20 minute read
HEART AND
FOOD: THE RUSTIC FIG CAFÉ
Heart and soul food
WORDS Millie Looker PHOTOS Wayne Pearson
The story behind The Rustic Fig Café is one filled with love for food, culture and family.
Located in Erindale is an eatery pumping out some of the most delectable Lebanese food that we’ve had the privilege of eating. No matter what time you visit, customers can expect a warm welcome, steaming cup of quality coffee and a feast fit for a queen.
On the menu is an array of traditional goodies just waiting to be experienced, and sharing is definitely encouraged — you don’t want any food envy here! Some must-haves are the homemade falafels, which are fluffy yet crispy and made fresh to order; the fragrant traditional dips, like hummus and baba ghanouj, ready to be scooped up by a piece of Lebanese bread; and the chicken tawook dish, which boasts vibrant flavours and sells out daily.
Like any good food destination, the passion for delicious eats comes from the people behind The Rustic Fig Café. Having met many moons ago, husband and wife Naji and Erica built their life together in Naji’s homeland of Lebanon and had two beautiful kids before relocating to Adelaide in 2015. “My husband’s passions are cooking food, eating food, and sharing food!” says Erica, which is why you’ll find Naji busy in the kitchen, perfecting the recipes that he grew up with and creating new ones.
If Naji is the heart of the business with his recipes then Erica is the soul, with her affable nature making her the perfect person to run front-of-house. “Being in the suburbs makes it feel like a real community. People can come in and have a coffee and chat — I’m always up for a chat!” laughs Erica as she hops from table to table, greeting regulars by name.
Open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 2.30pm, it’s the perfect place to drop by for brunch or lunch. Recently, they’ve also started opening their doors for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday with a different menu featuring dishes like the T.L.C (chargrilled lamb sitting on a tart and tangy black cherry sauce). The Rustic Fig Café is also licensed, offering Lebanese and South Australian wine and beers, or you can BYO.
If you’ve got a special shindig on the horizon, you can also take up their catering options with tasting plates available in large quantities — the perfect nibbles to enjoy with a glass of wine!
As its name suggests, The Rustic Fig Café is warm, homely and ready to feed both your belly and your soul.
@rusticfigcafe therusticfig.com.au
FOOD: CHICKEN CENTRAL
WORDS Tory Camilleri PHOTOS Wayne Pearson
Having a great local chicken shop is the cornerstone of any neighbourhood, and Chicken Central exceeds all expectations.
Everyone knows that part of the deal when you make a big move interstate is re-establishing those relationships you’ve created over a lifetime — the ones that you assume will always be a part of your life.
Your neighbour who always has the ingredient you forgot to buy at the store, your favourite shopping haunts where you know the floorplan so well you can get in and out in record time and possibly most importantly, your locals — those takeaway places that become a staple part of your weekly routine. When we lived in Melbourne, we were lucky enough to have found not just a chicken shop — we found THE chicken shop, Chicken Central. The one so good, that even when we moved house, we drove that extra distance to keep it as our chicken shop… until we moved states. Launched headfirst into the abyss of trying to replace undeniably the best tasting chicken takeaway ever, we set out on an unwinnable journey. But like the universe was rewarding us for moving to the best state in Australia, our quest ended in the greatest possible way — Chicken Central launched in Malvern! With over 15 years in hospitality, owner Jason ensures no quality has been lost in crossing the border from Melbourne, bringing with him the charm and friendly service we’ve noticed seems to be commonplace from South Aussies.
Chicken Central meets all our musthaves — the service is fast with healthy yet delicious options on the menu; the food is amazing; the menu pleases the whole family (which means no arguments from the kids!); the chicken is free-range and gluten-free; the salads are made fresh daily; and they also support local businesses. Tick, tick, tick! Chicken Central is our go-to, saving us on many nights when we’ve run out of time to get dinner sorted and thankfully it is also super easy to order online through their website, Uber, Deliveroo and Menulog. I’ll admit, over time I’m pretty sure we’ve tried it all and whilst it’s hard to commit to one favourite, if I had to call it, I’d say it’s the Featherweight Wrap; my husband votes for the CC Deluxe with Presidential Chips; and the kids can’t go past the roast chicken with salad and chips. After our move from Melbourne, I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I was keen to get back just so I could have Chicken Central again. Thankfully, now it’s here, there’s no reason to go back.
@chicken.central chickencentral.com.au
FOOD: SOONTA
What’s cookin’, good lookin’?
WORDS Em Worthington Fresh, healthy, delicious and quick? Sounds too good to be true, but Soonta’s nailed it.
