Tag Archives: through local eyes SA tourism

  • My favourite foodie experiences in South Australia: Adelaide and Adelaide Hills

    Sometimes jobs come along that are simply dream commissions.

    Late last year I was approached by the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) to be part of their Through Local Eye’s project.

    The previous Through Local Eyes projects had seen local filmmakers document some of their favourite experiences in South Australia – see Kids, Crabs and the Best Day Ever by Randy Larcombe and You Gotta Try… Barossa by Urtext Films, which I appear in.

    Now SATC wanted to commission photo journalism (words and photos) pieces for the new SouthAustralia.com.

    Selection of dishes and cocktails at Africola 2 by Christina Soong

    So I pitched them an idea: I would research, write about and photograph some of my favourite foodie experiences in four SA regions: Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, the Barossa and McLaren Vale. My stories would cover the places that I would take a very sophisticated and well-travelled food-loving friend visiting Adelaide.

    Strawberries at the Beerenberg Strawberry Farm 2 by Christina Soong

    SATC liked my pitch and I spent a few wonderful weeks earlier this year travelling around South Australia. I visited old favourites as well as new places I’d been meaning to check out. Some experiences made the final cut, while some didn’t: I only included ones that I thought were truly special.

    1.3kg pork knuckle at the Hahndorf Inn by Christina Soong

    The first two of my pieces are now up on the SouthAustralia.com website: so head over to SouthAustralia.com and discover my favourite foodie experiences in Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills.

    My foodie’s guide to the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale are coming soon – stay tuned.

  • Crushing on South Australia: short films about local foodie treasures

    I love living in South Australia. I was born in Adelaide and studied here before heading overseas to work. I then spent 13 years away before moving back here two years ago for family reasons.

    I have never once regretted my decision to return. Apart from the advantages in having family close by, I love our lifestyle here. Whenever I have friends visit from overseas they’re like,”‘you live two minutes from the beach? The city is only 20 minutes away? The hills are just a short drive that way? Rent is so cheap? That’s your local market? WTF?”

    Yep, we have it pretty good here.

    We also have an incredible food scene, with talented producers, chefs, vendors, stallholders and restaurants delivering a world-class experience. Organisations like Food SA and local manufacturers like Menz are also doing a fine job in promoting and marketing our local producers to the local and world markets.

    Our food scene deserves to be celebrated. So I was happy to learn that the South Australian Tourism Commission recently commissioned a number of local film makers to make some short films about SA’s food scene.

    Check out this brilliant short film by Matthew Salleh (director, cinematographer and editor) and Rose Tucker (producer) from Urtext Films on my beloved Adelaide Central Market:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbLtpDwkG8o

    I also love this fantastic short film on Fork in the Road, the popular food truck event, by Tim Standing, Adam Forte and Vic Pisani from Daylight Breaks. I went along to a Fork event earlier this year and was charmed by the quality food and great atmosphere. Check out the vox pops with Burger Theory, Simon Byrant (Dirty), Taco Cat, Sneaky Pickle, Four Seeds and The Mischief Crew.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuBdjf4jr-E

    Love your work, guys.

    PS  Check out the rest of the Through Local Eyes films on South Australia here.

    What do you think of these films? Do you make you want to check out the market and Fork in the Road?