If you’re the lucky winner of our major prize competition to the Adelaide food and wine region, you and a friend could be off to some the hottest restaurants, wineries, cafes and markets South Australia has to offer.
The weekend will be yours to do whatever you choose but to assist your planning (and to get you excited), we’ve asked our Hero Ambassador and Sydney-based chef, Christine Manfield, to prepare a suggested two-night itinerary. Here are Christine’s tips for a winning weekend away …
FRIDAY
Arrive Adelaide – book a flight that gets you there by 10am
Drive to city, explore the bustling Central Market (Gouger St)
· coffee at Lucia’s
· Smelly Cheese – cheese tasting
· Dough – breads + pastries
Lunch: Peel Street Restaurant
Glamorous and flavoursome cooking by chef owners Jordan and Marty – the plates are generous, ideal for sharing, the food bursting with robust punchy flavours. The ambience is informal, buzzy and relaxed.
After lunch, explore the East End precinct – drop into the nearby Tasting Room at East End Cellars for a glass of flight of wine.
Dinner: The Pot by Emma McCaskill
The Pot is a neighbourhood restaurant on King William Rd, Hyde Park, the kind of place that evokes a sense of nostalgia and comfort. Emma and her kitchen team spend their time sourcing the best ingredients and honing their skills to make utterly delicious food where the produce is treated with respect. The wine list is extensive, carefully selected and perfectly matched to the food.
Grab a nightcap at either Pink Moon Saloon in Leigh St or Clever Little Tailor in Peel St.
SATURDAY
Breakfast: Laneway Espresso
The best coffee in town (from Seven Seeds in Melbourne) and a cool breakfast menu.
Ebenezer Pace, East End
Drive to McLaren Vale – visit Willunga Farmers Market (8am – 12.30pm)
Established in 2002, Willunga Farmers Market, South Australia’s first farmers market, is the regional hub for the community and visitors to gather and buy fresh, local and seasonal produce in the McLaren Vale region. Held every Saturday in the Willunga Town Square, more than 80 farmers and artisan food producers from the region sell their fresh produce; rain, hail or shine.
Town Square, Main Rd, Willunga
Lunch: Salopian Inn
Food at The Salopian Inn (on the main road between Willunga and McLaren Vale) is eclectic – an edible story of chef Karena’s culinary journey, showcasing local, seasonal produce, much of it from her kitchen garden. The bar stocks over 200 gins and the wine cellar is not to be missed, many sourced from the immediate region.
Visit Coriole winery if time permits – taste their diverse range of excellent wines and Woodside artisanal cheeses made by Kris Lloyd.
Drive to Adelaide Hills (30 mins)
Dinner: Lost in A Forest
Kick back at this wood-oven wine lounge in Uraidla, order one of their terrific wood fired pizzas and any of the on-trend wines or spirits from their cleverly crafted list.
SUNDAY
Check out of hotel
Breakfast: The Market Shed
Behind the IGA on Holland St at Gilbert St, in the SW corner of the city. This Sunday food market is provenance-driven with an organic and sustainable focus. There’s a plethora of food stalls to choose from and the locals flock here for a weekly catch up. The environment is bursting with personality.
Visit the SA Art Gallery and Museum, North Terrace
Lunch: Hey Jupiter
A hip and buzzing French bistro in Ebenezer Place, East End with a broad menu, great classic cocktails and friendly service.
Depart Adelaide late afternoon
Have you entered yet? Find out how here!
