In this week’s column: Coffee with a cause, 18 more small bars set to open in Adelaide, new brews, and a young vegetable grower gets a head start.

Salisbury City Roasters

No, this is not the name of a northern suburbs netball team, it’s a new social enterprise in the form of a small-batch coffee roaster based at Salisbury.

Ben Cosford, part-time pastor in the Salisbury Anglican Church and part-time boutique coffee roaster, recently launched Salisbury City Roasters as a way to help communities in Africa and Indonesia become more financially independent.

Salisbury City Roasters’ Ben Cosford. Photo: supplied

“I want to source beans through relationships with coffee-growing communities rather than just through fair-trade sources,” Cosford says.

“I am working on one source of beans through a relationship with Muninyah Parish Church in Burundi, Africa, through a contact over there through my brother-in-law, who runs a project called Microjointventures.

“The Muninyah Parish Church community started up a small coffee plantation in June 2012, growing beans to help them survive; they’re going pretty well. I’m waiting to receive my first sample which I’ll taste and if it’s good I’ll order a few sacks.

“Part of that process means that if I go back and say it’s not good quality, it pushes them to improve their quality. Not only does it provide an income but it pushes them to have a better product.

“Until I receive the Muninyah beans, I’m working with a fair-trade bean that I’ve been buying from a re-seller in NSW called Brazil Toffee Cerrado.”

Another coffee bean source is Indonesia, where it is hoped that sustainable farming will help discourage human trafficking.

“I want to introduce people who buy beans here to the families and farms Salisbury City Roasters sources from by profiling their stories through Facebook.

“People will want to buy beans when there’s a cause like that. It’s coffee with a cause.”

As the Salisbury City Roasters business establishes itself, Cosford will seek a grant to get a commercial-size roaster so he can provide work experience for new refugees by training them in roasting, packaging and book-keeping.

Roastery ‘cellar door’

Two of the team members behind Renew Adelaide’s Colab café and SAD café in Ebenezer Place, coffee roasters Nick Suggit and Dom Ossa, have also been working on opening a cellar door for their Dawn Patrol roastery at Kangarilla.

Located next to the Yangarra Estate Vineyard, the Dawn Patrol cellar door will offer the opportunity to taste the current range of single-estate beans roasted on-site. The Dawn Patrol roaster will open to the public on the Anzac weekend.

New Adelaide cafe Colab opened last week at 1 King William Street. Photo: Wee Ching Kong

More small bars on the way

It’s not just boutique coffee roasters that are popping up all over the place – Restaurant and Catering SA reports that another 18 small bars are planning to open in Adelaide.

“The small-bar scene in Adelaide has experienced a huge flurry of activity in the last six months,” explains Restaurant and Catering SA CEO Sally Neville.

“With 18 new bars still to open, the concern is whether or not they’re sustainable, considering some of the existing businesses aren’t doing that well. It will only put pressure on existing operators and new operators.

“March was a particularly bad month for industry, with a drop in revenue of 50 per cent because of the impact of transient festival trade.”

However, Neville says the growth in the small-bar sector is terrific for consumers because it gives them enormous choice.

She says consumers in the suburbs will enjoy restaurateur Walter Ventura’s new Glen Osmond Road bar Hispanic Mechanic, which is set to open in the next week, as well as Fish Wine bar in Goodwood.

Brew and Chew pops up in Adelaide’s West End

One of the first of the next wave of new bars in the city, Antony Tropeano’s Brew and Chew in Hindley Street, will showcase Tropeano’s own craft beer, Malt Fiction ‘13’.

“Our unique menu is designed to complement the brews on offer,” says Tropeano. “We have pulled some inspiration from the success of our Southern-American-food-inspired menu at The Curious Squire.”

The menu will include dishes such as pulled pork sliders, mac and cheese sundaes, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks, while the fridge will also host a range of local craft beers and ciders. – Alison Wright

Hungry Hippo Board Game Café

Hungry Hippo Board Game Cafe interior. Photo: Wee Ching Kong

Another Renew Adelaide pop-up café that opened this month on a vacant property awaiting re-development is the Hungry Hippo Board Game Café.

More than 250 board games and a cheap and cheerful menu will keep customers entertained, with items such as Burgers and BattleChips, The Soup Yahtzee (soup of the day) and Dip’lomacy (a trio of dips).

The Hungry Hippo Board Game Café opened its doors at the old BBQ Inn site at 196 Hindley Street, Adelaide, on International Board Game Day. – Alison Wright

Scholarship growing young farmers

2015 Young Farmers Scholarship recipient Kate Washington. Photo: supplied

McLaren Vale’s Kate Washington invested her life savings in a plot of land to farm her specialist heirloom vegetables and now she’s received $10, 000 from the Willunga Farmers Market to help her grow the business.

Washington, 31, applied for the inaugural Young Farmers Scholarship in 2014 and, after missing out, sunk her life savings into a reclaimed vineyard block to trial what would grow well. She then reapplied for the scholarship in 2015 – and this time won the award.

The Young Farmers Scholarship was developed in response to the declining number of farmers in the agricultural industry and assists those who are interested in farming but lack the land, equipment and start-up capital to ensure a positive future in farming on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

“Winning the scholarship has allowed me to realise something I’ve been actively working toward for the past three years,” says Washington. “I want to grow different varieties of food to get people excited about buying local food and cooking it at home.”

