Para Hills Hot Bread Bakery - Adelaide, South Australia

A diamond in the rough, a needle in the haystack, an awesome bakery in the Para Hills Bridge Road Shopping Centre. It's not the kind of place you're likely to stumble upon, but it's well worth seeking out. Thuy Vu is the owner of Para Hills Hot Bread Bakery and she is clearly passionate about baking. After migrating to Australia from Vietnam on a refugee boat at age 18, she worked in a Salisbury bakery before later starting her own business in 2002. She's won numerous awards, some of which are proudly listed on the sign above the shop.



Front and center as you walk into the shop is a glorious display of savoury pies, pasties and sausage rolls. The selection is quite impressive with all of the usual suspects and a few originals as well.



Look left or right and you'll see sweets galore. Cakes, tarts, lamingtons, slices and more. How's a girl to choose?



The plain meat pie is generally a good indicator of bakery standards. This one looked good on the outside. Nice flaky pastry and beautifully golden in colour.



Biting into the Meat Pie ($4) and it's clear this is no ordinary bakery. It's not just good, it's great! Nice, quality beef in a smooth and tasty brown sauce.



As an awesome twist on the great South Aussie pie floater, you'll find the Mushy Meat Pie ($4.50).



It's basically a Meat Pie but with mushy peas on top of the beef. Genius!



The meat pies are excellent, but my favourite pie from Para Hills Hot Bread Bakery would have to be the Tuna Mornay ($4.50). Bonus points for the fact that it comes with a little pastry fish on top.



This pie is so ridiculously creamy, cheesy and delicious. If you like tuna, you will LOVE this pie!



The Chicken Pie ($4.30) is my second favourite because it reminds me of chicken pot pies from my childhood. Hearty, warming and full of chicken and veggies.



The best of the sweets that I've tried so far is the French Vanilla Slice ($3.50). The custard has a beautiful creamy smooth texture and a good strong vanilla flavour. The pastry is crunchy and flaky. This is a must try.



If you're looking for a great bakery in Adelaide's northern suburbs, look no further than Para Hills Hot Bread Bakery. They're open 7 days from 6am. If you want a particular item, I recommend getting there as early as you can or pre-ordering because they do sell out.

P.S. The chocolate doughnuts aren't bad either.

Nordburger - Norwood, South Australia

Burger bars have been popping up like crazy around Adelaide lately. One of the most recent additions to Adelaide's growing burger scene is Nordburger (168 The Parade, Norwood), which first opened its doors on the 4th of July 2013. Parking is easy since it's so close to Norwood Mall. Off street parking is available in the Coles carpark or across the road at the Foodland carpark.



Though it may sound Scandinavian to some, the name "Nord" is also short for Norwood.



Inside, it's a long and skinny shop with orders taken at the register near the entrance and a few stools for those choosing to eat in.



If you can't find a seat along the main counter, there are a couple more seats as well as a couple of stand up tables at the back. Of course, take away is an option as well.



We managed to snag ourselves a couple of stools and enjoyed watching the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, which included MasterChef 2011 runner-up Michael Weldon working the grill.



If you're after a cold drink, try a Dr Pepper, A&W Cream Soda, Cherry Coke, or TAB. Or choose from one of the milkshakes...
Classic: strawberry, vanilla or chocolate ($6)
Specialties: pretzel, cornflake, salted caramel, or peanut butter & jelly ($7)
We tried the salted caramel and loved it. I noticed they use Tweedvale milk too - great stuff!



On to the main event...the burger! We ordered a Nordburger ($7.80) which comes topped with pickles, tomato, lettuce, mustard, ketchup, and Nord sauce. We also added cheese ($0.70). The beef patty was seasoned and cooked perfectly and seemed a little bit thicker than some skimpy patties I've had elsewhere recently. Bun was fresh, toppings and sauces were all very tasty. This was an excellent burger!

For sides, the choices were tater tots, crinkle cut fries or crinkle cut fries with chipotle seasoning (small $2.50/large $3). We ordered the crinkle cut fries (small) and Nord sauce ($0.50). When I saw the fries from a distance, I wasn't overly excited. Upon closer inspection however, they were nice and crunchy and not too heavy on the salt - very moreish. The Nord sauce is almost identical to Shake Shack's shack sauce (delicious) and was well worth the extra 50 cents for an excellent dipping sauce.



We decided to try a hot dog as well, the New York ($5.90). Isn't it pretty? It's a Vienna sausage topped with pickled red onion, everything bagel (I think this is a reference to the poppy seeds & sesame seeds), mustard & ketchup. The bun was sturdy but soft. The sausage and toppings were well matched and very enjoyable.



So far, we've thoroughly enjoyed everything we've consumed at Nordburger and we're looking forward to our next visit in the near future. Check them out if you can, but try to avoid peak meal times unless you're happy to line and up and possibly choose take away. Space is quite limited in the shop.