Life’s a constant balancing act — work, kids, friends, staying healthy and enjoying life… eating fresh, nutritious food that actually tastes good can feel like mission impossible. But rolling all these things into one is Soonta’s specialty — and with 14 stores across SA, finding one is easy as pie.
A tasty balance It’s the holy grail of a quick lunch or easy dinner — the dishes at Soonta are the perfect balance of nutritious AND delicious. “Originally based on Vietnamese cuisine, Soonta’s menu now includes a fusion of all our favourite flavours from across Asia — it’s the best bits all in one,” says part-owner Sweet Tang.
Fresh is the name of the game! “Often, quick food can mean either junk food or frozen ingredients, but we cook our meat every day so it’s as fresh as possible and we can serve it up quickly.”
And when it comes to making things easy, you can tailor dishes to your taste, but you won’t drown in choices. “We have a small menu with base ingredients, then
FOOD: SOONTA
you just choose your filling and dressing, which means you can follow your heart and be in and out within minutes.”
Plus, the Soonta team is not only proud to be South Australian, they’re all about supporting other local producers. “Our major ingredients come from SA — it’s so important to get behind the people around us.”
Our top picks Banh mi – There’s a reason that people in Vietnam eat this tasty dish for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Get ready to munch down on a freshly-baked baguette filled with your choice of protein, crunchy pickled carrot, cucumber, spring onion, coriander and their signature garlic aioli. Taste explosion! Rice bowl – Perfect for a quick, hot meal to boost your energy! It includes your choice of protein on steamed rice, Asian greens, eggs, house-pickles, herbs and condiments, served with traditional Vietnamese dressing. Salad bowl – On point for the Adelady who’s after a good balance of protein, fibre and low carbs, these bowls are packed with fresh salad, steamed Asian greens, tasty herbs and condiments and dressings that pack a punch. Our pick is the Spicy Tiger… deeeelicious!
Finish it off with your choice of Soonta’s own drinks, including White Tea, Black Tea and just in time for sunnier days, Sparkling Peach Tea. Catering made easy You can only do so many sandwiches or burgers, and Soonta is all about making a get-together easy. Spot on for work lunches or catering a little partay, their mini range of banh mi, rice cups and salad bowls amaze. Plus, they’ll work with your dietary needs or a specific budget, so you can breathe easy.
Working mamas You’re guaranteed that there’s genuine love behind the Soonta brand. Friends Ying, Echo, Candice and Sweet took over after realising they were eating Soonta most days. “It was a dream come true to buy it off the founder and go into business with friends. Over the last seven years, we’ve supported each other to start our own families. We’ve expanded the brand to a franchise model, so if you want a fantastic opportunity, get in touch. We’ve learnt so much, we get to do something we love and it’s made us confident to take on any challenges in life,” says Sweet.
@eat_soonta
soonta.com.au
FOOD: TWO GREEK BOYS + BURGER INCREDIBLE
Imagine owning a shop right next door to your bestie! That’s the dream, right? WORDS Hayley Pearson PHOTOS Wayne Pearson
Two Greek Boys and Burger Incredible on Unley Road are only separated by a few bricks and mortar. The iconic duo, Johnny from Burger Incredible and Anthony, who owns Two Greek Boys with his wife Effie, have been friends since birth. With only healthy competition between the two, they often dine at each other's restaurants and will always sing their praises from the rooftops.
TWO GREEK BOYS 113 UNLEY ROAD, UNLEY Two Greek Boys is built on family values and authentic Greek experiences. “We love our small family business! My husband cooks on the grill, my sister works front and back of house, my mum does our homemade desserts — family is everything to us,” says Effie.
So, what’s on this delicious menu? “We do yiros, grills, the classic AB, dips, pizzas, desserts — the lot. Our yiros is different from normal chicken shop yiros — we make thicker pita bread and put chips inside, just like they do in Greece, and our yiros with Greek sausage infused with orange and halloumi isn’t like anything you’ve eaten before.”
It’s true, if you close your eyes while taking your first mouthful of their yiros, you could be chillaxing on a balcony in Mykonos, overlooking crystal blue waters and islands for days.
Right up there with those incredible views is something that fits in the palm of your hand — the desserts. In all their sweet goodness, their chocolate baklava, revani, cream kataifi and galaktoboureko are, without a doubt, worth sinning for.
FOOD: TWO GREEK BOYS + BURGER INCREDIBLE
You can get your Two Greek Boys to go or bring the whole family and dine in. Crack open a Greek beer and zoun megála (live large)!
From Greece to America, let’s travel next door to Burger Incredible...
@twogreekboysunley twogreekboys.com.au
BURGER INCREDIBLE 111 UNLEY ROAD, UNLEY Serving mouth-wateringly Instagrammable burgers since 2020, Burger Incredible is in a league of its own! “We’re a licensed burger venue bringing you the best smashed patties and fried chicken burgers, loaded fries, schnitzels and shakes in town,” says owner Johnny.
