Review: Giallo Wine Bar

Giallo Wine Bar
39a Rundle St.
Kent Town SA 5067
(08) 8362 9006
Tues - Fri for lunch & Tues - Sat for dinner
http://www.giallowinebar.com.au/


Sunken and tucked away on the Kent Town end of Rundle Street is Giallo Wine Bar. Giallo is small and dimly lit and this, I think, creates its appeal. In what appears to be a stylish attempt on saving space, half the chairs on the tables are stools. The tables are also small so you are quite close to those on your table - great for a first date, wink wink! Although I conveniently missed out on the stool seat I have to say, that in all its tightly fit closeness it somehow works, and (with no back pain) I found the smallness of Giallo to in fact be perfect. Obviously being small and filled with people means noise, but again it was loud to the point where it created a great atmosphere. The staff were also friendly and casual. First impressions were up there.

The menu is full of really inviting dishes with a contemporary Italian feel. On first look I realised I had found myself in the dilemma of what to pick with so many tempting options presented. The menu is set up so that you can easily share the dishes or you can go at it solo. With our group of four we decided to share starters and go our own mains. Most of the 'Starters' are around the $12 mark, a choice of two 'Carpaccio's' for about $22, 'First Plate' meals $18-$20, and the 'Second Plate' meals ranged from low to high $30's. There were also standard 'Sides' of roast potatoes, salads etc $9 - $14

First out of the blocks was the 'Marinated octopus with green olive tepande', the tepande was amazing and even if you are not a big olive fan, I'm sure you would be pleased. The octopus was generous in size and mostly tender. A good start. We also had the 'Oven baked feta' and this was nothing short of sensational, it was warm, creamy and just delicious. A note of warning though, eating this dish on your own would probably leave you feeling pretty guilty that you consumed a big slab of cheese, but it is so worth getting this dish to share. I'll be trying to recreate this at home very soon.

Now I absolutely love a carpaccio and we had a choice of beef or salmon and went for the 'Beef fillet carpaccio'. To my disappointment I found the carpaccio to be unseasoned and it generally lacked flavour. It came with mushrooms and a truffle pecorino, both of which were a bit dull in flavour. What it really needed was more salt, more chilli and more oil. On a positive note it also came with some rocket which helped to balance it out and add freshness.....it just needed the flavour. We also had some 'spiced roasted almonds' which were nice enough.



Kingfish

For my main I had the special of 'Kingfish on peperonata with potato rouille'. Every element was nice when eaten altogether and it was a generous and thick sized piece of kingfish. On its own I did find the flavour of the kingfish to be stronger than when I have previously eaten it and unfortunately the skin was not crispy which I found to be most disappointing. Not only would the crispy skin have gone nicely with the potato rouille but it would have also added a bit of texture to the dish as a whole. The peperonata, made from yellow and red capsicums, was full of flavour and lovely and soft. The potato rouille (if you're wondering is a thick creamy mayonnaise type of sauce) was also nice and complemented the fish well. 



I also tried the 'Chicken cooked in spanish style spices'. Apparently the sauce had chocolate in the base which was meant to bring out the flavours of the spices and have a very subtle chocolate hint. The flavour was indeed beautiful and I'd consider going this dish on the next visit but I certainly couldn't taste any chocolate, which, in a savoury dish, is a good thing if you ask me.

  

I also tried the 'Angus beef fillet with porcini butter' and this was cooked perfectly and was overall a good dish.



Chicken cooked in spanish spices


Being a little full of food and wine we went for the shared 'Cheese platter' for dessert. You can choose from between one to three cheeses and we went for two ($14) and they were really nice. Of particular note was a 'St Angel Brie' from France and it was amazing. Aggghhhhhh! (It's now on my produce list as a favourite cheese). 

There is a great wine list, as you'd expect from a wine bar, and the waiters are more than helpful and experienced in assisting you choose. There was also a couple of good champagne's and the 'Louis Bouillot blanc de blanc' at $9 a glass/$45 a bottle was a winner. You certainly cant go wrong for that price for an exceptionally good Frenchie. I'd 'pop' into Giallo just for a glass of this one.

