In my South Australian Flavoured Kitchen… June 2017

Bam! That month just flew by. I’m back blogging but haven’t returned to my regular routine yet. Still, IMK keeps me honest. Last month I shared some of the things I bought in the US and Mexico. Upon our return, we went for our regular holiday to the Barossa Vintage Festival and followed it up with a few days in McLaren Vale. The focus of the holiday may have been wine (ask Mr Tiffin how many cases he bought) but the focus of my visit was firmly on food.

In my South Australian kitchen…

…is olive oil. Lots of olive oil. Oliver’s Taranga is a favourite vineyard in McLaren Vale and we made our first visit to Primo Estate. Our favourite oil from other trips has been from winemaker Steve Hoff at Heritage Wines in the Barossa. He hadn’t bottled his latest harvest, intending to do so at the end of vintage but was happy to fill a flagon on the spot, for mates rates. I know oil and water don’t mix but apparently oil producing and wine making do.

In my kitchen…

…are bottles of delicious, tangy vincotto. Vincotto or vinocotto means cooked (cotto) wine (vin) and is made from excess grape juice as part of the wine making process. It’s utterly delicious in sweet and savoury dishes. A favourite is Vincotto Roasted Fennel.

I always buy a bottle from Domain Day at the Barossa Farmers Market and guard it jealously between visits. This year Oliver’s Taranga also came to the party with a new range of vincottos flavoured with coffee, fig or lemon. I’m not complaining.

In my kitchen…

…is dried fruit from possibly the last South Australian dried fruit producer, Gully Gardens. My absolute favourite are their currants, but they are all good. The broad beans are long gone. A small family run business, they are now doing a good trade. Much of the fruit is grown in the orchard or comes from elsewhere in South Australia. Sweets such as apricot bites are also made by hand, on site. Australian stalwart Angas Park fell into foreign hands a few years ago but was still selling locally in Angaston which meant jobs for locals. This visit, the shop was vacant. I’m glad that Gully Gardens, who are also in Angaston, are doing well and hope they continue to thrive.

In my kitchen…

…are purple sauces. It’s hard to resist a jar of Zimmy’s. I love their horseradish but you can get it locally at the IGA these days. The beetroot relish remains elusive so It’s another ‘must buy’ from any of the local markets of the Foodstore at Tanunda. Maggie Beer needs no introduction. We visit the Pheasant Farm Shop & Cafe at least twice when we stay in the Barossa. The morning teas and lunches are fantastic as is the tasting area, which always showcases a few ‘farm only’ goodies.

In my kitchen…

…are hurricane lentils. Wine making is a family business. If you’re not selling your brother’s olive oil or your mother’s vincotto, you’re pushing your father’s lentils. These lentils are from young gun winemakers Yelland & Papps in Nuriootpa, who sell the lentils grown in Cunliffe, SA by Sarah’s dad. As you can see, there are quite a lot of lentils but I’ve already started putting them to good use in vegetarian lasagne and

in Richly Braised Lentils.

In my kitchen…

…is this practical but mean looking bone saw. It has never been used and cost me the princely sum of $1 at a market day in Tanunda. The maker’s mark is ‘Nutbrown’ and a little research has revealed that Nutbrown are a 1930’s kitchenware producer who are still going strong.

Their retro and vintage styles are now the height of fashion and are quite collectible in there original and reproduction formats. The saw is an original but there doesn’t see to be much call for them, as I can’t find it on the website. Mr Tiffin is grateful that his hacksaw can now be returned to its rightful home in the garage.

In My Kitchen is hosted by Sherry from Sherry’s Pickings. Make sure you visit my fellow Brisbane foodie’s blog to see her own kitchen.