Asian Gourmet - Adelaide, South Australia

New love: a classic eating spot in the Adelaide Central Market called Asian Gourmet. This place has been a family run, Adelaide institution for over 35 years. We were a bit late to the party, but now we're hooked.



You can find Asian Gourmet inside the markets directly across from Camera House. They're open 6 days (closed Sundays) opening at 9:30 or 10:30am each day. Closing times vary from 3-5pm depending on the day and they stay open on Friday nights until 9pm. Seating is available both inside and outside the shop.



The signature dish at Asian Gourmet is the Singapore Laksa ($9.50). The lime green bowl looks quite small, but it comes packed full of goodness - prawns, fried tofu, shredded chicken, bean sprouts, coconut cream, egg noodles and more. It's bigger than it looks and sure to satisfy. I haven't found a better laksa anywhere else in Adelaide. Beware though that the standard amount of chili is on the hot side so some may wish to ask for mild.



It's hard to go past the Singapore Laksa but everything else I've tried so far has been excellent as well. The Fried Seafood Hokkien Mee ($9.50) is full of seafood, in a slightly sweet sauce with a lemon wedge. Delicious!



Another one of my favourites is Fried Mee Hoon ($9.90). This comes with sliced pork, prawns, fried egg, bean sprouts and thin rice noodles. Again, the default amount of chili is on the hot side so keep this in mind when ordering.



We're very fortunate to have the Lo family cooking great value Malaysian favourites for us in the Adelaide Central Markets. We've become regular customers at Asian Gourmet and have even fallen in love with laksa for breakfast!

Note: Cash Only.

Kytons Hot Cross Buns with Menz FruChocs - Adelaide, South Australia

I first fell in love with Kytons Bakery for their fresh, fluffy lamingtons dipped in rich chocolate and coated with plenty of coconut. These lamingtons are so good that they won 1st Prize in the 2008 National Baking Awards in Sydney. Kytons products are mostly sold as fundraisers for community groups and sporting clubs across South Australia and Victoria.You can also find them in most FoodLand and IGA stores as well as a selection of other retailers. We purchased this pack from our local FoodLand for Australia Day and loved every bite.



In addition to their amazing lamingtons, Kytons also sells hot cross buns in the lead up to Easter. This year, they've partnered with Menz to produce the new hot cross buns with FruChocs!



This might sound like a strange combination to some, but it totally works! First, slice open the bun to reveal the awesome FruChocs inside. FruChocs are a South Australian icon, now sold nationwide. Note that due to pronunciation problems interstate they're called Choc Apricot Balls outside of SA. FruChocs are so awesome they even have their own Appreciation Society.



I like to slice the hot cross bun in half and spread some butter or margarine inside. Next I recommend lightly toasting them before serving with a cuppa tea.



The chocolate melts, the apricot stays chewy, and the edges get toasted and crunchy. They taste like a mix between fruit-filled and chocolate buns so they're a hybrid hot cross bun that is the perfect celebration of South Australia.



I hope everyone buys the new Kytons hot cross buns with FruChocs this year to ensure they keep making them every year. Check the list of Stockists (alphabetical by suburb) to see where you can get yours.

Daily Choice - Adelaide, South Australia

Daily Choice in Southern Cross is the original spot for Vietnamese rolls (banh mi) around Rundle Mall. The staff at Daily Choice were churning out sandwiches to queues of hungry customers long before the trendy Soonta Rolls and Miss Mai came along. Since the arrival of these new competitors in nearby James Place, Daily Choice is definitely less busy than in the past, but you may still need to line up with loyal customers for one of their old school Vietnamese rolls. You won't wait long though because staff are efficient and the line moves quickly. If you do go down the banh mi path, you can choose Lemongrass Chicken, BBQ Pork, Stewed Beef, Vietnamese Ham, or Crispy Skin Roast Pork for $4.50. Or if you can't pick just one, go for the Combination Roll for $5.50.



If you're keen on a lighter option and/or want to skip the queue, walk straight up to the little fridge on the left and go for my favourite - a pack of their awesome cold rolls. You can get Chicken, BBQ Pork, Prawn or a combo pack. 2 rolls costs $4.20. A pack of 2 Vegetarian rolls is only $3.30. These are not your average cold rolls - they're jumbo sized. They also come with a choice of either Hoisin or Sweet Chilli dipping sauce.


Chicken & Pork cold rolls ($4.20)

The quality and freshness is consistently good, the sauce is tasty, the price is right, and they're both filling and relatively healthy so the cold rolls from Daily Choice are in my regular rotation for city lunches.

Protip: Due to the ginormous size of these cold rolls, I recommend dipping prior to the first bite, then carefully pouring a little bit of sauce prior to each subsequent bite. This pour method avoids the contents of the roll ending up in the sauce. Just make sure you ration your sauce so you don't run out before you finish the second roll. Enjoy!

