3 / 4 Mt Barker Road
Stirling
I love a day in the Adelaide Hills, and Stirling would have to be one of my favourite spots. Although it was winter when we stopped here for lunch, there were still remnants of autumn leaves around. Stirling is a pretty little town, especially in the autumn. The trees are awash with golds and reds... just stunning. The warm fireplace inside Tranquilo was so inviting on a cold winter day, and we were seated next to the window. Perfect for people watching!
The wine list focussed on South Australian wines almost exclusively, and had tasting notes for each. A nice addition to a wine list! I am so impressed with South Australian restaurants taking advantage of and promoting their own state's abundance of great wine and produce. The prices were very reasonable as well, hovering around $7 a glass.
We were obviously famished when we arrived, as we polished off the dukkah before I even thought of taking a photo! It really was the best dukkah I have ever had. It had a lemony taste to it that cut through the nuts and seeds perfectly.
I had the Beef Bourguignon ($23.90). What a great comfort food on a cold day! Braised beef cheeks, Kanmantoo bacon and seasonal vegetables in a rich red wine gravy, served in a tagine with mashed roasted potato. Fantastic meal. I love anything served in a tagine. It is such a dramatic presentation, and make the most basic of stews look like a gourmet meal. The beef cheeks were tender to the point of melting in my mouth, and there was barely a hint of the red wine........a perfect beef bourguignon. Julia Child and Elizabeth David eat your heart out!
My husband had the South Australian Whiting ($21.50) .Coopers Ale Battered Fillets served with garden salad and saffron aioli. He was disappointed in this dish, as the fish didn't have a lot of flavour. The saffron aioli was really good though.
The coffee was very nice, and had information about the beans, the milk they use (Tweedvale Dairy in the Adelaide Hills) and an explanation of each type of coffee you could order. What a neat idea! Although we didn't have any dessert, the truffle tasting plate from South Australian chocolatier Cocolat, sounded like a GREAT idea!
What an enjoyable comforting lunch! Great for a winter day. The stand-out thing about this restaurant however, is its commitment to South Australian wine and produce! Good job!
