Recently, I visited Villa 77 and honestly, I was blown away.

Situated on Unley Road, the restaurant is neatly tucked away – a true hidden gem. If you’re not seeking its vibrant red door with eyes peeled, you’ll miss it (just like I did).

A house-turned-restaurant, Villa 77 has a cosy vibe, with lights dimmed, classic Spanish music overhead and Spanish memorabilia everywhere.

For entrée, we ate Albondigas Picantes con Tomate (spicy meatballs with tomatoes), which was so flavourful.

Our Paella de Pollo, though –  with chicken, chorizo and mushroom – was ridiculously good.

It was so vibrant and the spices were amazing in every bite. The chicken was cooked perfectly and by serving it in its cast iron pan, the layer of crispy rice at the bottom, which paella is so famous for, was there to be enjoyed in all its golden glory.

In fact, the Spanish call it soccarat, and they love it so much they fight over it. It’s actually common in many rice eating cultures, such as Persian and Korean, but known under different aliases. Whatever it’s called, once you try it, you’ll wish that’s how everything tasted.

The staff were super friendly and, on the first Friday of every month, the restaurant hosts a FLAMENCO NIGHT which I DIDN’T KNOW and am now DYING to go to.

So, if you want authentic Spanish food, Villa 77 is the way to go.

And believe me, I’ll be walking through that red door with an “¡Hola!” as soon as I possilbly can.

Cheers,

SAvour

Now, for everyone’s favourite food of all time. Pizza.

In this post, I’ve listed the top 3 best pizza places in Adelaide and let me tell you; I did not come to play.  

Some venues pay homage to the classics, while others dare to go modern, dabbling in the art of gourmet pizzas.

Honestly, this may be the most important post I ever write. I feel like I’m doing a service to the people of Adelaide, and may I say –  it’s an honour.

1. La Trattoria, King William Street

Pizza I tried: La Trattoria Special. Generous with toppings without sacrificing the crispy base. Very important.

Accompaniment: Garlic bread. As wholesome and iconic as the establishment itself.

Interior: Very classic. I feel like I’ve gone back in time to an Italian house in the 60s, or like I’m in The Godfather and Marlon Brando is going to magically pop up and make me an offer I can’t refuse. The restaurant’s clean, understated features, with white linen tablecloths and dark wooden furniture, allow the food to be the star, while the closely gathered tables give you that big Mediterranean family feel. Here, you feel like you’ve come home. Here, everyone has a nonna. 

2. Chicco Palms, Henley Beach Road

Pizza I tried: Capricciosa. Oh, and the Fior di Latte they use on their pizzas? Just shut up and take my money.

Accompaniments: A lettuce salad, which somehow still blew my mind.

Vibe: Very eclectic! The high ceilings, pastel colour theme and Santa Vittoria featured on the walls create an all year-round summer feel. The seating is equally as funky, with laced metal chairs and minimalist white tables. However, the mosaic wood oven on display, tying everything together, is undeniably the heart of this Italian gem.

3. Tony Tomatoes, O’Connell Street

Pizza I tried: Salame. The toppings were so vibrant and flavourful, every bite was a party in my mouth.

Accompaniments: Radicchio Arancini and complementary Sicilian olives, a.k.a. my favourite way to warm-up for a pizza marathon.

Vibe: Very modern and chic, featuring a bar in the centre of the restaurant. I felt like I was in a trendy venue in Manhattan. They served the pizza on elevated wire racks [see above], which freed up a lot of table-space you’d normally lose when ordering pizza. It also made the pizza seem like a piece of artwork on display, and who can argue with that?

So there you have it! My favourite pizza places in Adelaide. Next time you’re feeling like a slice, do yourself and your friends a favour, and check them out!

Cheers,

SAvour

Want to eat out but don’t want to ruin an entire week’s worth of being ‘good’?

Then here are a few tips on how to keep an eye on the waistline that won’t make eating-out a bore.

1. Pass on the pane

I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so very sorry. But experts have found that avoiding bread, especially white bread (which is full of highly refined grains), may be the key to keeping off the extra kilo or two. Also, as processed carbs can make blood sugars spike and often contain very little fibre, they won’t keep you feel for very long and lack any nutritional value.