Sneaky Pickle - Adelaide, South Australia

With the support of the Adelaide City Council and Splash Adelaide, the number of food trucks is rapidly increasing. Fork on the Road is Adelaide's very own street food event which brings together as many mobile vendors as possible in a celebration of street food. The inaugural event was held on 30 Nov 2012 in Victoria Square. People must be loving it because the turnout was HUGE!



The second Fork On The Road was held on 21 Dec 2012 in Hindmarsh Square. This was the first day we discovered newcomer Sneaky Pickle! The truck's name and paint job were just too awesome to pass up.



When I saw Fried Pickles ($5) on the menu I simply had to try them. The crunch from the batter and the crunch from the pickle make for a perfectly sneaky, crunchy combo. The fried pickles come with a zesty creamy mayo for dipping too. They're salty, sour, and divine! I'd choose these over chips (french fries) any day.



We also ordered the Pastrami on Rye with slaw & pickles ($9). If you're not familiar with pastrami, it's basically smoked corned beef. Pastrami was brought to the United States by Romanian Jewish immigrants in the late 1800's and first became popular in New York City at places like Katz's Deli. Sneaky Pickle makes their own pastrami and puts some thin sliced rye bread around it.



The sandwich comes standard with cheese and mustard, but I also like to add some of the self-serve bbq sauce. Along with the sandwich you also get a side of creamy slaw and two slices of dill pickle. Yum!



The newest item on the menu is Texas Pulled Pork w/ BBQ Corn & Bread 'n Butter Pickles ($9).



This sandwich is soft, juicy, and very moreish with a great crunch from the coleslaw. This is the best pulled pork I've had so far in Adelaide and I think it's going to be very tough to beat.



Sneaky Pickle definitely adds distinct flavours and styles to Adelaide's street food scene. The quality and uniqueness of the food will keep me coming back. The best way to keep tabs on where to find Sneaky Pickle is via Facebook or Twitter.

Update 21 Jan 2013:
Last week, Sneaky Pickle added a new sandwich into their rotation - The Reuben ($9). Corned beef, melted swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on toasted rye bread. It also comes with a great homemade tangy Russian dressing which is perfect for dipping. Sides of crinkle cut potato chips and a sneaky pickle round out the meal. This is my new favourite menu item and I highly recommend everyone to try the Reuben as soon as you can.

Dessert Story - Adelaide, South Australia

After falling in love with Meet Fresh in Sydney, we were thrilled when we first found Dessert Story in Melbourne's Chinatown. We loved the Melbourne location so much that we kept going back so we couldn't believe our eyes when the first Adelaide location opened several months ago on Gouger Street. First Breadtop came to Adelaide, then Mother's Crepe, now this! Life is good.



As you walk in, the glow of the orange lanterns welcomes you before the sheer size of the menu overwhelms you. There's certainly no lack of choices with Taiwanese and Hong Kong style desserts as well as drinks on offer. The vast majority of the menu is priced around $6-$8, which makes for a very reasonably priced dessert.



The gigantic menu can be broken down into the following:

Taiwanese Desserts (in black bowl/plate) - 

Taro, Herbal Jelly, Black Glutinous Rice, Puddings, Tofu Puddings, Snow Ice and Crushed Ice.

Hong Kong Desserts (in orange bowl) - 

Sago or Black Pearl Soup, Tofu Pudding, Black Glutinous Rice, Grass Jelly, Ice Cream.

Fruit Smoothies (in clear plastic cup) - 

Drinks with some choices containing predefined ingredients or you can build your own combinations.

Choose your category, then choose the specific item number. It's best to order by number rather than name because the names are very similar. You may be asked if you'd like your dessert hot or cold. I generally go with cold because I like to eat the ice. If you choose hot it will come in a warm soup. After ordering at the counter, you'll be given a number on a little stand. Staff will compile the ingredients, find your number and deliver the order to your table.

I'm not a fan of the Herbal Jelly or the Grass Jelly. I think they must be an acquired taste in a similar way to Vegemite. I've tried most of the other categories and my pick of the entire menu is #15 - Taro Balls with Honey Bean, Coconut Jelly, Pearls ($6.80). I love the different textures and flavours. This one is quite filling as well so can be shared between two people if you're not overly hungry.



The fruit smoothies are fun too, especially if you enjoy different textures in your drinks like pearls, jellies or fruit. Here's one of the set options: Mango Coconut drink ($5.90).



It's also important to note that the ice shaving machine is a penguin. This is awesome because he's cute (see red bow tie), appropriate (penguins and ice go together), and useful (he shaves ice for the cold desserts).

I strongly believe that the negative reviews online are mostly due to the fact that people in Adelaide have no idea what to order. This is completely understandable as we've never had this kind of dessert shop in Adelaide before. It takes a bit of patience and adventure to navigate the myriad of choices, but it's well worth the effort. Dessert Story in Adelaide is one of my favourite stops for sweets because their desserts are different, affordable, and fun.