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 8.

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

Pumpkin, pea & sweet chilli risotto ball

News_Image_File: Pumpkin, pea and sweet chilli risotto ball from Let Them Eat.

From an all vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free menu list, this is finger food at its best — and healthy to boot. A big, fist-sized risotto ball in coloured layers, and neatly balanced between savoury and carbo-sweetness, this proves once and for all that vego food will satisfy and fill, a surprising treat as part of a platter or on the go.

While you're there: Try the mixed salad bowls or a fabulous leek and gruyere tart.

Let Them Eat
18 Elizabeth St, Croydon
8340 8872
www.let-them-eat.com.au 

Sheep’s Milk Yoghurt

News_Image_File: The Gaganis Bros warehouse.

Greek yoghurt has become a ubiquitous plain white “brand” in itself, but this takes it to another level, produced here in SA from Kangaroo Island’s famed milking sheep flock, fresh and deliciously tangy with that distinctive sheep milk note. Great in more savoury modes like tzatziki and in Greek and Turkish salad dressings and dips, and conveniently sold in 500g tubs or 4kg plastic buckets.

While you're there: Stock up on the Gaganis-branded white flour for home breads, and huge tins of dolmades.

Gaganis Bros
9-13 Bacon St, Hindmarsh
8346 5766
www.gaganisbros.com.au

Baguettes

News_Image_File: Baguette from Aux Fines Bouche.

One of our great suburban secrets, a boulangerie by the beach. It's a good thing Aux Fines Bouches’ baguettes are only available on a Saturday morning, because when they arrive home still warm from the oven and are spread with good butter and jam, it’s hard to stop at one. Then again Frenchman Richard Le Deunff’s little piece of Paris is filled with plenty of little treats for the rest of the week, from little citron or pecan tarts to spectacular larger gateaux.

While you’re there: Look out for a monthly lunch menu.

Aux Fines Bouches
496 Brighton Rd, Brighton
8377 2328
www.facebook.com/auxfinesbouches 

Spring Gully Sweet Mustard Pickle

News_Image_File: Spring Gully Foods products.

When Spring Gully was in financial trouble last year, South Australia realised what a treasure its traditional mustards, pickles and gherkins were and what a diminished culinary landscape we would have without them. These are a flavour we know and love from our childhood — from sandwiches to cold meat salads and much, much more. Full of chopped vegies, sweet, mildly spiced so the kids can spread it without fear, this is an essential, everyday pantry item for every SA household.

While you’re there: Try the corn relish, sweet spiced gherkins and pickled onions.

Most supermarkets or Spring Gully Foods shop
Unit 3/ 38 Commercial Court, Cavan Rd, Dry Creek
8262 7555
www.springgullyfoods.com.au 

Croissants

News_Image_File: Croissants from Boulangerie 113.

Is there a better croissant in town? These crisp, flaky crescents are so full of buttery goodness that you don’t need anything extra to make them scrumptious — but, go on, have it with a spoonful of thick strawberry conserve if you must. Jeremy Mavromatakis also makes excellent sourdough bread, danishes and other treats at this bakery between the tram line and Capri cinema.

While you’re there: Have your croissant filled with chocolate. Yum.

Boulangerie 113
113 Goodwood Rd, Goodwood
8373 2482
www.facebook.com/BoulangerieII3 

Flat bread

News_Image_File: Traditional Afghan bread.

This unassuming corner store, recently renovated and expanded to cope with its growing cult status, serves up deadly charcoal-grilled, while-you-wait kebabs, and an awesome half chilli chicken dish with rice, plus all manner of variations on these Afghan classics. And out the back a bakery hums all day producing the flat breads that serve as the wraps, as well as being packaged in big bags to take away. Topped up regularly during the day, the bread is soft, pliable, slightly charry and brilliant for home meals, dips, and fast pizza bases.

While you're there: Try the mixed kebab and the non-alcoholic pomegranate “beer” soft drink.

Lawash Bakery Kebab Shop
115 South Rd, Hindmarsh
8354 0707 

B.-d. Farm Paris Creek Butter

News_Image_File: B.-d Farm Paris Creek.

Starting out as very local Adelaide Hills artisan milk providers, German couple Helmut and Ulli Spranz have succeeded in branching out into a wide range of white cheeses, yoghurts and flavoured milks that have made a name as a one of Australia’s premium organic and biodynamic dairy foods producers — not just in health food shops but now major supermarkets as well. Their unsalted butter in a silver wrapped brick is handmade from unhomogenised pure cream and has a wonderfully fresh and unadulterated old-fashioned country butter flavour perfect for sweeter baked goods.

While you're there: Try the Nuage Blanc fresh white cheese and the bush honey yoghurt.

Paris Creek Dairy
Paris Creek Rd, Paris Creek
8388 3339
www.bdfarmpariscreek.com.au 

Kangaroo Island Honey

News_Image_File: Kangaroo Island Honey.

KI honey is revered because it comes from a pure strain of original Italian bees that came to the islands in the 1880s, now a rare natural resource. The honey comes mostly from the island’s native flora rather than introduced, with flowering eucalypts leading the way. Cup gum is a lighter style, more delicate in flavour than the wildflower version which is richer and more robust. Both are organic.

While you're there: Try the creamed honey and the honeycomb.

Hog Bay Apiary
South Tce, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island
8553 1237
www.users.on.net/~hogbay 

Beerenberg Tomato Sauce

News_Image_File: Beerenberg tomato sauce and jams.

Now relabelled as the cute but complicated “This Tomato Sauce pours slower than Anthony tees off”, it’s proof that the strawberry mecca at Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills is more than just a jam factory. There are real tomatoes in here, bright red ones, and they ooze out of the bottle as if nana made it at home. No sausage roll, burger or meatball should go without it. Available in many supermarket and food outlets, trek to Hahndorf to get it from the source.

While you’re there: Try the Taka Tala marinade and pick your own strawberries.

Beerenberg
Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf
8388 7272
www.beerenberg.com.au 

Zeppoli

News_Image_File: Panini Brothers.

Italy’s version of a doughnut, but with a firmer, chewier consistency — and without a hole in the centre. With origins in southern Italy, the sugar-coated pastry, deep-fried in vegetable oil, remains a celebrated tradition here, especially at Christmas. These torpedo-shaped morsels come plain or stuffed with blueberry and chocolate, and are as close as you can get to many families’ home-cooked treats. Heat them up or eat them cold — whichever way it’s difficult to stop at just one.

While you're there: Try their classic sfogliatelli pastry or their own amped up vanilla slice known as “diplomatica”.

Panini Brothers
Newton Village, 299 Montacute Rd, Newton
8337 0381
www.paninibrothers.net.au

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