From a Saturday night visit I think Giallo doesn't quite seem to have found its niche as far as clientele go. This appears to work in its favour and at this stage has stopped it from becoming pretentious as is often the case with places that have, well, style.

I loved, loved, loved Giallo Wine Bar. The food was great except for a few minor adjustments, but above all the ambiance of the place is sensational and I'll most certainly return, and hopefully soon.


The Eatery by CK

Review: Burger Foundry

Burger Foundry
389 Magill Road
St. Morris SA 5068
08 8431 3231
http://www.burgerfoundry.com.au/
T to F 11 – 10pm
S 12 – 10pm
S 12 – 8pm


You can't go past a good solid burger. Burger Foundry on Magill Rd in St Morris is all about the burgers...... a small simple shop, three tables, one cook, one blackboard with chicken burgers, and one blackboard with beef burgers. That's pretty much it. So given the name of the place and given the lack of emphasis on pretty much anything aside from burgers, you'd expect them to be good, in fact, great.

I had the 'Jamaican Jerk' Chicken Burger and YES it was great. The chicken had a fabulous grill taste to it and it was nicely tender. It came with mesculin lettuce, tomato, mango salsa and a spicy caribbean dressing. The flavours were a perfect match and the kick of chilli or jalapeno from the sauce made it an absolute winner. My husband had the 'Australian' Beef Burger and from what I tasted this was also really enjoyable. It came with egg, bacon and beetroot relish (aussie, aussie, aussie, oi!). The only problem was that it was a little dry but aside from that I thoroughly enjoyed my mega sized bite.

There's a choice of about five chicken burgers and ten beef burgers at Burger Foundry. They all come standard with mesculin lettuce and tomato and then have a few more ingredients to individualise them. The burgers are well priced, most costing around $10.90. The burgers are big so it's money well spent. Burger Foundry also sells homemade chips and they are the real deal. You even see the potatoes sitting on the counter. The chips are nice because they are so real, however they didn't have the crisp crunch I was hoping for.

I liked the bread/rolls used for the burgers but my husband thought it was a little chewy. I also enjoyed my burger far more than he did his 'Australian'......it's fair to say we have very different tastes...... I of course think mine is much better :)

Burger Foundry is essentially a take away shop but don't be in a hurry. I believe there is only one cook and it appeared as though one order was completed from start to finish before the next one was underway. No sign of multi-tasking going on here! It does therefore take a while to get your food but you can read magazines or the newspaper while you're waiting.

I'll certainly be back to Burger Foundry next time I'm feeling like a burger, or next time I can't be bothered cooking dinner for the family. I highly recommend you try the succulent and juicy 'Jamaincan Jerk' Chicken Burger. I practically inhaled mine at record speed in pure enjoyment.


The Eatery by CK

Review: El Toro

El Toro
39 Semaphore Rd.
Semaphore SA 5019
(08) 8449 1949


There have been a few tapas style restaurants opening up around Adelaide and I am so happy to say that El Toro is most definitely one worth visiting.
Upon hearing a good review I took along one of my favourite foodies and made the journey down to Semaphore. I must admit when I first walked into the place I expected a little more ambiance, perhaps a little more Spain, a little less cafe, but that feeling was soon lost with the incredible aroma floating around the place......there was so much garlic being cooked in that kitchen and every ounce of it was delightfully oozing into the cafe. Cue, taste buds to start watering!

El Toro, spanish tapas cafe

The friendly wait staff were very helpful in assisting us with the choice of both the food and wine. There was a selection of tapas, in two sizes, as well as a selection of mains, sides, desserts etc.

Between two of us we shared five small tapas sized dishes, a main size of a roast vegetable dish, and A LOT of nice toasted bread to mop up all the juices. As one of the waiters explained, the bread dipped into some of the left over juices from the mussel dish was another delicious meal in itself. He was right.

