On the radar: New favourite finds

On the radar Summer’s the perfect time to find new favourites on the Fleurieu. Story by Jake Dean.

Above: This summer, look out for the Old Speed Coffee van at beachside locations from Moana to Port Noarlunga South.

Winter is widely considered hibernation season, but we’d argue summer’s an equally tough time to leave the house. Why get off the couch when the air conditioner’s cranking, the cricket’s on and it’s an earth-scorching forty degrees outside? Finding the motivation to get out and do something new, too can be stifled when your fridge is stocked with Christmas leftovers and your militant new year’s resolution dictates you can only eat a handful of calories a day.

But resist the urge to stay home this summer, we implore you! The Fleurieu’s business boom shows no signs of slowing, and the following selection of food vans, cellar doors, entertainment destinations and more, should be incentive enough to get you out the door. In between forty-degree days and cricket sessions, that is. Caravans

Pitstop Italian Food Authentic homemade Italian food made with love ‘like nonna does’ is at the heart of Silvia and Vanni’s food truck. The fully qualified chefs spent years working in restaurants in Tuscany and Victoria before deciding to open their own mobile kitchen in Castlemaine two years ago. Victoria’s loss has been our gain this year, with Pitstop serving up homemade pasta, gnocchi, Italian donuts (bomboloni) and a selection of hot and cold drinks at the beaches surrounding their Aldinga home, as well as private functions. Buon appetito!

Above left: With a semi-permanent spot at Big Surf Middleton, you can’t miss Frankie and the Good Life! Photograph courtesy of @explore_with_formo. Above centre: Look out for Zan’s Van at local hot spots such as Seaford and Port Willunga. Above right: Authentic and very delicious, Pit Stop Italian can be found on the foreshore at Aldinga most weekends. Buon appetito!

Frankie and the Good Life What do you get when you combine a sky-blue vintage 1969 Franklin Caravan (‘Frankie’) with hordes of satisfied folks enjoying the bounty within? Espresso and smoothie bar, Frankie and the Good Life. Beginning life as a Port Elliot pop-up in summer 2018/19, it’s now grown semi-permanent roots at Big Surf Middleton in summer 2019/20 (only absent for appearances at Porchland and Handpicked festivals). Regular food options including sushi and raw treats mean all your summer hunger bases are covered.

Old Speed Coffee Co. Old Speed Coffee Co. was born out of a love of VWs, good coffee, and the desire for a ‘job’ with freedom and family at its heart. Enter Fred, a 1966 Volkswagen Kombi, selling De Groot coffee and Fleurieu Milk Company milk (and the MILKLAB range) at beachside spots from Moana to Port Noarlunga South, as well as regular events across the region. Check social media for Fred’s whereabouts and drop by for a cuppa. Zan’s Van There are few more ideal employment scenarios for a surfer than owning an eight-foot caravan named Gidget that can produce coffees wherever the waves are. Zan’s Van owner Zanny Twopenny, a former restaurant owner, traded in her follow-up career in aged care for a more flexible life, and she now sells Soul City Roasters coffee, alongside other hot and cold drinks and locally sourced sweets, at hotspots such as Seaford and Port Willunga. It’s nice to know that even if the surf’s bad, the coffee’s always pumping. >

Above left: Check out Mark McQuade’s designs at Factory 9, Port Elliot. Above right: Little Bosa is the spot for live entertainment. Photo of Kim Mitchell courtesy of Richard Hodges.

Furniture and design

Mark McQuade Furniture & Design, Port Elliot Whether you’re after a simple beach sign or an entire floating house, Mark McQuade has got you covered. The versatile designer and maker is setting up shop in Port Elliot’s Factory 9 over summer (Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm), where you can peruse his diverse range of works, including furniture, landscape paintings, beach sign-writing, and even tiny homes. ‘My design ethos is to recreate traditional useful pieces of furniture with a twist, whether it be in the colour, the wash or simple details,’ Mark says. Head to Instagram (@markmcquade_furniture) to see examples of his work, which utilise recycled timber and tin wherever possible.

Also look out for the opening of Little Road Studio in late 2019 / early 2020 in the historic township of Aldinga.

Live entertainment

Little Bosa, Port Elliot On a small farm on the outskirts of Port Elliot lies an eclectic live music and comedy venue that hopes to draw more touring acts to the Fleurieu. ‘Amazing artists come to Adelaide but hardly ever travel any further,’ says owner Nathan Vincent. ‘The Fleurieu, Port Elliot in particular, is an amazing place and we feel we can attract great acts just by giving them a fun environment to perform.’ Promoting local talent is another priority, and Nathan aims for a vibe fusing laid-back coastal Fleurieu with a dash of Bosa, a Sardinian seaside village. Subscribe to upcoming events at littlebosa.com.au.

Top left: Maria and Paolo Bottin at their newly opened cellar door where they will be serving delicious Italian food alongside their delicious wines. Photo courtesy of Heidi Lewis. Bottom left: The new Never Never Distillery in McLaren Vale is guaranteed to be a popular spot. Above right: Charlotte Dalton at her newly opened cellar door ‘The Joinery’ at Factory 9. Photo courtesy of Jessica Clarke.

