MasterChef judges reveal why they love Adelaide ahead of MasterChef South Australia week
MASTERCHEF has dedicated an entire week to South Australia for the first time in the show’s celebrated 10-year history. What do the judges have to say about our state?
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WE’RE standing on dewy grass at Jacob’s Creek in the Barossa Valley, brollies in hand as the rain settles, watching this year’s MasterChef Australia contestants battle it out in a makeshift outdoor kitchen.
It seems oddly calm from where we look on, without the dramatic music and fast-paced editing that will be applied to the footage that hits our TV screens. But we know they’re under pressure: two teams given just two hours to prepare an entree, main and dessert for 30 people, each dish celebrating the humble table grape.
The episode is one of five that will showcase the food and wine of our state when MasterChef dedicates an entire week to South Australia for the first time in the show’s celebrated 10-year history.
It’s about time. South Australia has had its fair share of finalists on the show – Adam Liaw, Callum Hann, Poh Ling Yeow, Rose Adam and Jessie Spiby are among many who have forged successful, delicious careers in food. Our restaurant and bar scene is stronger than ever and new attractions like The d’Arenberg Cube in McLaren Vale are worth bragging about. But, you know what we think here at The SourceSA. So we thought we’d ask MasterChef judges Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris what they love about SA’s food and wine scene.
MasterChef SA week kicks off this Sunday, June 10.
FAVOURITE SA PRODUCE?
Gary Mehigan
I love the cheese from Kris Lloyd’s Woodside Cheese Wrights. I am a little obsessed with cheese generally so these are right up my alley. Woodside Edith, a delicious ashed goat’s milk cheese has been a favourite for many years. With a bit of maturity it becomes velvety and runny in the centre. I love goat’s cheese and beetroots, slow roasted, some left whole then cut into chunks, others made into a puree with goat’s cheese to add another layer of flavour and a little salt. Candied walnuts, ultra thin crunchy sourdough croutons, maybe a toasted grain like barley and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil … yum!
Matt Preston
I have a bit of a thing for “lachsschinken” (cured pork loin). Just eat it as it is!
George Calombaris
I love abalone from Kangaroo Island. It’s so delicious. Simply shave fine and stir fry with native pepper and serve with avgolemono (traditional Greek egg and lemon soup). Yum!
FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS AND BARS?
Gary Mehigan
On this last visit we hit a few of them, let me tell you. Jock Zonfrillo’s Orana would be a favourite – incredible food – and his Bistro Blackwood is up there, too. Andre Ursini is one of our MasterChef alumni and Andre’s Cucina & Polenta Bar is a must-visit. We also went to Press Food & Wine, Africola, The Pot by Emma McCaskill, Magill Estate and Shobosho for katsu-sando sandwiches and tuna with black rice and bonito cream … gorgeous!
Bars I have enjoyed include 2KW, which is great on a long, lazy Sunday afternoon with a view across Adelaide Oval and beyond, while Hains & Co is good for a late one! Africola (again), La Rambla Tapas Bar and Bank Street Social offer some seriously good wines and beers. Pink Moon Saloon has cute and serious cocktails.
Matt Preston
On this trip I did finally get to another local favourite, Parwana. This friendly family-run Afghani restaurant is lionised by Adelaideans the way Sydneysiders love Golden Century and Melburnians rave about their Victoria Street Viet favourite.
The creamy eggplant and the momo dumplings are the unmissable dishes here.
Favourite cafes include Abbots and Kinney (especially the warmed almond croissant – sigh!) although if you are a MasterChef tragic you’ll definitely want to head to Poh’s Jamface in the Central Market for her pastries or jump a cab out to Rose Adam’s Middle Store cafe where her mum’s baklava and one of brother George’s coffees are the pick. Look out for more of my favourites in my column soon.
George Calombaris
So many to choose from, but some of my favourites are Orana for a big night out, Shobosho for great modern Japanese, Clever Little Tailor is a great bar and Sunny’s Pizza for amazing pizza.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU TRY TO DO WHEN IN TOWN?
Gary Mehigan
My visits are often fleeting so apart from great restaurants Adelaide is a great walking city. It’s peaceful and pretty and sets the pace for a lovely stay. An early start and a long walk along the river including Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Zoo and Botanic Park give you a different perspective on the city and you’re never too far away from a good coffee!
Matt Preston
Catch up with friends for drinks in one of the wonderful laneway bars, whether an old favourite like Clever Little Taylor, Proof Bar, Hains & Co or maybe
somewhere new.
George Calombaris
I always try to get to the Barossa Valley region.