We devoured some amazing mussels in white wine that were just damn good. The flavour of the garlic prawns was also fantastic but to be a little picky the prawns were slightly overcooked. I'm a massive fan of croquettes and the chicken ones we ate were incredibly moreish and up there with the best I have ever eaten. The mushrooms were great, again cooked in a lot of garlic and butter but the juice of the mushrooms themselves overpowered these flavours which was really nice. We shared a roast vegetable dish that was somewhat of a stack of pumpkin, eggplant, onion, fennel, and capsicum, tied in together with an incredibly rich tomato jam. All the veggies except the fennel, were roasted to a beautifully soft texture and the tomato jam had such a powerful flavour to it. The first couple of mouthfuls of this dish were amazing, however after a while I found it to be too rich and unless you were sharing it among quite a few people, I would have preferred it to come out in a small tapas size. It was a fabulous dish non the less. We also shared a braised squid dish and the small pieces of squid were so delicate and soft, my only criticism would be that it could have done with a hint of chilli or lemon to give the tomato base a bit of a kick.

A selection of tapas

El Toro is fantastic and a great representation of what Spanish tapas should be. The food was simple but so tasty and fragrant and it had a real warmth to it. There is a small selection of wine available including a couple of nice Spanish varieties. They also serve sangria which I unfortunately didn't get to try but was told that it is quite strong, i.e don't drive if you want more than one glass.

Our entire meal cost us $47 for 2 people and another $27 for a bottle of really nice Spanish tempranillo. So when the bill came and I had to forked out a mere $37 I was extremely satisfied. Most of the small sized tapas are in the $5-$7 range.

El Toro is certainly worth a visit and if I didn't live so far away I'd be back there in a heart beat. Great service, sensational food and a price to leave you with a smile.

The Eatery by CK

Roast vegatable stack with a rich tomato jam

Something for the weekend...

Shaw & Smith Wine Flight

If you're looking for something to do on the weekend why not head up to the Adelaide Hills to Shaw & Smith Winery for their Wine & Cheese Flight.
For $14 you get to try a Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot and Shiraz together with matching cheeses from other Hills locations. This is all done in a stunning location looking out over the vines and a gorgeous lake.
When the weather is fine it is perfectly ok to take kids, however if the weather wasn't so good I wouldn't recommend taking children unless they were confined to the pram as there is a lot of glasswear in a small area....Trying to contain them indoors would be way too nerve wracking!
On a sunny day the doors are opened up, you can sit out on the terrace and it is exceptionally pleasant. The wine is really nice and the selection of cheeses are really good also.

While you're up that way why not check out Nepenthe (great Sunday sessions) or The Lane Vineyard (excellent wine, brilliant food) which are more or less next door. 



Not a bad view while you take your wine and cheese flight



McLaren Vale certified biodynamic/organic producers lunch at Paxton's Vineyards

I was fortunate enough to go along to a lunch at Paxton's Vineyards that celebrated McLaren Vale’s three certified organic and biodynamic wine producers, Battle of Bosworth, The Hedonist and Paxton Wines. The setting at Paxton's was beautiful and the weather God put on a spectacular day. Paxton's, The Hedonist and Battle of Bosworth all put their wines up for tasting and the quality was fantastic. A true testament to the philosophy behind their wine making. I particularly fell in love with the Paxton's Rosé, it was like no other I have had before.
Chef Ann Oliver cooked a beautiful lunch using locally sourced biodynamic/organic ingredients. The food was wonderful and there was a real simplicity about each dish, every ingredient speaking for itself. The confit rabbit with hand made pasta was incredible and I've never tasted such melt in your mouth pasta and such succulent and tender rabbit. It was quite special.
We were privileged to hear from the winemakers as they told their stories and highlighted the importance of sustainable farming methods and the implications of mainstream methods. Not only were some of the methods interesting (using deer bladders and cow horns filled with intestines for pest management) but it is so evident of the need to get back to traditional methods for long term sustainability as well for our own health. Overall a sensational day indulging all of my passions!

