Best brewers, Fringe fare & a special gin launch
Food and drink happenings in SA, including the Best of Adelaide Brewers Festival this weekend in Port Adelaide, food and drink-themed Fringe shows, the launch of Gin Pangolin at Howling Owl, and a Vegan Fiesta at Fine and Fettle café.
BOAB Fest – February 15-16
The Best of Adelaide Brewers Festival is coming to The Flour Shed Port Adelaide this weekend, featuring beers from around 25 SA microbreweries including Clare Valley Brewing, Goodieson Brewery, Ministry of Beer, Brew Boys, South Coast Brewing, Big Shed, Lady Burra, Robetown Brewery, Prancing Pony and Pikes. There will also be gin, wine, cider, cold-brewed coffee, espresso martinis, food vans and live music. The beer will be flowing from the Friday evening, with the festival continuing across Saturday afternoon.
Fringe food and drink – February / March
The Forager has scoured this year’s Adelaide Fringe program for food and drink-themed shows. This is just a taste:
The Wine Science Show (National Wine Centre, Feb 14-20) – A show hosted by wine industry veteran and comedian Luke Morris which answers questions such as “how much wine you can drink, why you drink, and how come Hungarians are dangerous with Champagne”.
Beer v Wine Degustation (Barossa Valley Brewing, March 1 & 9) – This event includes a tour of Barossa Valley Brewing’s Tanunda brewery, six beers, five wines, a five-course dinner (featuring winemakers and brewers) and a chance to vote for the best beer/wine of the night.
Just Desserts with Michelle Pearson.
Comfort Food Cabaret (Adelaide Central Market, Feb 16-24) and Just Desserts (Treasury 1860 courtyard, from Feb 28)– Singing cook Michelle Pearson returns to Fringe this year with her cooking-meets-music show Comfort Food Cabaret, this time in the Community Kitchen at Adelaide Central Market. Pearson is also premiering a new adults-only tasting, Just Desserts, which is inspired by her grandfather, who was a chocolate maker in the Barossa Valley.
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PitchFork: ASQ + Post Dining (Masonic Lodge foyer, March 5-7) – The Adelaide String Quartet has joined with food experience folk Post Dining for this interactive sensory show combining works by classic and contemporary composers with complementary bites.
Flavoured Music (Union Hall, February 24): Adelaide Chamber Orchestra is presenting this show at new Grote Street performance venue Union Hall, promising a “cantata of canapes”. Think the likes of “Champagne with Chopin, Sav Blanc with Stravinsky, Pinot with Puccini and Shiraz with Schubert”.
Traditional Tomato Passata Experience – February 15
Participants will get a taste of the traditional Italian tomato sauce-making experience at this day hosted by The Foodprint Experience in Franklin Street. The event – which costs $95 plus booking fee – begins with the sauce making and bottling (everyone gets a bottle to take home), and includes a group cook-up and shared table experience including pasta napolitana, fresh salads, sourdough and dessert, plus SA biodynamic wines.
Gin Pangolin industry launch + bar takeover – February 16
The third Saturday of February is World Pangolin Day. So it’s a fitting date for Adelaide producer Blend Etiquette to launch its new Gin Pangolin – a spirit created to highlight the plight of the endangered pangolin, a scaly anteater considered one of the most trafficked animals on the planet. The launch will be held at The Howling Owl in the East End, with gin tastings and sales, martinis, food and music. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for updates and tickets, and read this CityMag story to find out more about both pangolins and the gin made in their name.
Vegan Fiesta at Fettle – February 21
Fine and Fettle café in Stepney is launching a new monthly vegan night on February 21, with both single-serve and share-plate offerings as well as vegan wine and cocktails. “Think tofu & cabbage dumplings, broadbean falafel, eggplant san choy bau and much more,” says the Facebook event page. Bookings and details here.
Pop-Up Plant-Based Summer Series – February 22
Promising unlimited plant-based pizzas and sides all night, this $40pp event is being hosted by Forage Supply Co and Wholly Belly at the latter’s wood-fired kitchen on Magill Road in Norwood. The pizzas will include creative toppings such as the Forage Jackfruit (pulled chipolte jackfruit, red sauce base, spanish onion, jalapenos + fresh basil), and the Super Green (kale, baby spinach, caramelised onion, grilled broccoli, capers, za’atar + cashew cheese), plus there will be wine tasting, and wine and sangria specials all night.
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Hello Fridays Celebrates World Margarita Day – February 22
Lot Fourteen (at the old RAH site on North Terrace) is kicking off its 2019 Hello Fridays sessions with a World Margarita Day event from 4-8pm on February 22. There will be drinks from Propaganda and live music in The Chapel; details here.
Hains & Co 4th Birthday – February 23
Gilbert Place small bar Hains & Co is throwing a sailor party next Saturday to celebrate its fourth birthday. “Expect cargo loads of gin and rum, plenty of the Hains favourite sea pigs (sausage rolls), and our fancy new tacos going around.” Oh, and gifts for the “sauciest” sailor garb.
15 Shades of Rosé at 2KW – February 23
The love affair with rosé continues with this afternoon event at 2KW which will showcase 15 styles of the wine from across Australia, France, Austria and Italy, alongside what is described as an “epic Mediterranean outdoor feast” by chef Trent Lymn. Tickets for 15 Shades of Rosé are $99 and the dress code is pink and white. Read more about the event in this CityMag story.
Summer of Riesling 2019 – February 23
Celebrating a different kind of grape will be this Edinburgh Hotel and Cellars’ event featuring more than 60 Rieslings from a range of regions. SA wineries represented will include Jim Barry, Henschke, d’Arenberg, Rieslingfreak and Ministry of Clouds. Summer of Riesling is on from 2-5pm at the Mitcham hotel, with tickets costing $10.
Mismatch v Little Bang at Lucky’s Beach Club – February 27
This three-course, “no-cutlery” dinner at Stepney pop-up Lucky’s Beach Club will feature shared-plate dishes matched to eight beers from SA brewers Mismatch and Little Bang. Tickets are $60.
Cellar Door Fest – March 15
A Cellar Door Fest masterclass. Photo: supplied
The Adelaide Convention Centre’s three-day food, wine, beer and spirits festival returns in 2019 with tastings, interactive masterclasses (including gin blending and cheese + wine), long-table dining and an Emerging Winemakers’ Zone. New features will include “Dude Food” in the Wintulichs’ Beer Garden, a New Orleans-inspired long-table lunch by NOLA Adelaide, and a long-table dinner presented by Jacob’s Creek. A range of ticket options are available – see the website for details.
Magnum Champagne Dinner – March 21
To be hosted by Champagne expert Tyson Stelzer, this $299-a-head dinner degustation at Sprout Cooking School will see five Champagnes (including the likes of Bollinger Special Cuvee NV and Pol Roger Vintage Brut – all served in magnums) matched to five courses including oysters, scallop carpaccio, chicken liver parfait, confit salmon and duck. Read more in thisForager story, and book tickets here.
News, tips and information?
Please send details of any upcoming food and/or drink events to: [email protected].