ARE YOU A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON? Johnny reckons that loyal customers deserve something special! “By ordering on our website, you’ll accumulate loyalty credits that get automatically redeemed.”
His burgers have quickly become a hit on social media, with thousands of South Australians sharing Burger Incredible on their feeds, and Johnny has nailed the chilled vibe inside this Unley hotspot.
What’s their secret? “There are two, and we're happy to share them: we bring simplicity and dedication to everything we do.” And they do it all with a smile!
Let’s go steady with their burger menu. Consistently popular is the Fried Chook burger, which is marinated in buttermilk, coated in their unique herb and spice mix, then fried and topped with homemade ingredients; or the Signature Double, with its soft potato bun, creamy American cheese slices melted over two smashed patties, streaky bacon, onion, pickles, butter lettuce and fresh tomato, finished with housemade Burger Incredible sauce. And if you’re vego but get FOMO, The Veg Out burger is worth every mouthful.
But you can’t have a burger without fries right? I was happy with just a dash of chicken salt, but these guys go next
level with their Loaded Fries, adding cheese, bacon, jalapeños, gravy — whatever floats your boat!
Families are welcome and their Lil Homies menu has everything ‘Lil’, plus they do a burger of the month so you can try something new. And it doesn’t stop at burgers — they also offer schnitties, hotdogs, plenty of sides and desserts! I wouldn't say no to a slice of homemade Oreo Cheesecake or a Mars Bar Spring Roll, would you?
@burgerincredible burgerincredible.com.au
FOOD: BANANA BOOGIE
Get this party started
WORDS Millie Looker PHOTOS Wayne Pearson
The new party range from Banana Boogie proves it once and for all — size doesn’t matter. Big or small, it’s all extra delicious.
SA’s Banana Boogie Bakery is award winning for a reason — their products are ace! Now they’ve taken it to the next level with their party range and we can’t imagine another birthday without them.
So let’s deep dive... what’s on offer? We have to start with the loaded vanilla slice slabs. I mean, come on — they’re a complete show stopper.
“We created this range because our loaded vanilla slice was so popular and we already make the traditional vanilla slice as a slab cake — so we thought, why not combine the two together?” said owner and head baker Jason.
These decadent desserts are set to impress all party-goers and come in four flavours, including Nuts About You — a
FOOD: BANANA BOOGIE
peanut butter custard base topped with Picnic, Snickers and Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups; My Caramel Romance — a caramel custard base with Caramel Crowns, Twix and Mars Bars; Mint To Be — a choc-mint custard base topped with Peppermint Crisp, Peppermint Aero and Mint Kit Kat; and Death By Chocolate, which features a rich chocolate custard base loaded up with Twirls, Kit Kats and Crunchies. It’s a big YUM from us!
And from extra large right down to mini, the new cocktail range from Banana Boogie will hit the spot in between drinks at your next shindig. The savoury cocktail food is bite-sized and easily reheated in the oven, so even the most inexperienced host can nail the catering. Choose from vegan, spinach and fetta or traditional pasties, classic meat or chicken and leek pies, and sausage rolls. Or, order a mixed selection for a lucky dip!
And surely eating eleven mini custard tarts is better than eating one normal-sized one, right? At least, that’s what we’re telling ourselves. Banana Boogie has downsized their most popular sweet treats so you no longer have to choose — you can just have one of each! Mini donuts in all the best flavours, bite-sized vanilla slices and tiny custard tarts are all on the menu, and they’re the perfect addition to a dessert grazing table. No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen at their own party, so take the pressure off and let the talented team at Banana Boogie do the hard yards for you.
And to Kelly and Jason, please don’t ask any questions if you see me ordering a loaded vanilla slice slab on a random Tuesday night. I swear it’s for a party… lols.
Location, location A solo bakery in Belair was ok for a while… until the demand grew and grew! With customers travelling from near and far to get their hands on Banana Boogie goods, owners Jason and Kelly decided it was time to open a second store in North Plympton. It’s all the same products made with the same recipes — just in a shiny new shop.
@banana_boogie
FOOD: DELICIA
WORDS Em Worthington PHOTOS Wayne Pearson
Want healthier skin, luscious hair and stronger nails? We’re right behind you, girlfriend!
Our friends at Delicia have launched their Inner Glow Collagen + Prebiotic drink and it’s here to make dreams come true. We’re super proud of this local biz — they’ve got stores popping up interstate and their own exclusive line of take-home goodies to boot.
