Shopping: The Fresh Fish Place

Shopping: The Fresh Fish Place

www.portlincolnseafood.com.au

Port Lincoln

On a recent visit to Port Lincoln, I was hard pressed to find a seafood shop believe it or not. Surprising that a town known for its tuna and Coffin Bay only up the road famous for its oysters, that the town isn't bursting with its local catch.

I was soon led to the Industrial area near the racetrack where the famous Makybe Diva grew to be a champion.

The shop not only had local catch, but local artist's work. I came home with a quirky little painting of a yellow fin tuna... perfect for the kitchen!

This is a working fish shop. An industrial shed used for the wholesale market sits out the back. The selection wasn't huge for the time we were there (January), but I managed to get some "spiders", scallops and kingfish.

As would be expected, the fish was irresistibly fresh. I have really grown to love Port Lincoln, and its fishing industry is truly what makes it special. The staff at Fresh Fish Place, were friendly, helpful and the prices were ridiculously cheap.

Restaurant: The Oysterbeds Good Food House

Restaurant: The Oysterbeds Good Food House

61 Esplanade

Coffin Bay

Approximately 40kms from Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula is the picturesque town of Coffin Bay. Home to less than 700 people, the summer sees the town swell to 3000. It is no wonder why, as the bay is not only picture postcard perfect, but is home to an abundance of sea life drawing fishermen and nature lovers alike. The town was discovered by the famous explorer, Mathew Flinders in 1802 and was named after his friend Sir Isaac Coffin. I did find that bit of information a bit disappointing. I liked to think "coffin" may have had to do with a casket of some description as opposed to just the name of an explorer's friend!

Being a foodie and oyster lover, it was a given that while holidaying in Port Lincoln, I had to take the pilgrimage to Coffin Bay for their famous oysters. Driving into town, the beautiful bay welcomed me with oyster beds, and across the road sat the Oysterbeds restaurant.

A cute, mainly outdoor restaurant drew us in with their amazing specials board. I was of course, on the hunt for oysters but was tempted by a number of things on offer. We were disappointed that there were no outside tables left, but settled inside after ordering from the friendly bar staff.

Inside, the walls were covered in a local photographer's work. Interesting art, but something in the restaurant seems to be missing. Perhaps its the 90s style chairs, it just lacked character. Also unfortunate was the fact that the smokers outside were sitting close to the door, allowing the toxic smell to filter into the inside of the restaurant. The music playing was great. A Leonard Cohen tribute album played while we had lunch... a great choice! I noticed they occasionally have live music as well. I can't think of anything better.... looking out at the Bay and the oyster beds that call it home, while eating oysters, drinking Sauv Blanc and listening to some live Jazz.

We had a bottle of Adelaide Hills wine, "The Lane" ($38). Not a bad drop, but not near the quality of a good NZ Sauvy. The Adelaide Hills are getting better and better but I think we are still a few years out from having a Sauv Blanc to rival the Kiwis! The kids had the regular blood orange pelligrinni, which unfortunately was forgotten by the waitress. Quickly rectified, the kids enjoyed a couple as we leisurely drank our wine and took in the view.

With so many choices of different ways to have my heavenly oysters, I finally settled on 1/2 doz natural ($11) and 1/2 doz Chilli Teaser ($14). The oysters were so fresh just as you would expect. How lucky is South Australia to have the BEST oysters in the world!? The oysters were perfect. I loved the touch of the little seashells on the salt. A great presentation. Drawn back later in the week for a day of fishing out on the bay, we went back to the Oysterbeds and I tried the lime and sweet chilli ($12) with the natural. All were equally as wonderful and fresh.

As much as I loved my oysters, the stand out dish was definitely the Coconut Lime Calamari and Prawns ($20e/$32m). A flawless dish with so much flavour. The batter was so light, it was almost non-existent, just there to hold the flavour. The crunchy salad was a great contrast. On our second trip to the Oysterbeds, we ordered the Salt and Pepper Calamari and Prawn special. It was just as good. Using dukkah as the batter in that case was an interesting and welcome to change to the regular Salt and Pepper seasoning.

The Sashimi of Kingfish and Bluefin Tuna ($20) was fresh and served simply in a Japanese style. Although incredibly fresh and tender, the price tag of $20 seemed a bit excessive. It was quite a small serve for that cost.

The kids menu was fantastic. Loads of choices from Scotch Fillet, to Fish to the decided Ham and Cheese Pizza ($8.90). Not only were there 3 different types of pizza to choose from, the base was obviously homemade and the ham was beautiful pieces cut from the bone.

The menu was definitely a seafood lovers menu, but I don't think that a person would struggle to find something appealing that wasn't seafood. I have fallen in love with the beautiful Coffin Bay and its fresh bounty. The Oysterbeds is a showboat of local delights and well worth the visit.