The stunning grounds at Paxton's Vineyard, McLaren Vale

Ann Oliver's Almond milk pudding with apricot sauce



McLaren Vale biodynamic/organic producers lunch



Review: Insieme

Insieme Ristorante

63 Flinders Street,

Adelaide SA 5000

8223 2777

http://www.insieme.net.au/ 

Open Breakfast to Lunch, Mon - Fri & Dinner on Fri

 

In the Adelaide CBD a chic, modern and bustling eatery is piled full of business people for a Tuesday lunch. Being a Tuesday, and being in Adelaide (no disrespect, I love this place) I was expecting that my brother and I would be sitting with only a handful of other diners. How wrong was I! Insieme Ristorante was jammed packed, it appears that the CBD workers know exactly where to eat. We were 10 minutes late for our reservation for my belated birthday lunch and our table was seemingly given away. Unfortunately we were left to wait standing for about 10mins until a table became available. However, once we assumed our position the service was excellent and the food and wine that were to follow were fabulous. We chose a bottle of Italian 2007 Peppoli Chianti Classico which again was a hit and after only a few minutes of breathing, was easy to drink and perfectly matched all our food. The complimentary, and in my opinion mandatory, bread and olive oil was divine, the oil was beautifully soft and almost buttery.

For entree we shared an antipasto plate which was presented very cleanly and consisted of olives, jamon, scallops, meatballs, squid, salad, and white anchovies. Needless to say in keeping with the restaurant the flavours were clean, concise and tasty. The scallops, wrapped in pancetta and seared to perfection were fabulous and the puree it was served on even better. The mini meatballs were absolutely sensational with a gorgeous tomato sauce that got completely mopped up. The small salad of rocket and red onion had a beautiful dressing which transformed it into a fighting contender among some starring elements. The white anchovies were succulent and flavoursome, the olives were nice and the squid and jamon were yummy. I was very happy.

For main I enjoyed a most delicious lamb fillet on sauteed spinach with a barolo (red wine) sauce and a twice cooked four cheese souffle ($34). This dish was superbly cooked and the flavours of the scented lamb, and the sauteed spinach brought together by the sweet borolo sauce was well balanced and completely delectable. The four cheese souffle was also extremely tasty and the oozing cheesy sauce really moistened it up. I did however question its place sitting on the plate with lamb and spinach as it seemed a little out of place. In saying that it tasted great so I shouldn't complain too much!

Unfortunately my brother took the step of ordering something he had never tried, rabbit (Coniglio Al Forno), and sadly it did not pay off. The rabbit ($34.50) came roasted and wrapped in pancetta with potatoes, peas and in unfancy terms, gravy. Although it was all well cooked, the meal essentially tasted and looked like a Sunday roast chic with gravy. This dish was worlds apart from the quality of what I was eating. For dessert we shared a chocolate torte with vanilla bean icecream and mixed berries. The size of the serve of the chocolate torte was a little small in my opinion, however it was fairly rich. The vanilla infused ice cream and berries in their thick couli-type sauce were the perfect accompaniment. Overall, very satisfying.

Insieme Ristorante has a good wine list with some great Italian as well as a few local varieties. I highly recommend trying the Pippoli Chianti Classico. All the other meals on the menu looked very appealing and I no doubt had a hard time when it came to deciding (this is a good thing!). The food and wine is on the expensive side but people are obviously happy paying for the food as the restaurant is very successful and I for one would be happy to come back again soon. Insieme Ristorante is well worth a visit for lunch or a Friday night dinner if you're in the city. You'll just have to contend with the suits to fight it out for a table..... Book ahead.

The Eatery by CK

Review: Pinocchio Ristorante.... Giuseppe would not be happy

Pinocchio Ristorante
50 Unley Road
Unley SA 5061
0414 157 974

NOW I'M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU, this was NOT an enjoyable dinner. It was anything but. My husband and I love good old fashioned Italian food. The real deal, authentic, basic, nothing fancy but just enough to transport you to the country and make you feel all warm and fuzzy. So for our 3rd wedding anniversary we thought we'd use the opportunity to have a beautiful dinner at a newer restaurant that, from what I had read, promised to serve old school Italian food.

