100 things you must eat in SA

LOOSEN your belt and feast your eyes on this bucket list of the state's best food experiences.

SA's Top 100 Food Experiences: Part 9.

REVIEWS: Simon Wilkinson, Dianne Mattsson, Tony Love, Kylie Fleming, Katie Spain, Renato Castello, Michelangelo Rucci, Tory Shepherd, David Jean

Super vegies at Patlin Gardens

Patlin Gardens fruit and vegetables.

Every Sunday morning, the line snakes out past the stacked bunches of carrot (orange, purple and golden), around the bin of squeaky fresh corn, and down along the shelves of celery, fennel and leek. Patlin’s loyal band of customers are prepared to wait for their chance to buy vegies of quality and variety rarely seen elsewhere — from the pretty tie-dye pattern of watermelon radish, to crisp kohlrabi, to a range of Italian bitter greens you’ll normally only find in a backyard patch. If you need convincing, owner and chief spruiker Pat D’Onofrio is happy to hand out samples ... try the raw turnip and you’ll be amazed.

While you’re there: Buy tins or bottles of olive oil in different grades.

Adelaide Farmers Market
Leader St, Wayville
9am-1pm Sunday; 8231 5115
www.adelaidefarmersmarket.com.au 

Blackberry & lemon tart

Urrbrae High School blackberry lemon tarts

Tarts and pastries made by students at this agricultural high school make for a feel-good Saturday afternoon tea. The blackberry juice puddles around the curd and spills over the pastry, sometimes softening its edges, but no matter, it’s made with love. Pastries are usually on offer, some beautifully packaged in cellophane with bows, alongside the school’s produce, breads, olives, oils, wine and eggs, helped along by guest stallholders selling larger quantities of fresh fruit and veg. Picture: Weekendnotes.com

While you’re there: Try the school’s shiraz, great value for a barbie at $8.

Urrbrae Barn Market
505 Fullarton Rd, Netherby
9am-noon first Saturday of month; 8372 6955
www.urrbraehs.sa.edu.au 

Winter citrus at Fat Goose Fruits

Riverland citrus

A wedge of glistening, juice-filled navel orange, fresh from the Riverland, is one of the joys of a South Australian winter, and they don’t come any better than the bags of fruit sold by this organic producer. The “fat goose” is more than a cute name — a flock of the birds wander between the trees on the Renmark property, keeping down weeds and dispensing with any fallen fruit before it rots. Look out also for limes, grapefruit and persimmons.

While you’re there: Grab a glass of orange juice.

Willunga and Adelaide Farmers Markets
Willunga Town Sq, St Peters Tce, Willunga
8am-12.30pm Saturday
www.willungafarmersmarket.com.au 

Potato roschti

Potato roschti.

A giant blob of shredded potato roschti goes splat on the barbecue, with thick streaks of bacon, the aroma drawing people into a lengthening line. It’s not long to wait for the stack, finished with sour cream, homemade tomato relish, herbs and flowers. That’s some breakfast/brunch, good reward for arriving early.

While you’re there: Look for giant bowls of those edible flowers, Goolwa cockles, local avocados and super Cornish pasties.

Victor Harbor markets
Torrens St, Victor Harbor
8am-12.30pm Saturday
www.victorharborfarmersmarket.com.au 

Egg & bacon roll

Barossa farmers market.

In a community where the production of smallgoods and preserves are steeped in almost as much tradition as the wine, you would expect a roll such as this to be a cracker. As so it proves with this staple of the market crowd — a combination of Barossa Heritage Free Range Pork bacon, Waechter’s free range egg, onion, a big choice of chutneys and relishes, all jammed in one of Eleni’s buns. You’ll see all these producers and more in the market stalls that have everything you need for the weekly shop.

While you’re there: Take home one of Saskia Beer’s chooks or Hutton Vale lamb for a weekend roast.

Barossa Farmers Market
Cnr Nuriootpa and Stockwell roads, Angaston
7.30-11.30 Saturdays
www.barossafarmersmarket.com 

Quiche

Apton Field Quiche at Mt Pleasant Farmers Market.

The champion quiche in these parts and winner of the Mount Pleasant Show title — what else can you add. Even men eat these. Eden Valley home and family cook Pat Pevreall has perfected these delights for 40 years. She and husband Tony live on three acres, one of which is all daffodils. On the rest they grow their own fruit and vegies and keep chickens, the home produce going as much as possible into these multi-styled rich and filling quiches. After that they source the rest of the ingredients from co-producers at the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market. Now that’s authentic.

While you’re there: Try free-range, grass-fed beef at Pebbly Range Limousins from Tungkillo, and oranges, orange juice, lemons, limes, cakes and almonds at DJs Citrus from Nildottie.

Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
Showgrounds, Melrose St, Mount Pleasant
www.mpfm.org.au 

Fresh whiting roll

King George whiting.

Nothing fancy, just a sensational fresh piece of fish with salt and pepper in buttered soft white bread. It’s a lovely way to start the day at this moving market that crops up in a variety of Eyre Peninsula towns.

While you’re there: At the Streaky Bay event, look out for local restaurant Mocean which does seasoned crumbed stingray (in season) with aioli in cute cones.

Eyre Peninsula Farmer and Fishermen's market
Various venues and dates
www.epfarmersmarket.com

Organic Apple Juice

Kalangadoo organic apple juice.

Clear or cloudy, the jury is out on which one we prefer, so we have to buy large flagons of both made by apple grower Kalangadoo Organic. The juice is sweet in a natural way, not sickly at all, and despite the quantity it disappears in days. As well as drinking on its own, or with a little water or soda, it is good for sprinkling into desserts such as bread and butter pud, and over ice cream. Feel the love at this charming country market which includes a community stall with homemade goodies, flowers and veg.

While you're there: Look out for native ingredients from local grower Outback Pride.

Kalangadoo Farmers Market
Eliza St, Kalangadoo
10am-1pm Saturdays
www.kalangadoofarmersmarket.com 

Spring rolls & soup

Kangaroo Island market.

It might not be what you expect from the island, but a local lady makes spring rolls with great expertise. They are excellent to dunk in one of the vegie soups at the stall next door, made with donated produce, the proceeds aiding local causes. It’s part of the generously beating heart of this monthly market on a windswept grassy reserve, a short walk from the ferry terminal.

While you’re there: Sealink offers special walk-on rates on market days, so spend a day exploring Penneshaw.

Kangaroo Island market
Lloyd Collins Reserve, Penneshaw
9.30am-1pm first Sunday of the month
www.goodfoodkangarooisland.com 

Cupcakes

Cupcakes from Small Bites and Beyond.

Set on a signature green backdrop, the cupcakes by Kylie Tooth of Small Bites and Beyond crop up at many markets, most regularly at Fullarton. The are simple, light and topped with a lipsmacking swirl of lemony frosting. The coffee/choc, banana cakes and hot pastries are also great.

While you’re there: Fullarton is a large market of about 80 mixed stalls. Look for thickly sugared Greek biscuits, puddings at Christmas, local garden veg and potted herbs.

Fullarton Community Market
411 Fullarton Rd, Fullarton;
9am-1pm fourth Saturday of each month
www.fullartonmarket.com.au