Restaurant: The Bridgewater Mill

Restaurant: The Bridgewater Mill

http://www.petaluma.com.au/?show=restaurant

Mt Barker Rd

Bridgewater, SA

If you are looking for that "special" place for lunch in the Adelaide Hills, you just can't get past the Bridgewater Mill. The Mill has set a gold class standard when it comes to both that business and the romantic lunch. It is one of THE special occasion restaurants and is a must-do for restaurant lovers.

The Mill was actually the first water powered flour mill to operate in South Australia in the 1860s. It is a beautiful bluestone building that not only houses the amazing restaurant, but an equally amazing cellar door.

(photo from their web site)

The Mill's chef, Le Tu Thai is nothing short of brilliant. A Vietnamese boat refugee, that started out as a kitchen hand at 16, he is now easily one of Australia's best chefs. I love a feel good story of hardship and success and Le Tu Thai's story is one of those that truly tug at your heart. He was originally from Vietnam, and fled Saigon with his sister, leaving his Chinese parents behind in 1978. After arriving off Australia's northern coast, they were relocated from Darwin to Adelaide. Le started working in 1979 washing dishes in a a French restaurant, and the rest is history as they say. The chef of L'Epicurean (Jean Mahe) , took Le under his wing and he moved from kitchen hand to chef. He cemented his reputation at the Mill, and continues to surprise and delight through his ever-changing menu. The food at the Mill is definitely French, but Le uniquely weaves his Asian heritage into the dishes.

Doubling with a cellar door definitely has its perks, particularly for wine lovers! Their range is varied(see list https://www.petaluma.com.au/ssl/process.php) catering to all. The Sauv Blanc is one of the best in Australia so it was only fitting that I indulged in one of my all-time favourite wines while dining at its namesake restaurant.

Trying to lay off the bread was pretty much impossible. The crusty warm roll was just too inviting.

You know when you are going to have a great lunch, when even the side green salad ($9) is a work of art. So pretty, and seriously.... the tomatoes were so sweet and fresh, I was expecting to see a veggie patch below us. The pure sweet tomato taste was reminiscent of my childhood, eating veggies from our extensive garden.

I started with the Wild Venisone Terrine with White Anchovy, tarragon aioli and frisee ($27). A beautifully executed dish. I don't taste the "wild" taste of venison in Australia, I suppose growing up in Canada and eating truly wild venison, I expect a more gamey taste. To be honest, I thought the terrine not only lacked that gamey taste I crave, but any taste at all. However, the little baby cornicans were cute and crunchy and the rolled anchovy was a fantastic addition.

Also ordered as an entree was the soup of the day...Hot and Sour Carrot and Coriander soup with Sesame Oil($24). What a brilliant soup. The sour after taste of the tamarind was perfect, and the coriander was subtle and wonderful. The only complaint I can come up with is it was a bit too large of a serve.

Awwwwww the pork belly. Look, I know that some people have a problem with it, and yes... it IS basically fat. Crispy on the top, chewy throughout.......... but full of flavour. I love Asian food, and pork belly is a welcome addition to many Asian dishes. The marriage of pork belly in this case of Braised Pork Belly with Seared Scallops, Bean and Pork Crackling Salad, Tamarind Glaze ($28) with the scallops was fantastic. The crunchy little salad was light and crunchy, a nice contrast to the rich pork and scallops.

I followed my entree with Salmon Tartare with Swet Pea Panna Cotta, Beetroot and Vinaigrette ($26). I loved the way this looked when it came out! Such delicate flavours. Wonderful and light. I never thought that beetroot and salmon would work so well together, but it really did. Definitely the highlight dish of the meal as far as I'm concerned.

Very rarely do I order dessert, but I just couldn't miss out after reading the dessert menu and I certainly wasn't disappointed. I had the Lemon glace souffle with Vanilla and Walnut Sable, Croser Curd and Cassis Foam ($18). I seriously was reluctant to eat this when it came out........just beautifully presented! Loved all the flavours together. Wonderful wonderful. LOVED the cassis foam.

Also ordered was the Passionfruit Tart with Almond Florentine, Apricot Yoghurt and Strawberry Parfait ($18). The strawberry parfait was excellent. Again, so beautifully presented,!

We finished with some spectacular coffee. What a lovely lunch. Even making the booking, I was already impressed by the friendliness of the staff. It was a beautiful summer day,and the veranda was a lovely place to sit to watch the wheel of the mill turn the water around. Financially, the Bridgewater Mill is not a place you could go every week, but it is certainly is a great special occasion spot. It always surprises me how a chef that has been entrenched at the same place for so long, can continue to surprise me.

Restaurant: The Grosvener Hotel

Restaurant: The Grosvenor Hotel

Ocean Street

Victor Harbor

http://www.grosvenorvictor.com.au/index.html

(photos above from their website)

This old hotel in Victor Harbor is one of a few hotels in the small seaside town, and is argueabley the most enduring. The 100 year old building has located on the corner of Ocean St brings character on the busy tourist street.