From the moment we walked in I felt a sense of disappointment creeping in. Ambiance was completely lacking. In fairness, it was early in the evening so there weren't a lot of customers, however aside from this there was something about the whole place which felt somewhat sparse and cold. I did like the randomly placed pictures of pinocchio over the walls, it was just a pity the colour of paint on the walls was so depressing.

From here it continued to get worse. Two new waitresses had been placed on at the same time, which meant twice the mistakes and twice the frustration for us. I'd asked for a nice Italian wine and we received an Australian wine of the requested variety. When this mistake was corrected, the Italian bottle was slightly corked. When our glasses were filled up wine was spilt down the sides, and after the initial pour of water and wine we were left to top up our own glasses. The complementary olives were rancid and there was no plain crusty bread with our pasta meals or even on the menu for that matter. All the small touches you'd expect from a restaurant were missing and we were left with a series of mistakes that after a while became laughable.

Unfortunately the food was just an extension of the night we were having. Poor. Our entrees of Funghi Orvievtana (mushrooms with pancetta and cheese) and Voul au Vonts, were as basic as a Sunday evening whip up.

For the Main we had Tagliotini Scoglio (pasta with fresh seafood) and Tagliotini al Granchio (pasta with crabmeat). On a positive note the homemade pasta itself was good. Unfortunately it stopped there. My meal tasted like pasta with butter. There were a few nice pieces of fresh seafood however at no point did the flavour of the seafood impart into the rest of the pasta. It was bland, boring and a huge disappointment. The crab pasta was not much better. There was at least some flavour to it, however nothing on any other crab pasta I have eaten or made myself.

I could go on with more of the mistakes and stuff up's that went on in the short time we stayed for dinner however I think you get the picture. Being just a tad obsessed with food, I almost always enjoy eating it, even if its not all that good. On this occasion it was really hard to drag out anything positive from the whole experience which is such a disappointment and was totally unexpected. Final words... To keep my nose short; I do not recommend this restaurant.


The Eatery by CK





Tagliotini Scoglio



Funghi Orvievtana



Review: Aquacaf

Aquacaf
Barrage Rd, Goolwa
(08) 8555 1235
www.aquacaf.com.au

Fresh food by the water.....

There is something incredibly alluring about Aquacaf at Goolwa. Whether it's the causal atmosphere, the location by the water, or the lightness about the venue, I always know I'm going to get superb, fresh and wholesome food. It simply feels good eating the food there.
The light and airy kiosk come cafe has such a refreshingly relaxed feel and you can't help but feel like you're on a summer holiday.
A big plus, and something which seems to be a lot harder to come across these days, was the service. It was outstanding. The wait staff looking after our table were casual yet very attentive and helped facilitate what was overall a great lunch.
Between 2 people we shared the Tasting Plate which would actually be better shared with 3 or 4. My only criticism of the meal was that although the individual components of the tasting plate were really enjoyable, each item had quite an intensity of flavour, so the whole plate together with so many robust flavours, was actually a bit of a overload on the taste buds. The plate included things like roast pumpkin, bread, dip, tomato, relish, cheese, ham, chickpeas, mussels, labna, chicken, and egg. Each item was prepared in an individual and unique way and was undoubtedly nice on its own, but as previously mentioned, altogether it was just that bit too much of a flavour overload.
We also had the Fish Broth which was fantastic. It was full of all sorts of seafood and vegetables and in keeping with the style of the food at Aquacaf, it was intense with a multitude of flavours, mainly brought about with fresh herbs and spices.
A dish which seems to be a constant on the changing menu is the Fattoush Salad. While I did not eat it on this occasion, on a previous visit to Aquacaf this was undoubtedly a highlight and what inspired me to cook my own version (see my recipe section). Hands down one of the best salads I have eaten, full of fresh produce, loads of herbs and of course synonymous with fatoush, the crispy flat bread pieces. Delish!
Most main meals are in the $20+ range and you absolutely get your monies worth. Unfortunately we stopped short of ordering any more food as the serves are big, the flavours bold and in general the type of food that is really contenting and satisfying. There was an Asian Salad on the menu which will definitely get a look in next time.