Willunga Farmers Market is providing scholarship recipients with $3000 worth of small business and agricultural training, together with a $7000 cash component to grow primary produce on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Washington will also receive a guaranteed licence to trade and a stall site at Willunga Farmers Market to supply produce for two years. – Alison Wright

Vale Brewing welcomes brothers’ new brew

Vale Brewing’s Tim, Pete and Michael Collin. Photo: supplied

Previously known as McLaren Vale Beer Company, Vale Brewing was founded in 2008 by a few mates with a love of craft beer. Now, brothers Tim, Pete and Michael Collin (pictured above) have taken ownership, buying out fellow shareholders Greg Mackay and Mark Rodgers.

Giving the company a new image, the Collins brothers promise to fortify Vale Brewing’s standing as a premium brewer of well-crafted beer and cider, while adding new lines to the range, the first of these being Brothers Brew Kolsch beer, a style which is considered “the champagne of beers”.

“Kolsch is Germany’s answer to the British pale ale and gets its characteristic, slightly fruity flavour from its own special ale yeast and cool-fermented brew which is then aged and mellowed near freezing point,” says head brewer Jeff Wright.

While Brothers Brew Kolsch is a bit of a light-hearted play on the three Collin brothers taking over the company, Tim Collin says what’s inside the kegs is serious stuff indeed.

“We’re thrilled that the company is now 100 per cent family-owned and we’re sending out a strong message that we are committed to craft-brewing excellence and innovation.”

The cellar door has moved further up McMurtrie Road from its previous premises at the Salopian Inn to Red Poles, where it shares a space for tastings and sales with Brick Kiln Wine. – Alison Wright

This week at the Central Market

Fresh Riverland-grown jujubes. Photo: supplied

A Vietnamese family at Renmark has just picked its first crop of fresh jujubes (also known as Chinese dates and pommes surettes).

The small dates are produced on an orchard of just 100 jujube trees, which has taken eight years to produce fruit. Similar in texture to a crunchy apple, jujubes can be eaten fresh or added to fruit salads. Be quick, as only five kilograms of jujubes are available from Cocos Fruit & Vegetables, stall 20-21, Adelaide Central Market.

What’s on?

Festival Fleurieu – until April 19
Formerly known as The Leafy Sea Dragon Festival, Festival Fleurieu now promises more than 90 events in 50 venues across the Western Fleurieu region.

Barossa Vintage Festival – until April 19
The 2015 program for the Barossa Vintage Festival offers 95 events celebrating the region’s rich heritage and gastronomic pleasures over five days.

Photo: supplied

The Hill of Grace InDaily Wine Dinner – April 23
InDaily has partnered with the Hill of Grace Restaurant at Adelaide Oval to offer readers an exclusive preview of the new autumn/winter menu, with dishes presented by head chef Dennis Leslie and matched to premium and museum wine selected by winemaker Stephen Henschke.

The five-course menu and wine list includes:

Kinilaw lobster, sea asparagus, ginger gel, shallots, candied red chili, soy and cane vinegar gel and sweet red chili cracker / 2005 & 2012 Croft Chardonnay.
Ginataan quail, crispy sweet potato leaves, karkalla and crisp saltbush / 2000 & 2013 Joseph Hill Gewurztraminer.
Grilled betamax, chocolate custard, shaved chocolate, bacon juice and crispy bacon / 2013 Johann’s Garden GMS.
Grilled wagyu beef flank, beetroot glaze, beetroot gel, roasted beetroot, onion puree and Kangaroo Island native cranberry / 2000 Hill of Grace Shiraz.
Caramel, vanilla and pineapple gel, Barossa Valley Cheese Co Le Petit Prince, pickled podded radish / 2013 Noble Rot Gewurztraminer.
Haighs Chocolates petit fours.

The Hill of Grace InDaily Wine Dinner will be held at Hill of Grace Restaurant at Adelaide Oval on April 23 at 7pm. Tickets are $195 per head. Individual and group bookings are welcome. Numbers are strictly limited. For bookings, call 8205 4777 or email here.

Coriole Autumn Degustation – May 1
Join Coriole head chef Tom Reid for a six-course degustation from the Courtyard Restaurant autumn menu matched to Coriole wines. Canapes of sour kohlrabi, puffed pork skin and wild radish rabe will be served with 2013 bottle-fermented Prosecco from 6pm, followed by kingfish and 2010 ‘Optimist’ Reserve Chenin Blanc, smoked tommy ruffs served with 2013 Barbera, Coorong Angus Brisket served with 1990 Shiraz, boudin noir served with 2007 Vita Sangiovese, and iced white chocolate parfait with 2013 Mistelle fortified Chenin Blanc. Tickets are $125 per person. For bookings, phone 8323 8305.

Sea and Vines Festival – June 5 to 8

Enjoy the view from d’Arry’s Verandah at the Sea and Vines Festival. Photo: supplied

Dozens of parties, degustations, rare tastings, master-classes and other celebrations will be held at McLaren Vale cellar doors and wineries from June 5-8 in what will be the 23rd year of the Sea and Vines Festival.

“This year’s festival events are divided into three broad categories, to help people plan their perfect weekend,” says event manager Alistair Cranney.

“’Relish’ events are special one-off opportunities occurring right across the weekend, such as a lavish 10-course Thai banquet at Woodstock, the ‘Church Block Sunday Service’ with Fino at Wirra Wirra, and the Compadres’ Fiesta, which brings together neighbouring wineries d’Arenberg and SC Pannell.

“’Sunday Experience’ tickets are for those looking to sample a great mix of food, wine and music with a real party atmosphere, attending their choice of three different participating wineries across the day.

“Then, ‘Monday Zest’ events are all family-friendly with free entry – wine drinkers can simply purchase a special Plumm glass for $10 at their first destination and then everyone is free to visit as many wineries as they choose!”