The staff are generally very friendly here. A couple in particular are very attentive. I think the place suffers from the transient staff issue that most small town pubs contend with. Old wooden door fridges behind the bar are just fabulous. I would love to have them in my home. Beyond that however, the decor is pretty boring. A unique thing about the place, is its famous electric train that traces around the edge of the ceiling through the restaurant and bar. Kids have always talked about that train, but unfortunately it more often than not not running.

The menu is basic pub food.. but its good. I have always had a good steak here, and the cheap steak nights make it worth while.

The Grosvenor's claim to fame is having the best Chicken Parmigiana in town. It isn't the usual thing I would order, but by all accounts it is really good

The veggie bar is generally good, and is mostly well stocked.

The Grosvenor is just your basic town pub. Victor really lacks in the dining seen particularly with the competition a short drive away in nearby Port Elliot. They have developed a beer garden round the side, which is a fantastic addition and is getting a lot of use with interesting functions. It may be the highlight of the place.

Restaurant:The Star of Greece Cafe

Restaurant: The Star of Greece Cafe

1 The Esplanade

Port Willunga

Overlooking the stunning waters at Port Willunga sits the iconic restaurant, The Star of Greece. A very popular leisurely lunch spot, this would have to be one of my favourite restaurants of all time. I have been lucky enough to not once have a bad meal here. A credit to the management and the chefs they choose.

The name can confuse, as this is NOT a Greek restaurant. It is named after a ship of the same name that hit bottom here in 1888. The ship was a solid, three masted iron ship, that couldn't fight the "once in a hundred year storm". It is hard to imagine that 18 men died as the remains of the ship lie not too far off shore. She ran aground at 3am however, and it wasn't until dawn that she was spotted. A rescue attempt didn't even get started until late afternoon. Over a hundred years have passed, and the wreck is now a popular dive site, being one of the easiest wrecks to access in the state. Check out this web site for photos of the wreck: http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/blog/lamposts/diving_on_the_star_of_greece.php

A beautiful summer day and a visit from my Grandma from Canada brought us to The Star of Greece for lunch. The scenery was breath taking. It was a perfect summer day with the sun sparkling on the different hues of the ocean. Like a postcard. The restaurant itself doesn't look anything spectacular, almost like a shack on the edge of the cliffs. Inside is quaint and cosy. Wine bottles from various special occasions line the the perimeter shelving and tables are crammed in as tight as they can be! Mismatched chairs and crockery set the scene for a casual feeling lunch.

We were lucky enough to be there the first day of their new menu. I haven't found the new menu online, but trust me... its amazing. I had a very hard time to choose what to eat. After having some bread to start with the most amazing olive oil (so fresh and no rancid after taste at all), we had the Poached Prawn, salmon roe, avocado mousse, tomato jelly and dandelion leaves ($19).

What a pretty dish! The flavours were so delicate and subtle. Just wonderful particularly on a hot summer day. The textures were spot-on. The chewy prawns, crunchy lettuce, the smooth jelly and avocado...perfect. The bowl they came in was really neat, very shallow, almost like a plate with a really wide rim that sloped downwards. Have to get me some of those!

To accompany our amazing food, I had a Shaw and Smith Sauv Blanc ($9) and Grandma settled on a lovely sparkling. Hesketh "The Proposition". Grandma loves her bubbles.

At this point we were entirely happy with our lunch. Everything was perfect. The staff were great, view fantastic, food amazing. We were served our drinks, bread and entre relatively quickly, and then to our disappointment, our main took a very long time to come out. Fair enough a large Xmas party table was seated in that time, but it got to the point where I had to ask about our next course. Despite this .... what eventually DID come was just amazing.

You know when you have one of those dishes that you reflect on, and remember forever as the "perfect" this or that.... well this is it. The perfect salad. Hands down the BEST salad I have EVER had. Ruby Red Salad- beeroot, watermelon,raspberry,red cabbage, goats curd and maple dressing ($17). I don't even know were to begin with this..... first of all if you have read my other posts, you would know I LOVE goats curd. I also love beetroot and the combination of the two is a match made in heaven. Watermelon in salad is the surprise ingredient of all my favourite summer salads and raspberries are my all-time favourite fruit. It was like chef Harley Ireland made this salad just for me! Again, the textures were varied with the crunchy cabbage to the smooth goats curd. The tart raspberries cut through the sweetness of the maple dressing perfectly. I can't find one thing wrong with this salad.

The new menu at the Star of Greece is one of the best menus I have seen. There is a strong focus on South Australian food from KI Haloumi, to Port Willunga Squid, Coffin Bay Oysters, King George Whiting....it goes on.

Our food was amazing. I don't know the chef's history (however google is going to get a work-out on that) but the attention to detail in colours, flavours and textures is incredible. I can't wait to go back.