15 minute read
Mighty fine food
WORDS Millie Looker
We’ve discovered Newton’s best kept secret, and it’s extra delicious.
Where should you go when you want a home cooked meal, just like your nonna would make? Fine Food Cucina has been serving up authentic Italian dishes for almost 10 years, with careful instruction from owner Dario Fontanarosa. One bite and you’ll be Fine Food fans for life!
“We’re all about high quality, homestyle cooking from our family to yours. Our food is filled with love and passion, and as I always say — if I wouldn’t feed it to my children, I won’t serve it to my customers,” Dario says.
Dine the Fine Food way Open six days a week, Fine Food Cucina is dedicated to creating quality meals using traditional recipes. “The main ingredients in all of our food? Culture and a whole lot of passion,” Dario says.
For the early birds, the Bialetti coffee is strong and the breakfast menu is big, with fan-favourites like smashed avocado and pancakes up for grabs. Stop by for lunch — whether you’re craving a hearty bowl of puttanesca, a hand-stretched pizza topped with incredible ingredients, or their Tradie Pack, which includes three of their top-selling paninis: prosciutto, salami and chicken schnitzel.
And hallelujah, Fine Food Cucina serves quality Italian soft drinks, wine and cocktails to make your feast feel even more special!
From their home to yours! Fine Food Cucina has taken the work out of your next dinner with their grab and go meals. “We’re about convenience, and want to make sure that busy families can enjoy a home-cooked meal together,” says Dario.
Their lasagna (available in classic, vegetarian and many other options) is famous among loyal customers. Just pop it in the oven and everyone will be praising your excellent skills in the kitchen. Your secret is safe with us!
And while you’re shopping for dinner options, pick up some extra goodies — pasta, olives, Italian liqueurs, fresh coffee — you won’t leave empty handed!
Without fail, I walk into Fine Food Cucina hungry, and walk out, arms full and heart warm and fuzzy. Now, that’s amore!
“ONE BITE AND YOU’LL BE FINE FOOD FANS FOR LIFE!” Party picks Ain’t no party like a Fine Food party! The catering menu is mouth watering, with antipasto boxes, heat-and-eat arancini, porchetta roasts, and huge trays of pasta! Their in-house pastry chefs can also whip up some mini assorted cakes for an epic dessert table if ‘Sweet’ is your middle name.
Fine Food Cucina also throws their own parties to celebrate seasonal and local produce — keep an eye on their social media pages and website to be in the know.
@finefoodcucina finefoodcucina.com.au
Park up at the Parkside
WORDS Millie Looker
There’s a reason that the Parkside Hotel has become one of our fave local haunts.
Agood pub is something special. A building steeped in history and character with a dash of modern design, a menu that celebrates local produce in a contemporary way and a drinks menu to please everyone. The Parkside Hotel is all that and more. This fixture on the outskirts of the city is making moves to offer up a night out for every occasion.
So, let us put on our planning pants and share some perfect Parkside moments. Hot date We have a few date night must-haves — a wine list that celebrates SA, a menu with hearty meals that feel a little bit fancy, and an intimate but relaxed vibe. The refined dining room at the Parkside ticks all our boxes, and with different areas to choose from, you can find your sweet spot.
The new menu is offered throughout the venue and celebrates South Australian produce like never before. Don’t just wave it off as classic pub fare — we’re talking about wood fire Baked Murray Cod, a Thomas Farms Lamb and Salt Bush Pie Floater, and a Lenswood Apple Crumble that will rival your granny’s recipe. You’ll be feeling the zing for more than just your hot date.
Let your hair down It’s the end of the work week and you’re ready for a fuss-free cocktail with your besties. The Parkside is the ideal spot for a bevvy year-round, with fireplaces in winter and a breezy open-air beer garden in summer. From Friday to Sunday, you’ll be treated to live music under the festoon lighting — the perfect backdrop while you Get the gang together No one gets left out at the Parkside — not even the dog! Take the pressure off your big soiree and book an event space instead. The team at the Parkside are guns when it comes to planning the perfect birthday bash, big function or even just a large group-style catch up in one of their private spaces. You can pre-book some platters from the curated functions menu or order from the smallgoods menu on the day — we’re very happy to while away an afternoon sipping local craft beers and snacking on Spencer Gulf kingfish ceviche. For a more kid-friendly vibe, check out Bob & Olive’s garden — a private area with an attached kids’ play space.
sample the new cocktail menu featuring goodies like Blueberry Gin Sours, Passionfruit Mojitos and Espresso Martinis. Alongside a wood oven pizza, my besties and I will definitely cheers to that!
We’re happy to lend out our local to anyone who wants to give it a try — we promise you’ll love it!
