6 minute read
DOUGH-EM-GEE
FOOD: DOUGHBALLS
FOOD: DOUGHBALLS
WORDS James Worthington PHOTOS Wayne Pearson
If you’ve ever read the expression ‘seize the day’, it wouldn’t have had a picture of Catriona Spalding next to it…
But, once you meet the co-creator of this Australian food phenomenon, DoughBalls Pizza, you’d argue it probably should! Cat’s a go-getter. When we took our boys into DoughBalls for lunch during the school holidays, she greeted us warmly, while running an already busy Glenelg restaurant full of parents and their very, VERY happy kids.
Most people struggle to remember somebody’s name while shaking their hand, yet Cat easily held a conversation with the four of us, while she kept an eye on her teams in the kitchen and out on the floor. And not just the kitchen and floor of the Glenelg restaurant… DoughBalls recently opened in Mawson Lakes and Cat somehow has the energy to watch that one, too. Did I mention she’s Mum to toddler, Maddison, and new bub, Ronan? Yep, to say that Cat loves a challenge is a massive understatement! DoughBalls is going gangbusters and has been ever since Cat and her husband, Lincoln, an Adelaide-born musician, launched in Glenelg in February 2020. In a year when the world virtually stopped, they continued to build on their dream, which began all the way back in the UK. They met while working on a cruise ship, where their different backgrounds in hospitality and customer service helped to shape a seed of an idea. For most, maternity leave is reserved for navigating the turbulent waters of becoming new parents. But when
FOOD: DOUGHBALLS
Maddison was born, they put an incredible business plan into action! They had their idea. They just needed the perfect place to roll it out: Adelaide. Their licensed restaurant in Glenelg was the ideal place to launch, as it captured hungry families out for a day at the beach. The very popular DoughBalls rolled on outside of summer and so did their menu, which expanded to include brunch and after-school treats. Demand during the cooler months and, of course, COVID-19, led to a natural progression to home delivery of their dinners and desserts. Then came their Mawson Lakes restaurant, as one DoughBalls just wasn’t enough for the city of churches! Cat and Lincoln’s dream has always revolved around feeding families. And not just to open any old restaurant; but one that offers value for money and exceptional table service for busy parents who can’t spend all night waiting with restless kids. Their solution: feed kids quickly and let them make a mess! DoughBalls Glenelg is a vibrant place that welcomes families into colourful booths resembling little beach huts. Whereas Mawson Lakes features a spectacular mural by local artist, Nicky Create. The menu is stacked, colourful, delicious and designed to cater to even the fussiest of eaters. Both of our kids fall into that category, as they have their preferences and won’t back down an inch. We didn’t need to worry, because Cat’s team had it covered. Adult-sized margherita pizza for one and a kids’ Napolitana pasta for the other. The only fight that broke out was over Austin not giving Alfie a slice of his pizza — the food is just. Too. Good! Luckily for Alfie, DoughBalls specialises in brunch, lunch, dinner AND his favourite… desserts. Let me reel off a few of their DoughBalls Desserts to get your tastebuds firing: Jam Doughnut, Strawberries and Cream, Tiramisu, French Toast, Lamington, Gaytime, Snowballs and Snowballs GRANDE. They also do more traditional desserts like Chocolate Brownie, Sorbet, New York Cheesecake and every coffee lover’s favourite, Affogato. Or, for those who love an Italian calzone and would eat them every meal of every day, DoughBalls has got you covered for dessert — Nutella and Strawberry Calzone or their brand-new Rocky Road Calzone! If you’ve been to DoughBalls and thought the winter menu was good, just have a look at their new menu for the warmer months — it’s next-level! Try Tropical Pina Colada DoughBalls with fresh mango, coconut, pineapple salsa, coconut sorbet and passionfruit coulis. Or the savoury Fiery Chicken Pizza, BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza and Sloppy Joe DoughBalls. This is just the tip of the DoughBall, as they run other seasonal specials, including a Christmas Dinner Pizza and their Snag Pizza, which is Aussie A.F! But Cat and Lincoln aren’t stopping there — they have more BIG plans in the works, so stay tuned. For now, you can dine in or take away from DoughBalls in Glenelg and their brand-new restaurant at Mawson Lakes. Or enjoy DoughBalls pizza and desserts delivered to your door via Uber Eats and Menulog.
@doughballsau doughballspizza.com.au
From day to night
FOOD: HELLO NEIGHBOUR / ARTUSI BY NIGHT Eggcellent brunch and delicate gnocchi all in the same place? It’s a yes from us!
WORDS Millie Looker PHOTOS Wayne Pearson
Hello Neighbour / Artusi by Night is our ultimate restaurant, giving us two-incocktails, Animesh Mallick’s expertise in customer experience and Annie Jiang’s It’s a struggle to pick just one dish to feast on, so we highly recommend sharing with one fun. During the day, Hello Neighbour serves up brunch like it’s nobody’s business, before pulling a switcheroo and transforming the space into Artusi by Night, a gnoccheria that shines a light on — you guessed it — freshly-made gnocchi.
Located in a prime position on King William Road, you can choose to sit inside or soak in the buzz of the street outside. The restaurant has been artfully decorated in emerald, gold and white to ensure the vibe is bright and open during the day but @helloartusi_gnoccheria still cosy enough for dinner. Each of the five talented partners behind helloartusi.com.au this thriving business brings something unique to the table. With talented barista Alisha Myers and gnocchi-lover Fillippo Ludovici on board, the concept of two-restaurants-in-one came to fruition. Combined with Laura Edmunds’ creative background running a successful business, they make a dream team! So, what sets them apart? Hello Neighbour Serving brunch from 7am to 3pm, it’s the great coffee and varied menu that keeps neighbours and visitors coming back. On most tables, you’ll spot a serving of their most popular dishes, including the crab and prawn omelette in a soy broth; and the tempura calamari with fried eggs and green pancakes. If you’re more of a traditionalist, get stuck into the spiced halloumi with smashed avo and a poached egg. Did somebody say mimosa? Add some edge to your order with a breakfast cocktail or two. Artusi by Night If you’re going to do something, you may as well do it well — and Artusi has nailed their gnocchi. The star of the show, their handmade gnocchi recipe has been perfectly refined by Italian Head Chef Francesco Nardinocchi, and the quality never wavers. your hot date. A couple of our top picks include the slow cooked beef cheek ragu; and the pumpkin gnocchi with a macadamia crumb and whipped ricotta; ordered with a side of octopus carpaccio; and a fresh radicchio, fennel and orange salad. For something to sip on, choose from the SA wine list or pick an Italian or local beer. And, of course, the cocktail menu is ready to impress!