Of all the things I look for when I eat out, if the food has a freshness, is simple and makes me feel healthy and contented then I'll be back for more. This is most certainly the case with Aquacaf.

 



The Eatery by CK

 

Fish Broth

 

The Tasting Plate







Review: d'arry's Verandah Restaurant

d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant
Osborn Road
McLaren Vale SA
(08) 8329 4848
www.darrysverandah.com.au 
*Lunches Only

I couldn't be more happy than to finally get down to D'arenberg in McLaren Vale, girlfriends in tow. d'arrys Verandah Restaurant had certainly been talked up and is home to two accomplished chefs, Nigel Rich and Peter Reschke. Needless to say I was not disappointed. Not only do you find yourself in a beautiful location overlooking the gorgeous valley, but the food was truly exceptional.  The other obvious advantage of a restaurant in a winery was the fantastic wine on offer and well priced at that.
The menu makes decision making a challenge. All that was on offer sounded fantastic and would accommodate all styles of personal taste. For entree the Lobster Medallion with blue swimmer crab & prawn ravioli and lobster bisque ($29) was divine. The lobster was lovely, the ravioli outstanding and the lobster bisque was sensational. All the components of this dish worked incredibly well and it was topped off with perfect presentation. The other entree tried was the Half shell scallop ceviche and abalone sashimi with white peach and wasabi F.F.R Salad ($24). The presentation of this dish was beautiful. So fresh, alive and intricate. This was a light style of entree with spicy hints of wasabi. It was a fantastic mix of textures both visually and to taste. A very impressive dish.
For Main I had the Slow cooked duck and seared breast with braised fennel, orange and rocket and fennel salad ($33). The duck was also perfectly cooked with crispy skin and succulent meat. The flavours of the whole dish were incredibly well matched and the added orange segments really brought the dish to life.
I also was fortunate enough to sample the Roast pork belly with grilled fig, Miss Merbain and fig salad ($30). I say I was fortunate because this pork belly was amazing. Again, a brilliant balance of flavours. The pork was moist and tender, it had the perfect strength of flavour and the crackling was of course the highlight. There were lots of appealing desserts on the menu. The Soft centred chocolate pudding ($16) was delicious and the gooey centre just oozed out. The highlight of the desserts for me was the Passionfruit souffle ($16). Light, fluffy and an abundance of passionfruit flavour. The Panna Cotta ($15) was nice but no match for the other desserts.
d'arrys verandah restaurant is definitely worth a visit. It's obvious the menu and all the dishes have been well thought about and crafted by experienced chefs. The wine is unquestionably some of the regions best, and having the tasting room next door to come and go throughout the meal had its advantages, particularly when it came down to choice for our meal.  Let's also not forget the fabulous location. The only disappointment of the experience was our waitress who couldn't bear to bring a smile. She unfortunately did not share a hint of the outstandingness of d'arry's verandah restaurant.


The Eatery by CK



The Lobster Medallion



Half shell scallop ceviche



Slow cooked duck



Roast pork belly



desserts



Review: Mandoo Korean Dumplings

Mandoo Korean Dumplings
26 Bank Street Adelaide  
(08) 8231 3303
Open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 5pm-9pm

I'd heard a few good things about this small Korean dumpling restaurant in Bank Street, so I was very eager to get there and see what the hype was about.
Mandoo - which is Korean for "dumpling" is a small, authentic and very basic eatery that sells just that - dumplings. The menu is more or less limited to fried or steamed dumplings in either chicken, pork or vegetarian. Aside from these dishes there are one or two other choices but they were either not available on the day or could only be ordered for dinner.
Each plate of dumplings costs about $10. This gets you 8 dumplings, a small lettuce salad, a scoop of mashed potato (odd, I know) and some really good chilli dipping sauce. One plate is sufficiently satisfying for a lunch.