@parksidehotel parksidehotel.com.au
WORDS Em Worthington
Just the name makes my heart race and my tastebuds stand to attention — Honey Bang Bang, let’s dance!
The previous part-owners of Singapore House, Montie and Hailey Waraich’s passion for exceptional food and service brings us Littlehampton’s tastiest restaurant. Head Chef Montie draws on his Indian heritage and French training to serve up the most exquisite range of Southeast Asian dishes and every bite packs an almighty punch.
THE FOOD As the name suggests, it’s light, super tasty and banging with flavour! It’s all designed to share, but you’ll want to finish every bite yourself. But, where to start? A nibble on the crispy Salt and Pepper Squid with Yuzo mayo, perhaps the Beef Rendang or the Duck Salad with Banana Blossom? It’s a hard call with so many Little Bangs, Big Bangs and Bang Bang sides on offer, but one thing I’ll tell you is that I’d happily eat the Crying Tiger Salad every day for the rest of my life. And for the exclamation point at the end of your meal, the Bang Bang Sweets are the perfect way to wrap it all up.
THE DRINKS Food aside, grab yourself a Rhubarb Margarita and tell me it doesn’t take you straight to heaven! Hailey and Montie have crafted the cocktails and mocktails, then selected beer, ciders and wine to give you a full-body buzz.
OUTSIDE THE BOX Honey Bang Bang is also a cracking option for a get-together if you want to book part or the whole place. It’s intimate, quirky and you can tailor a sit-down meal, stand-up party with platters, bring a DJ… whatever it takes to put the bang into a long lunch, big bash or any kind of special occasion. And if you’re keen for a night at home with some seriously good fare, grab yourself some takeaway you won’t regret.
It’s exceptional places like Honey Bang Bang that make me proud to be a Hills local. When food this good is done this well, it makes for an unforgettable day or night you’ll long to recreate, again and again. It’s five stars from me, honey, and truly bang on!
THE VIBE What could make an incredible feed even better? A welcoming vibe! Like the owners, the space is down to earth and perfectly placed in the Hills, and with a team to match, you’ll leave feeling like you’ve popped in for a bite to eat with mates.
@honeybangbanglh honeybangbang.com.au
Double whammy
WORDS Hayley Pearson PHOTOS Wayne Pearson
After a long hiatus, big events are back, and they’re living up to their pre-pandemic glory!
Photo: Supplied. From takeaway coffees to full blown weddings in a bespoke winery set among the vines, Angle Vale’s familyowned Sneaky's Restaurant is all about bringing back the party. Since 2014, the team at Sneaky's has been passionate about serving up quality Italian cuisine made with South Australia's finest produce. Their restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, so you can pop in for a quick bite to eat — or bring 150 of your closest friends for a party takeover!
The restaurant menu is ‘magnifico’, just like Nonna would have made it — wood-fired pizzas made right in front of you, fresh pastas, seafood, Wagyu beef and antipasto platters, with plenty of vegetarian options, plus a special menu for kids under twelve.
Set on the gorgeous grounds of Virgara Wines, Sneaky’s event space is like the movie Inception — venues within venues, within venues. “We have multiple rooms on site, each with their own design, and guests are always impressed,” says owner and Head Chef Anthony Pilaia.
Italian food and great wine go hand-inhand, making Sneaky’s and Virgara Wines the perfect partnership. Most guests enjoy a wine tasting at Virgara and then wander over to Sneaky’s for lunch. “We’re separate businesses, but we do everything together. We exclusively stock Virgara Wines, not just because we’re loyal friends, but because we think their wines are some of the best in South Australia!” Anthony says.
With stay-at-home orders now a thing of the past, it’s time to put on your party pants again!
Photo: Supplied.
Party for two? I do! The gorgeous wine cellar is perfectly intimate and super romantic. You’re surrounded by Virgara’s best drops and can enjoy alone time with a private threecourse spread.
Party for twelve? The VIP room is indeed for very important people like family and friends, and baby showers, client lunches or dinner with your besties. Guests will be wowed with a menu that’s to-die-for and service that you’d expect in a fine dining restaurant. Party for the masses? You can’t be the hostess with the mostest and be stress-free, right? It’s just not possible! Sneaky’s will step in and step up, with their dedicated, full-time functions coordinator helping to organise everything for you from seating plans to curating a bespoke menu for your event.
“We’re like a big family, so we encourage large group bookings — nothing is ever a problem! We can generously cater for up to 150 people inside or outside, plus we have bars in both locations.”
Sneaky’s popular upstairs Wine Bar can cater for anywhere between forty and eighty guests, and boasts a private entrance, private balcony, private bathroom and best of all, a private bar.
