Rose Thai - Restaurant review.

It is common knowledge in the inner northern burbs that Rose Thai is a cheap and cheerful venue. It does have a lot going for it once you make it through the front door, if you didn't make it through the front door you would sight the ramshackle appearance or the rank smell in the car park or the dirty street frontage on Churchill rd. All of these things are exactly what I would associate with a Thai food outlet, there are some very dirty, stinky venues in the streets of Thailand. It all adds to the authenticity of the food - perhaps the few types of cooking where impression of uncleanliness adds to the vibe. The food has it's moments of brilliance but remains relatively basic. Try not to stray to far from the classics Thai dishes as they are named thus for a reason. The chefs specials are fun and quirky in a 1988 sort of way - flaming parcels of fish curry! With pink walls and blue table settings and crown mints it is all a nostalgic mix of old aussie china take out with a new aussie clientele attitude. A few chilled imported rice lagers and things look good, the bill arrives only when they want you to leave and that looks good more often than not. Take away or definitely book as they are busy at the strangest times - like when you can't be stuffed cooking your own grub. It's cheap, cheerful and not trying to change into anything, but may even be creating that port hole into the past that Adelaide is well known for.


Giles

Lucky Asian Grocery, Kilburn - Review.

Being lucky is a completely random occurrence, you can tell when your luck is running cos all those things you are wishing and hoping for just sort of happen. I was wishing and hoping for all of the ingredients for my home made pho to be in the one convenient location, preferably close to home. My efforts up the road were in vain, limp herbs and no bean sprouts. So off I go to get lucky! Fresh Asian herbs, strange cuts of meat and more Asian products than an electrical store. It is a haven for the forgotten products like green papaya for Thai salads and specialty jars of rare and endangered animals. So I got lucky! Oh yeah the home made pho was not bad, so get lucky for all that is good and quirky. Great produce and mind bogglingly cheap!!



Giles

Minestrone Soup, Recipe ~ Video.

Review - Pho @ Charlies Shack.

With a hot tip comment left on The Scullery blog I thought it would be
worth a look in at Charlies Shack on Grote st. On a Tuesday evening
the need for cheap and cheerful Is paramount. Thankfully there is no
fuss at the shack, so the prices are rock bottom and the service is
bare bones. But those bare bones are extremely efficient, cooking,
delivering, taking orders and anything else you care to think of. The
rare beef pho is the go to dish at Charlies, large or small it is a
bowl full of goodness. No wonder pho is the national dish of Vietnam,
it is tasty, filling and has absolutely nothing fake involved. The
quality of the broth, meat and veg is reassuring with the throw
together feel of the place their output is top knotch. Hey it is a
shack! So for the cheapest fastest healthiest meal you could have -
Get to Charlies Shack.

Continental quest! Review.

I have some favourite continental stores where I buy things I don't need - tasty things!

Forza Continental is a low key building on Holbrooks Rd, which is full of freshly baked bread, smallgoods, cheese and everything that is pickled, preserved and imported.
I used to study at a now demolished uni campus across the road and a few slices of provolone, coppa, lepinja and a cold chinotto was all cheaper than the unibar lunch - Brilliant!

Gaganis Bros. is the giant of Adelaide wholesale food importers, they have absolutely everything you need. From wine making to rare liqueurs, frozen pastries, aisles of fetta cheese and of course the cheapest charcoal in town - BBQ bargains everywhere! I love this place, just try and avoid the coin counting Nonna's, they take for ever at the check out.

Omega Foods is the smaller version of Gaganis, but it prides itself on a superb deli section with an amazing olive and cheese section, beans pulses and herbs also feature prominently. Go there to learn...

Imma & Mario's Mercato is the new age of continental store, it has a modern look with a glossy fit out. It is a very good layout with the deli section in the middle and the cafe section to one side, I wonder up and down the aisle's wondering if I will ever be rich enough to afford all of it! It is all very well presented and still reasonably priced - make the trek up Lower North East Rd. and you will be impressed and very jealous that the northerners have it so good!

Thebarton Foodland IGA is possibly the best supermarket for continental goods in general, I don't think they would have ever sold out of sliced white 'nothing' bread. The loaves are crusty and the tinned tomato's are dirt cheap, and sometimes the sultry deli girls laugh at one of your jokes. They are like mermaids with their siren's song drawing you to the sharp rocks of the smallgoods deli! You leave confused.... with so much more produce than you thought you asked for.

Barilla Continental Store is a little continental store compared to the bigger wholesalers mentioned above, but what these guys have is passion. During the last heat wave that sat on Adelaide like a school yard bully I travelled regularly to Grange Beach for a dip. On my return journey I would slip in for a canoli and some fresh coffee, every time I was greeted with happy gusto! My enquiries about my out of order home espresso machine were treated as though my own child was near death. New seals were selected and my espresso maker is purring. Oh yeah and they do pasta.

Search the map on the right hand side for the specific locations of these gems!
Giles