Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival – July 6-8

This year’s festival at the historic Brick Dairy Pavilion at Adelaide Showgrounds will deliver three days of beer, barbecue and beats, including discussions with brewers, master-classes and the Up in Smoke BBQ competition. More than 80 brewers and cider-makers will be represented at the festival, alongside barbecuers including Canadian TV chef Matty Matheson, the boys from Adelaide’s Low ‘N’ Slow American BBQ and Victorian vegan chef Shannon Martinez. Tickets are split across four different sessions, and a few anticipated highlights from the “talkfest” side of things include: Beer Geek – Old vs New Beer (1pm Saturday), a discussion about current trends; The Great Independence Debate (3pm Saturday), which will see industry types such as Pirate Life’s Michael Cameron and Hawkers Beer’s Mazen Hajjar debating the value of independent ownership; and Chefs between Two Ferns (1.30pm Saturday), a “candid” discussion in which chefs including Duncan Welgemoed (Africola) and Shannon Martinez will discuss everything from BBQ trends to mental health. A selection of brewers reveal the special beers they’ll be pouring in this CityMag article.

Sean’s Kitchen Mushroom Madness – until July 7

Fungi fans have just a couple of days left to enjoy the “mushroom madness” happening at Sean’s Kitchen. Until July 7, the Adelaide Casino restaurant is offering a special menu of mushroom dishes, including a mushroom veloute with gold leaf quail egg, popcorn oyster mushrooms and the signature “Orgy of Mushrooms” with ricotta gnocchi (pictured above). The mushrooms are from Beetaloo in the Southern Flinders Ranges, and sommelier Jimmy Parham has selected wines to complement the earthy dishes.

Winterfest at the Port – July 6-22

Amid the program of live music, comedy, workshops and other activities planned for this year’s Winterfest at Port Adelaide are two interesting long lunches. First up, on July 15, is An Indigenous Feast, which will see former Orana head chef Shannon Fleming and his Forgotten Seasons company prepare a sharing-plate meal inspired by Indigenous foods and matched with SA wines and Wattleseed lager (tickets $120). On July 22, former MasterChef contestant and Gut Feeling Fermentation owner Samuel Whitehead and his vegetarian chef sister Yasmin will present a shared vegan Plant Based Feast with matched alcohol (tickets $85).

Barossa Seasons: Winter – July 6-8

Offering an excellent incentive to abandon your winter hibernation, this series of events in the Barossa includes a 1918 Centenary Lunch this Sunday at 1918 Bistro & Grill, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the property and will feature “hearty fare inspired by food circa 1918” enjoyed over a long table with roaring fires. Other events include Winterville, a Christmas in July cocktail party and European-style Christmas Fair hosted by Barossa Distilling; a fortified wine and chocolate truffle matching event at Liebichwein winery, and a fire-pit feast at Schild Estate. See all the events here.

Majella Wine Dinner – July 13

Coonawarra-based winery Majella is presenting this experience at the National Wine Centre, where four back vintages of its Cabernet Sauvignon and Malleea will be paired with dishes by the centre’s executive chef, Steven Clark. Tickets are $120 (available here).

Meri Mole Mexican dinners – July 11 and 18

Mexican tostadas at a Mi Mero Mole dinner. Photo: Mi Mero Mole

We’ve written previously about Mexican cook Daniella Guevara and both her Mi Mero Mole dinners and her Port Adelaide shop La Popular Taqueria. Now she’s bringing them both together, with two five-course dinner parties at La Popular Taqueria that she says will take dinners on an unforgettable culinary journey through Mexico. Alongside SA wines and craft beers, as well as Mexican beers, there will also be a selection of high-end mezcals and tequilas available for purchase. More details and bookings here.

Bastille Day at the Market – July 13-14

Croquembouche demonstrations by Le Cordon Bleu and a champagne bar by Bicchiere Bar will bring a French flavour to the Adelaide Central Market on July 13 and 14. The Bastille Day celebrations will also include live music and kids’ events, but we reckon the piece d’resistance will be a four-course French menu designed and cooked by the effervescent Poh Ling Yeow from Jamface (numbers are limited and you can find out how to book here). The Smelly Cheese shop is also celebrating with a special Cheese After Dark event featuring French cheese, champagne, wine, spirits and “delicacies” alongside State Opera singers.