I tried the Steamed mandoo in vegetarian and also in Kimchi, which is a traditional Korean flavour and the Chicken fried mandoo. All of the dumpling were fresh, well made, full of flavour and the fried dumplings were particularly nice.

If you enjoy dumplings, this place is for you. The simplicity of Mandoo works well on all levels and adds to the appeal of the place.
Mandoo Korean Dumplings, worth a visit if you happen to be around Bank Street in the city.

The Eatery By CK 



Korean Mandoo (dumplings)



Review: The Coterie - Woodstock Winery

The Coterie - Woodstock Winery

Douglas Gully Rd, McLaren Flat
(08) 8383 0156
http://www.woodstockwine.com.au/

I recently met a couple of friends for an afternoon platter and a glass of vino at The Coterie Restaurant at Woodstock Winery in McLaren Vale. On a beautiful day this winery is a must. The restaurant is opened up so make sure you request a table outside. (If you go in winter I find the inside of the restaurant to be a little dark and you kind of feel like you’re back in the 70’s.) Outside, you are surrounded by beautiful gum trees and native bushland. The smell of eucalyptus from some of the surrounding trees really is intoxicating.
The Coterie serves a Regional Platter for $25pp (serves two people) and is full of local produce; Locally Smoked Meats, Chorizo, Aldinga Turkey, Turkey Muscat Pate, Brie, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, Marinated Mushrooms, Capsicum and Herb Polenta, Vegetable Layered Frittata, Seasonal Fruit, Olive Oil and Breads. ………. All of the food on the platter is good and my only criticism was that there was not enough of the toasted crusty bread.... which bugs me! We also shared the dips platter with a couple of really nice dips and very good flat bread to mop them up (there was enough of this bread).
Enjoy the platters, or any other of The Coterie’s food with a few glasses of their gutsy reds. The 2008 Woodstock Shiraz was particularly nice. It was smooth, well rounded and goes well with food. Of course the best thing to do is go to the tasting room and decide what you like there before you purchase in the restaurant.
Woodstock during the warmer weather is good for younger kids with a playground that blends into the surroundings and some grassed area to run/explore.


The Eatery by CK

Review: Grace The Establishment

Grace The Establishment

127 The Parade Norwood
(08) 8333 1007
http://www.thegrace.net.au/


From the people who brought you The Manse and Sparrow, comes their new venture, Grace The Establishment. I must begin by commenting that its about time Norwood has some sort of a drinking bar that isn't a pub. I'm still dumb founded by the fact that The Parade has next to no wine or cocktail bars and only a few good eating spots. Bring back the "George Wine Bar" in its entirety, I say.
Upon hearing that a nice tapas style bar had opened on the Parade I was more than excited to test run "the establishment".

Friday night and they were certainly pulling in the crowd early, a mix of ages however, quite the scene. The venue itself is fantastic, a long bar stretching almost the length of the narrow room, opening out into more of a sit down dining area, and then out into a beautiful courtyard complete with a gorgeous tree catching the setting sun's rays. I was most impressed and happy to be there.

Then came the sangria. There were a few options to choose from and we selected the "Pink Sangria" for $25 a jug (about 3 large glasses). This was really nice, fresh and exactly as sangria should be. We also tried the "Grace in Cider" which again was beautifully fresh and very easy to drink.

Unfortunately when it came to food, the price was no match for what I ate. Grace has a selection of tapas style meals which are incredibly small. You can also choose from a selection of steak or fish which comes completely alone on its plate. If you order these meals, you have to purchase one of the sides to go with them and in my opinion they are completely overpriced. On this occasion, and although I did see a beautiful looking steak at someone else's table, I chose not to pay $35 to cut a steak into bits and share with my friends. Instead we ordered the Yellow tail king fish ($8) which consisted of four very small mouthfuls of the raw fish. It came with a jar of a ginger and shallot dressing which we were told to shake up and pour over. The ginger and lime flavour in the dressing gave the kingfish a gorgeous freshness that cut through the saltiness of the soy flavour which appeared to be the base for the dressing.

