (Vic, NT, Tas), or even potato fritters (SA), there is no doubt that the Coffs Coast is spoiled for choice with top quality produce from our fish and chip vendors.

By David TUNE