Bastille Day at La Provence – July 14

CBD restaurant La Provence, in Pirie Street, is serving up a special five-course menu to celebrate Bastille Day. Expect dishes like Potato & Lobster Cube, Fried Quail Egg and Micro Celery with Perigord Truffle Dressing, and a Citrus Plate with Caramelised Lemon Tart, Lime Sorbet, Petit Souffle “Grand Marnier”, Blood Orange Jelly and Bitter Orange Sauce. It’s $98 a head, with more details on the Facebook page.

 Cheese-A-Holics Cheese Festival – July 22

If you love cheese, then Plant 4 Bowden will be the place to be from 11am-6pm on July 22. The Cheese-A-Holics Cheese Festival will offer the chance to taste cheese from the likes of Udder Delights, Milawa Cheese, La Vera, Edwards Crossing and Ashgrove Cheese, as well as sparkling wines from Lloyd Brothers and Paxtons Winery. There will also be two masterclasses on offer: an Italian Cheese and Wine Masterclass with Antonio from Bottega Roloto and a Cheese and Alcohol Lovers Masterclass (looking at pairing cheese with beer and cider) with Lauretta Whittaker from Cheese-A-Holics. Festival entry is $10 and masterclasses are $20 each.

Sip & Sounds – July 22

The National Wine Centre promises to serve up “an indulgent day of wine, food and music” for Sip & Sounds, which is being held as part of the Umbrella Winter City Sounds festival. The centre will be transformed into what is described as an urban cellar door, serving a range of Australian wines and local craft beers and spirits alongside seasonal dishes and live acoustic music. Tickets for Sip & Sounds are $50pp or $45pp for groups of 10 or more, including entry, a Spiegelau wine glass and four complimentary tastings.

Winter Reds – July 27-29

The Adelaide Hills is gearing up for its annual red wine fest, with more than 30 wineries hosting events during this year’s Winter Reds. A few likely highlights are a five-course truffle dinner at Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant; a “low, slow, smoky barbecue” accompanied by museum reds, and soul and blues music at Longview Vineyard; an “Armchair Pinot Tasting” at Anderson Hill at Lenswood; a Marie Antoinette-inspired “Let Them Drink Wine” dinner hosted by Tomich Wines at The Manor Basket Range, and a “Taste of Tuscany” seasonal degustation meal matched with rare museum wines at Bird in Hand. See the full program here.

Prancing Pony BeerGustation Dinner – August 2

Feathers Hotel at Burnside is teaming up with Hills brewer Prancing Pony for a five-course, $95pp “BeerGustation” dinner which will include the Pony’s Magic Carpet Midnight Ride (Russian imperial stout) served with a brownie cookie, and a main course of Murray Valley dry-aged T-bone accompanied by the Prancing Pony India Red Ale. Details here.

Not Quite White – August 4-5

The Fruitful Pursuit’s next event will be a showcase of amber, orange and “skin contact” wines, offering tastings from the likes Alpha Box & Dice, BK Wines, Fall From Grace, Smallfry, Yelland & Papps and Unico Zelo. Dubbed Not Quite White, it will take place over two days at Chateau Apollo in Frome Street. Read more in this CityMag article.

It’s a Truffle Affair – August 16

Chefs Cheong Liew and Bethany Finn are combining their culinary talents for a truffle-inspired six-course dinner in the Mayfair Hotel’s Mayflower Restaurant. Tickets are $259pp with guests promised an elegant evening featuring “South Australian premium produce matched with the decadence of seasonal truffles and premium local wines”. Details here.

Wizardry High Tea – August 19

This Harry Potter-themed high tea at Stamford Plaza Adelaide includes a “butter beer cocktail” on arrival and sweet and savoury treats such as Haigh’s chocolate frog slice, Muggle quiche Lorraine and Ginny’s Pygmy Curry puffs. A “master wizard” and balloon artist will attend the high tea to help guests make their own wands. Tickets are $52 for adults and $27 for children aged five to 12.

News, tips and information?

Please send details of any upcoming food and/or drink events to: [email protected].­­