If an outdoor event is more your style, you can certainly have that little dream come true on the lush lawns of the property. “We have gorgeous outdoor ceremonies where party goers can either have a marquee, or we simply set up a dance floor with fairy lights under the stars. It’s a truly magical experience!”
So, pop in for lunch or stay for the party — either way, everyone’s welcome!
@sneakys_au sneakysrestaurant.com.au
@virgarawines virgarawines.com.au
Photo: Maria Petroff.
WORDS Em Worthington
Beachfront views, uninterrupted sunsets, mouth-watering Italian by the sea — Stella is a spectacular spot to lock in your love!
For 27 years, Stella has hosted leisurely lunches, romantic dinner dates and family get-togethers galore against the backdrop of beautiful Henley Beach. But you may not realise that they’re also superstar party people when it comes to functions of all sizes — including weddings, christenings, baby showers, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, corporate affairs, work gatherings and more! ALL THE TRIMMINGS When it comes to an event, quality food will make or break it. Not even Lady and the Tramp could resist the romantic pull of a plate of perfectly cooked spaghetti — they wouldn’t stand a chance here! Stella serves up generous portions of traditional Italian fare, peppered with modern European inspired influences — think rich pastas, pizzas, risotto, hearty steaks, fresh seafood, entrees, desserts and more that can all be catered to dietary requirements.
And the best part is that the team can tailor a package to a tee, so you can enjoy up to 110 people for a sit-down meal before hitting the dance floor, or keep it more casual with up to 120 guests for cocktail-style fare. You can order individual plates or feast on shared platters — but whichever you go for, you can be sure that none of your guests will be hanging for a midnight Maccas run on the way home.
When it comes to popping some corks, the Stella crew can offer you an impressive drinks package or let you BYO spirits and pour them for your guests. And if you need help with booking entertainment to get the good times rolling, the events team at Stella are well and truly in the know.
Maybe it’s an intimate gathering to celebrate with your nearest and dearest, a work-do to bring comrades together or a big ol’ lovefest for newlyweds — no matter what size, you know it’ll be an event to remember when you choose this beachside stunner as your base.
LOCATION, LOCATION It doesn’t get much better than watching the sun set over gentle waves, and that spot of romance is on offer every day of the year at Stella. Their light and bright inside seating and prime positioned outdoor tables overlooking one of Adelaide’s most pristine beaches mean that love is in the air here, whether you order your meal with a side of romance or not. Sigh!
@stellarestaurant_henley stellarestaurant.com.au
A Betty’s summer
WORDS Millie Looker
Forget the summer of love — we’re here for the summer of burgers!
Salty beach days that lead into warm nights you never want to end, plenty of sunshine and endless good vibes — it’s time to embrace everything that a South Aussie summer has to offer. And at Betty’s Burgers, summer never ends!
The doors are always open, ready to welcome you and your besties inside. You’re welcome to stay and play the day away, feasting on burgers or cooling down from the inside out with a frozen custard ice cream. And with four restaurants dotted across Adelaide (you read that right, FOUR restaurants — hello Hyde Park and Marion!), this mouth-watering burger joint will be your official summer spot.
Whether you’re off to a gig later that night, spending a long arvo at the cricket, or just escaping the summer heat with the family, Betty’s is the first stop on any good summer adventure.
Yum on the run How many times have you been running around, ticking things off the to-do list before you realise it’s 4pm and you haven’t had lunch? A Bare Betty from the Norwood restaurant will hit the spot. This lighter take on the classic burger is wrapped in lettuce instead of a traditional bun — and you can replace the Angus beef with chicken or a plant-based patty. Sundays are for the girls Look no further than burgers and thickshakes in Hyde Park for your next leisurely Sunday catch-up with the besties. The Betty’s Classic is filled with all the goods, like Angus beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, special sauce — and best of all, it won’t distract from all the juicy gossip flying around the table.
Brand spanking new Introducing the newest feather in the Betty’s Burgers cap — a restaurant in Marion opening later this year! With all the summer vibes you know and love, this restaurant is chillaxed down to a tee. A big day of shopping should definitely be rewarded with a Crispy Chicken Supreme, which has literally everything we love — crispy fried chicken, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and their special sauce — all wrapped up in a soft bun.
Betty’s Burgers is home to some of our best summer stories, but let’s face it — we’re big fans all year round.
Bright lights and city nights A night on the town calls for something a bit spesh at the OG restaurant on Rundle Street. We can’t go past the Noosa Classic Surf with a Betty’s Beer Ale by Pirate Life to wash it down. This summer-inspired burger ain’t mucking around, with Angus beef, lightly battered prawns, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese and their special sauce.
@bettys_burgers bettysburgers.com.au
