Passionate foodie and health coach opens Hahndorf cafe celebrating local procuce

PASSIONATE foodie Erica Rushbrook, who has run real-food tours at the Central Market for years, has opened a cafe and providore in Hahndorf.

Erica Rushbrook at her new Hahndorf providore and cafe, Hahn & Hamlin. Picture: DYLAN COKER

NEW Adelaide Hills food destination Hahn and Hamlin is celebrating local producers — off the shelf and on the plate.

Named after Hahndorf founders, captain Dirk Hahn and Thomas Hamlin, the cafe and providore offers artisan-made products from across SA.

“Ninety-five per cent of what we have here is produced in South Australia,” says Erica Rushbrook, who co-owns the cafe and store with partner Joseph Gallasch.

“Our apples are grown 100m from the back door,” she adds.

Erica Rushbrook at her new Hahndorf providore cafe and event space Hahn & Hamlin in Hahndorf. Photo: Dylan Coker

Erica has worked in restaurants and wineries, and as a health and nutrition coach for more than 15 years.

“Food has always been something I’ve been passionate about,” she says. “I’ve been doing real-food tours of the Central Market for a few years now as well as workshops and cooking classes.”

Her winter menu includes locally made yoghurt with muesli and apple and rhubarb compote, charcuterie boards, seasonal soups and casseroles. Then of course there’s coffee, as well as gourmet hot chocolates (shot of salted brandy caramel, anyone?), chai and matcha.

The 40-seater cafe and store is sited in a heritage cottage built in the late 1800s and has exposed stone walls and a fireplace.

“It’s cosy, but we’ve brought a modern edge to it,” says Erica.

“Hahn & Hamlin is a joint effort between both my partner and myself, and so we each bring a part of ourselves to the business. I gained a lot of inspiration from the year I spent studying in New York. The bakeries, the delicatessens, the cheesemongers — so many beautifully merchandised and character-filled stores selling an abundance of grocery and ready-to-eat food items.

Hahndorf providore, cafe and event space Hahn & Hamlin Photo: Dylan Coker

“I wanted in part to bring some of this to Hahn & Hamlin and create a space that offered an exciting sensory experience, but also made accessing quality food South Australian food easy, and enjoyable.”

In addition to sourcing local produce, Erica and Joseph have endeavoured to make many items on the menu available for retail sale.

“If a visitor enjoys an olive oil, honey or tea from the cafe menu, they are also able to take some home as a souvenir or gift,” Erica says. Items might include Hood’s Earth Eggs, Woodside Cheese Wrights cheese, Little Acre Foods pate and Mojo kombucha.

“We’re part providore, part gift shop, part workshop space, part art gallery, part function venue and part cafe, but we hope it all blends seamlessly together to create its own kind of magic,” Erica says.

Thu-Mon 10am-4pm, 79 Mt Barker Rd, Hahndorf, hahnandhamlin.com.au