I also tried the Serrano jamon, supposedly aged for 12 months. At $16 a serve I was expecting some pretty amazing Jamon but unfortunately it fell way short and was comparable to the prosciutto I buy at the supermarket for $5. A complete waste of money. The other major disappointment was the Bread and Coriole olive oil ($4.5). The olive oil was beautiful, as expected from Coriole, however I was astounded that they served what seemed like a commercial packaged dry continental loaf, again that you could find in the bread isle of the supermarket.

Another let down was the Chorizo with white beans and tomato ($8.5), it can only be described as average. The chorizo was fried and although pleasant enough to eat, there was nothing special about it. This also goes for the white beans, tomato and chilli that it was served on. Very bland and not a hint of chilli.

My meal was in some way redeemed with a serve of the Rangers Valley beef tartare, with sour dough wafer and creme friache ($5.5). Although the serve was fittingly small, it packed a punch in terms of flavour. At the end of each creamy mouthful you experienced a kind of spicy kick by way of a jalapeno flavour. It was fantastic and presented exceptionally.

As far as food goes there is quite a selection on the menu. To me its the kind of place you go to when you're not hungry or looking for a complete meal but perhaps feel like a snack. I have to comment that the wine and champagne list is also quite pricey.

All in all the verdict on Grace The Establishment is it's the place to go for some sangria, a nibble to get the taste buds fired up and certainly a place to be seen among an easy on the eyes kind of crowd. 

We finished our drinks, vowed only to come back for the sangria and walked across the road to the yiros bar and ate till my stomach told me it was time to go home. 

The Eatery by CK




The court yard of Grace The Establishment






Chorizo with white bean and tomato



Yellow Tail Kingfish



Cocktail Hour

One for me, One for you


A kind young bar tender once wrote down this cocktail recipe for me after he probably drank too much on his shift. This cocktail is simple, fresh, delicious and not too sweet. You could easily spend the night on this one! I particularly like how he specifies to use 7 ice cubes.


6-8 mint leaves
30ml Cointreau
30ml Havana Club
1 (small) scoop of lemon sorbet
1/2 lime squeezed
7 ice cubes


BLEND!


The Eatery by CK

Review: Estia

Estia
255 Seaview Road
Henley Beach Square
(08) 8353 2875

http://www.estia.com.au/


I love Estia during summer in Adelaide. Getting a table outside is a must so you can see the ocean, it is part of the whole experience.
I must say as far as food goes some dishes are fantastic while others just don’t hit the mark. I do however keep going back for the beachside location, great personal service and those particular dishes I just have to order everytime – zucchini croquettes and lamb fillets.
Estia serves greek food and portions are small and designed to be shared with a group. Ask the wait staff to serve your food progressively as it adds to the whole experience.
On my latest visit to Estia, between 5 of us, we shared 2 serves of Kolokithi - zucchini, feta and onion croquettes, served with tzatziki; Gigandes - lima beans baked with tomato salsa, fennel, garlic, parsley, celery and carrot; Tis Skaras Garithes - prawns marinated in olive oil, garlic and wild fennel, Tis Skaras Octapodi - octopus marinated in olive oil, garlic and black pepper, chargrilled; and 2 serves of Tis Skaras Arnaki - lamb fillets marinated in olive oil, lemon and spices, chargrilled.
The croquettes are totally moreish, yum yum yum, the kind of fried food that brings about the "I could live on these" remark. They go particulary well with a Corona or glass of the Pewsey Vale Reisling. The other item on the menu I just cant resist ordering is the lamb fillets. I’m not a big lamb eater but these don’t have a real strong lamb flavour and again I usually go back for a second order of these. They are absolutely delish!
The rest of the food we ordered was little disappointing. The lima beans didn’t seem like they were cooked enough. The prawns were nice although probably left a tad too long on the grill. The same can be said for the octopus which was rather rubbery.
Despite the variations in quality of food on the menu, I will return to Estia when the sun is out and the wine is chilled. Great location, great service, reasonably priced and some yummy dishes to choose from.

The Eatery by CK