With so many benefits to your bod, collagen products are popping up left, right and centre, and we wanted to know what all the fuss is about. We caught up with the creator of Delicia, Scott Dempster, for the low-down… COLLA-WHAT? There’s a lot to love about getting older and we want to age gracefully, but there are a few things we want to put the brakes on. Collagen is the body’s main player when it comes to healthy skin, hair and nails and as we age, our body’s collagen decreases naturally. That’s where Delicia’s Inner Glow Collagen + Prebiotic drink plumps up the jam!
“This pretty pink drink works by topping up and stimulating the production of more collagen, leaving you with healthier hair, skin and nails,” Scott explains.
“There’s a whole range of benefits — it can also decrease fine lines and wrinkles, boost new collagen production, improve skin elasticity and integrity, increase skin hydration. And if that’s not enough, it also promotes good gut health and a balanced digestive system, which impacts your entire body.” HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE This isn’t just some fad. The team behind Delicia’s hot new product have done the yards to ensure you get a top-quality product at an affordable price.
“Our Inner Glow Collagen + Prebiotic drink is packed with high-grade wild marine collagen that’s been sustainably sourced from Norwegian wild-caught fish in Atlantic waters. It’s the most similar collagen to what’s in your skin, hair and nails and is superior in how it’s absorbed into your body. And to maximise this, we’ve also included Vitamin C and a blend of
antioxidant and vitamin-rich superfoods in our product,” Scott says.
And there’s no holding your nose to throw it back. “It has a mild berry flavour and is naturally sweetened with monk fruit, so it’s easy to pop a couple of spoons into a glass of water, add ice, a little lemon and sip away your day!” SUSTAINABLE DRINKING We’re loving keep cups and Delicia’s brand-new 700ml glass tumblers are right up that sustainable alley! Complete with a big metal straw, they’re the perfect wagon for your daily smoothie, iced latte and nudging you to drink more water throughout the day. Fancy it up with a wedge of lemon or slices of cucumber and go about your day well and truly hydrated.
FOOD: DELICIA
STRONG VALUES All about more people having access to their healthy and delicious products by making them affordable, Delicia’s collagen product is high-quality at a great cost. It’s all made right here in Australia and as they’ve always done, Delicia only deals with ethical companies who share their vision of putting our planet over profits and people over numbers. Love!
Results may vary. Always speak to your medical professional to decide whether this product is right for you.
@deliciaacaihq deliciaacaibar.com
DELICI-AHHHH We lurve ourselves a visit to any of the 15 Delicia stores across SA! A mecca for the healthconscious and those who love to treat their tastebuds, the acai, espresso and protein bars are full to the brim with tasty raw treats, brekky bowls, smoothies, juices and coffee to brighten your day. Now you can keep the good vibes going with their range of take-home products, too.
Jump online or head in-store to get your hands on their three latest ranges of plant-based proteins in delicious vanilla, chocolate and salted caramel… yummo! They’re low in sugar, low in carbs, high in protein and banging with taste. And for lazy Sundays at home, grab their gluten-free planted-based low GI protein pancake mix — it’s flippin’ fantastic!
DRINK: HEIDRUN ESTATE
Celebrate with us? Wine not! WORDS Tory Camilleri
As if they heard our very broad list of demands, Rohan Family Wines now caters for any reason we decide to mark an occasion and can be found at Heidrun Estate.
Here at Adelady, we love to celebrate not just the glorious, big moments like when baby Sofia was born but the small wins too, like a great day together in our favourite city. Rohan Family Wines gets the brief every time.
This small family-run business makes boutique wines from the heart, carefully crafting them with special moments in mind — even labelling the wines so you can easily decide which one fits the occasion. Whether you want to dance the night away as a group with their Always Sparkling Brut in hand or have a small, intimate catch up with close friends over a glass of their After Dark Grenache, Rohan Family Wines will enhance every experience. The fruit and oak flavours of their Table Top Shiraz is an Adelady HQ favourite!
Capitalising on the countryside charm of McLaren Vale just 40 minutes from the city, you can create your own special memories at Rohan Family Wines new cellar door, Heidrun Estate, which is now open. The venue has a genuine and casual atmosphere and welcomes everyone like family.
You can’t help but decompress when you’re immersed in the scenery that surrounds the winery. We suggest grabbing one of their picnic boards and setting up in your own little corner of the grounds. You can expect your experience to be chilled and primed for laughter with friends or family, sharing a plate from their diverse and locally sourced menu and pairing it with one of their contemporary wine options. There’s even the chance to book into one of their monthly wine events, which includes six courses of the best seasonal Fleurieu Peninsula produce.
Heidrun Estate has captured the essence of those memories that last a lifetime. It celebrates the delights of good food and great wine in an environment where you can relax... and enjoy it with those who matter most.
@rohanfamily @heidrunestate
heidrungroup.com.au