FAVOURITE REGIONAL EXPERIENCE?
Gary Mehigan
McLaren Vale is a unique and beautiful part of the country; I love the landscapes and proximity to everything I love. Some of my favourite wines – Mollydooke r, Oliver’s Taranga, d’Arenber g and Leconfield – are all within a stone’s throw of each other. If you know me, I love a beach, so I’ll head down to Sellicks or Port Willunga for a walk or a swim regardless of the weather.
Matt Preston
It would be lunch at the Summertown Aristologist — local produce sensitively and creatively treated without being denatured. But my favourite SA food experience changes all
the time!
George Calombaris
I really love going to FermentAsian while I am in the amazing Barossa Valley.
CHEFS OR PRODUCERS YOU ARE PARTICULARLY FOND OF?
Gary Mehigan
South Australia has some of the best chefs and producers in the country. I’m a big fan of Lachlan Colwill at Hentley Farm. He is a brilliant young chef doing some amazing food. It would be remiss of me not to mention Maggie Beer as a chef/cook, entrepreneur/food producer and proud champion of all things “Barossa”. The only thing to say is “legend” and we
love her.
Matt Preston
You will see some fabulous SA produce rolling into the first episode of MasterChef South Australia week for our contestants to cook with the likes of Kris Lloyd’s cheeses, Paroo Kangaroo and Goolwa Pipis. Kolophon Capers, kingfish and bluefin tuna from Port Lincoln and something meaty from Richard Gunner would have to be on that list – but there is so much great produce in South Australia.
My favourite chefs include Bethany Finn (Mayflower), Jock Zonfrillo, Duncan Welgemoed (Africola), Emma McCaskill, Scott Huggins (Magill Estate/Kitchen), Andy Davies (Osteria Oggi), Maggie Beer, and then there’s Paul Baker (Botanic Gardens Restaurant) – he’s a prince among men. They will all feed you very, very well.
George Calombaris
I’m very proud of Jock Zonfrillo, and love what he is doing at Orana. The menu is a true expression of Aussie food. And I do like having a few drinks with him.
FIRST MEMORY OF SA?
George Calombaris
My first memory was with Matt Preston when he introduced me to the great George Kasimatis of George’s on Waymouth. A legend in the hospitality industry and a beautiful man. Love him and his family.
Gary Mehigan
My first visit to South Australia was not long after arriving in Australia back in 1992. I remember driving our trusty Nissan Bluebird from Melbourne through Murray Bridge, Hahndorf, Eden Valley, up to the Barossa, then back down to Adelaide and on to the Fleurieu Peninsula. It was a hot summer and I remember eating at 1918 Bistro & Grill in Tanunda.
I had a beautiful chicken dish with black olives, we drank a local cleanskin wine and I remember thinking, “what a life and what a holiday …!”
Matt Preston
Driving through Adelaide on the way to a wedding just after moving to Australia and stopping at the Red Ochre Grill for lunch.
Five hours in Adelaide and 4½ of them spent enjoying an amazing and truly unique meal built around indigenous ingredients.
My next visit – a stop on the way driving to Finke in the Northern Territory – was spent in exactly the same way!
WHY IS SA HOT RIGHT NOW?
Gary Mehigan
I think Adelaide has come of age; it’s a great city with a fabulous cafe, restaurant and bar scene. Lots to see and lots to keep you busy.
South Australia’s reputation as a food bowl and a little slice of foodie heaven is well-deserved. Chefs and producers are doing some incredible things and the rest of the country has noticed.
Every year we take our contestants somewhere to get their culinary juices flowing, get inspired and improve their skills. This year it was South Australia and I think you’ll agree they got to do some amazing things.
The first day they cooked in the middle of Victoria Square with some of SA’s best produce, cooked in a night market challenge for 500 people, cooked at The Cube at d’Arenberg and Jacob’s Creek and Maggie’s Farm Shop in the Barossa. Not bad, huh?!
Matt Preston
Gold-standard food at silver prices. A wonderful explosion of adventurous and fun dining options that don’t cost the earth. Places like Sunny’s Pizza and Africola which are loose but still have great food.
There is so much to celebrate about South Australia – the produce, the chefs, the natural beauty and the people!
Also it is home to so many of our favourite MasterChef alumni like Jessie Spiby, Callum Hann, Andre Ursini, Rose Adam, Eloise Praino, Laura Cassai and the Poh-ster (Poh Ling Yeow).
George Calombaris
Because MasterChef Australia just filmed there!
People make a place and the people of South Australia are just beautiful.
Love the produce. Love the food. Love the restaurants.
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