Canberra prepares for big finish to Night Noodle Markets 2015
More than 90,000 people have visited the Enlighten Night Noodle Markets in the past week and vendors are gearing up for a big finish to the event on the weekend.
Things appear to have settled down since opening night on Friday, February 27, when huge crowds led to very long queues.
The markets have been steadily busy through the week, serving up Thai noodles, spicy chicken wings, Filipino barbecue and liquid nitrogen gelato.
Jeff Piper, of Thirst Wine Bar in Civic, has been dishing out fried pork glass noodle salads and coconut and potato curry with noodles.
He and co-owner and wife Justin Kavanagh have worked 16-hour days preparing for the markets but he said it was a very good experience.
"We didn't know what to expect," he said. "We said we'd dip our toe in the water and we actually fell in."
Mork Ratanakosol, the owner and chef at Morks on the Kingston Foreshore, installed his parents at the noodle markets to dish up two version of Thai "boat noodles", with brisket and beef broth.
"We just sell out every night, it's just crazy," he said. "We've just been floored by the number of people who've come through. It's been good."
Zagyoza co-owner Dave Miller said his team had sold thousands of Japanese dumplings since the markets began and he had had to hire more staff. He hadn't had time to take stock of how much had been sold.
"It's been an incredible turnout, we'd really like to thank the people of Canberra for coming out in the numbers that they have," he said.
Mr Miller thanked Canberrans also for their patience in queuing at the stalls.
"We're going as fast as we can to get everyone some food," he said.
The markets are being held in Canberra for the first time this year, and are a spinoff of the popular Night Noodle Markets which are held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
They are run by Fairfax, publisher of The Canberra Times.
Fairfax Event's chief operating officer Angus Dillon said the markets had been very well attended.
"Canberra's support of the Enlighten Night Noodle Markets has been phenomenal and we want to thank everyone for their patience during some of the busier times," he said.
"It's clear that this event has been incredibly popular and we look forward to seeing this grow further next year with the support of more local eateries."
The Enlighten Night Noodle Markets run until Sunday, March 8. Stalls open from 4pm. For more information see canberra.goodfoodmonth.com