2. Rosé all the way

When it comes to pasta, cream sauces are delicious but are often super high in calories. Next time you’re craving a carbonara, why not go for a rosé instead? That way, you’re still getting that silky, creamy flavour but with a tomato-base sauce. It’s literally two sauces in one with a fraction of the guilt. You’re welcome.

3. Just surf, no turf

Fish is generally healthier than red meat. According to the heart foundation, this is because fish has less saturated fats, which are known to raise blood cholesterol levels and worsen heart disease. Meanwhile, the unsaturated fats found in fish, such as salmon, can be quite healthy. For example, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish can lower the risk of a number of illnesses, such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, cardiac arrest and even the ischemic stroke, which is the most common type.  

So, for your next meal, why not try a grilled fish or spaghetti marinara? Or, if you can’t bear the thought of skipping meat, opt for chicken instead, as this also has less saturated fats than red meat.

4. Walk it off

This is probably my favourite tip, because not only does it leave you feeling amazing afterwards, but its an excuse to stretch out your brunch or your dinner just a little longer!

Drew Harrisberg, clinical exercise physiologist and sport scientist and diabetes educator, says he walks regularly to help manage his Type 1 Diabetes as there are numerous health benefits to walking. Firstly, walking regulates post-meal blood sugar levels, allowing sugar in the bloodstream to be absorbed without needing a huge insulin spike, which contributes to long-term. It is also a proven way to destress, lower blood pressure, burn fat (by increasing your metabolism), and increase the flow of endorphins in the body, which will put you in a better mood.  

If all those benefits aren’t enough to convince you, then go for the sights! Adelaide looks amazing at night! After dinner, you could go for stroll along North Terrace past the fairy-light studded trees and then down to the River Torrens via the lit-up bridge, which will take you to Adelaide Oval.

Or, if you’re wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, go for a beach walk instead. Brighton or Grange are the perfect for a post-lunch or brunch stroll. Or, if you’ve just had dinner, visit Glenelg or Henley Square, as they both have an great atmosphere at night.

So, there you are! A collection of effective and easy tips that’ll make even the most decadent of nights out guilt-free.

Cheers,

SAvour

The following is an adaptation of my article published at ‘On the Record’. For the full article, click here.

Ten years ago, eating out as a vegan in Adelaide would only get a salad, maybe a bowl of pasta if you were lucky. Nowadays, vegans can expect an entire culinary experience at most eateries.

One business leading the trend is Staazi and Co, South Australia’s first Greek vegan eatery, co-owned by husband and wife team, Roger Brackley and Anastasia “Staazi” Lavrentiadis.

“This whole project is about being kind and showing that we don’t need to harm other sentient beings, ever.”

Originally only a food truck, Staazi made its debut appearance at the 2017 Vegan Festival in Adelaide. Fortunately, however, the business recently announced that their three-month old pop-up store on Grenfell Street would remain open over summer.

I was lucky enough to talk to Anastasia about the inspiration behind Staazi, veganism and her niche in SA’s food scene.

“[Our physical store] came from the demand from the vegan community and our customers. They wanted to be able to get our food on a more regular basis, without having to stalk our truck,” Anastasia said.

“We didn’t know exactly what the menu would be,” she said. “We originally wanted to do lots of chickpeas and fasolakia [green beans], and stuff like that.

“But, as it evolved, we [realised that] it’s hard to serve those dishes without a restaurant. At festivals, people want to grab things and go… they want something greasy and satisfying.”

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To retain the meaty taste the yiros and AB are famous for, Staazi and Co developed a meat substitute, which is about as satisfying as lamb itself, if not more.

“The “lamb” is plant-based…it’s made of [a] mixture of soybeans, gluten and our own secret herbs and spices,” Anastasia said.

“As a vegan, you could get a chip yiros but this way, you get the complete product.”

She hopes Staazi will prove food can be cruelty-free and still taste amazing.

“There is a misconception that if food doesn’t contain animal products that it’s going to be lacking… also, that Greek food is only meat and dairy,” Anastasia said.

“This whole project is about being kind and showing that we don’t need to harm other sentient beings, ever.”

You can catch Staazi and Co on Grenfell Street’s East End, or check out their Insta at @staazi_and_co

Cheers,

SAvour