Wine and spirits

The Joinery at Factory 9, Port Elliot Winemaker Charlotte Hardy, of Charlotte Dalton Wines, made her name in the booming Basket Range, but it’s on the Fleurieu that she and husband Ben Cooke (of Cooke Brothers Wines) have begun their next chapter. The pair, now calling Goolwa home, recently opened their new winery in Port Elliot’s Factory 9 complex and, in November 2019, will launch both brands’ first cellar door (at the former home of The Joinery creative space). Expect a laidback zone where you can hang out, play pool, drink beer, share simple plates of local produce, taste wines and talk shop (but only if you want to).

Vigna Bottin, Willunga Want to enjoy an authentic slice of Italy, right here on the Fleurieu? You’re in luck. Vigna Bottin – run by Venetian winemaker Paolo Bottin and his Calabrian wife Maria – launched its cellar door in Willunga in October, serving traditional Italian wines and a delicious selection of homely spuntini (small bites) to the masses. The cellar door is located at the former Au Pear restaurant, with the building and scenery emanating undeniably Italian vibes (Tuscany, perhaps?) So if you’re looking for an overseas experience at a fraction of the cost – a glass of barbera in hand – then look no further.

Never Never Distilling Co., McLaren Vale

By the time Never Never Distilling Co.’s new cellar door experience opens (hopefully December), you won’t need to visit anywhere else. Its distillery, bar, tasting room, tours and gin kiosk, will sit opposite Chalk Hill Wines’ new cellar door, with a food offering operating in the slipway between the two venues and a world-class view outside. It’s just the latest accomplishment for the Never Never team, which recently won World’s Best Classic Gin at the World Gin Awards in London, and its swagger extends to the world-class cellar door. ‘It’ll be an experience like none other in South Australia,’ says brand director, Sean Baxter. >

Above left: Take a journey Down the Rabbit Hole and enjoy the aesthetic offerings of Elise and Dom. Above right: Fall from Grace will open in their new location in the same building but around the corner in early December, hallelujah! Photo courtesy of Angela Lisman.

Down the Rabbit Hole, McLaren Vale We hinted at the 2019 cellar door opening by regional darlings, Down the Rabbit Hole Wines, in Fleurieu Living last summer, and – true to their word – they delivered in August. Bohemian vibes seep from every nook and cranny of this welcoming space, right up to the two-storey light blue vintage bus at its rear. It’s marketed as ‘a place you can visit, try our wines, roll out a rug, enjoy platters of delicious goodness, pour another glass, sit a while [and] smile a lot.’ And the fact they don’t take bookings, hens/bucks parties or functions, means you don’t need to worry about rowdy groups. Fall from Grace, Aldinga Aldinga-based wine tasting bar, bottle shop and wine education hub, Fall from Grace, has been closed for winter due to a relocation (right around the corner in the same building!) But, like a good bottle of wine, it’ll be better with age once opened. Revitalised space aside, Fall from Grace (reopening December) will feature its weekly Friday night small-producer tastings and weekend opening hours (12 – 4pm), more music options and events, and it’ll also now be available for functions as a private bar/event space. One thing that won’t change is its focus on small local producers alongside a world-class international list, and its passion for wine education in a fun and inclusive environment.

Above left: This summer visit Leonard’s Mill side bar where you can hang out on the lawn and enjoy a more casual menu paired with their amazing wine list.Above right: At the new Eighty Eight Seafood and Grill you will find the freshest locally caught seafood, delicious Greek cuisine and another amazing wine list.

Restaurants

Leonards Mill Summer Side Bar, Second Valley Leonards Mill, housed in a beautiful 161-year-old flour mill, is kicking goals. It was recently ranked #37 in Delicious South Australia’s list of the state’s top 100 restaurants – testament to the passion of its relatively new team and its focus on using produce from local familyowned businesses. Summer’s the perfect time for your maiden meal, with its Summer Side Bar opening weekends for lunch from midDecember and seven days from Boxing Day. Offering a casual dining experience in its bar and lawns, it’ll share the sustainable ethos of its restaurant’s a la carte lunch menu and degustation dinners (think whole animals, smoked meats and regional platters). Eighty Eight Seafood and Grill, Old Noarlunga Eighty Eight Seafood and Grill is the realisation of a lifelong dream for southern seafood stalwart, Peter Moularas. He says it’s also a natural progression, given the expertise gleaned from decades in the industry, ever since working in his uncle’s Port Adelaide fish shop as a teen. The restaurant has handpicked A+ talent, including head chef Neil McGlew, formerly of The Kitchen Door at Penny’s Hill, and former d’Arenberg Cube Restaurant maitre d’ Georgie Weber. The location, too, is a treat. Entry is via a walkway behind Peter’s shop, Seafood Chest, revealing a striking restaurant with brilliant views of the Onkaparinga River and beyond.