Fervor Long Table Degustation
Ever since I first heard about Fervor last year I’ve been keen to attend one of their dining events. Created by brother and sister Paul and Bree Iskov, Fervor is a travelling pop-up restaurant that offers a uniquely Australian dining experience with a focus on fresh, locally sourced produce and native ingredients sustainably foraged or supplied by specialist producers. Fervor’s dining tables have been set in stunning, intimate locations all over Western Australia – out in the bush under the stars, on secluded beaches and in shearing sheds. Last year, Fervor events were held in Perth and regional WA, including at Lake, Jewel and Mammoth caves in Margaret River, Mukinbudin in the wheatbelt, Kalgoorlie, and Denmark. Next month, the Fervor team will hit the road to pop up at The Pinnacles, Port Hedland, Karratha, Paraburdoo, Broome and Exmouth.
This year’s Eat Drink Perth festival included a Fervor ‘secret location’ long table degustation and I didn’t hesitate to get tickets. Being an Eat Drink Perth event, we knew the venue would have to be somewhere within the City of Perth, and a few days before the event, it was revealed to be Whipper Snapper Distillery in East Perth.
The evening began with pre-dinner drinks (Whipper Snapper Crazy Uncle Moonshine with tonic water and Moore River finger lime) and snacks (Shark Bay crab with finger lime; grilled chorizo; saltbush; and sandalwood nut crackers with sour cream). For me, the macadamia, scallop, emu and kangaroo main courses were the stand-outs – beautifully presented, texturally interesting and incredibly flavoursome. The smoke featured in several courses wasn’t to my taste but provided spectacular sensory moments – warm, craggy damper served with soft pats of butter sprinkled with redgum ash (tasted like ashtray to me); melt-in-the-mouth meringue toasted with red hot coals; and milk ice cream with candied sandalwood nuts, cinnamon myrtle and Donnybrook honey, served in individual jars with puffs of sandalwood smoke.
Fervor dining is an interactive, social experience. Each course was introduced by one of the Fervor team, explaining the dish and its ingredients. We were encouraged to go up to the pass and chat with the guys as they cooked and plated our meal – mesmerising to watch and enthralling to photograph. At the long table, Jac was in her element, making new friends and sharing stories.
Degustations can be marathons; including the pre-dinner drinks and snacks, this one lasted almost five hours. By the time the petit fours of sandalwood fudge and sunrise limes were served, we were fading fast. But we’d had a sensational, memorable evening.
In addition to a distillery, Whipper Snapper is a whiskey and coffee bar (they serve 5 Senses coffee). 
Co-founder and chef Paul Iskov and the Fervor team welcomed guests with pre-dinner drinks and snacks.
Shark Bay crab with finger lime
Saltbush looks like twigs you’d step on or throw away but the savoury leaves were surprisingly easy to munch on. When snacking on saltbush, make sure you’ve got something to drink – trust me, you’ll need it. It’s not called ‘salt’ bush for nothing. 
The pop-up kitchen
Macadamia and lemon myrtle made an unusual and wonderful first course. 
Raw Esperance scallop with bush tomato emulsion and dried scallop chips, topped with dashi. 
Augusta farmed abalone was served with bunya nut and seaweed. 
Scorching the crocodile fillets. 
Crocodile with burnt butter, stonecrop and desert limes.
Emu tartare with pepper berry, my favourite dish of the night. 
Witnessing the crafting of the dishes was like watching artists at work. 
Kangaroo with lemon aspen + caramelised onion. 
Coal-toasted meringue with wild rosella
Milk ice cream, candied sandalwood nuts, cinnamon myrtle and Donnybrook honey – the sandalwood smoke wafted out as we opened the jars.
Petit fours – smooth, creamy sandalwood fudge with lightly scorched sunrise limes.Photography geeks: the pictures in this post were all taken in very dim lighting using a Fujinon 35mm f1.4 lens. I almost sold that lens, but think I’ll keep it now.
The Fervor Long Table Degustation was held on 11 April 2015, part of Eat Drink Perth.
AU$170 per person included pre-dinner drink and snacks, 8-10 courses, petit fours.
Water was provided; all other drinks were BYO.
Check out the Fervor website to find out where they’ll be next.
Whipper Snapper Distillery
139 Kensington Street, East Perth
There was to be a second Eat Drink Perth Fervor dinner with Custard & Co Cider, at Perth City Farm on 22 April but that event has been postponed.