Do: Watch your Shorts

Last night I rounded up the closest people I could find and took them with me to Shorts, the national week long short film festival held annually right here in Adelaide. I would suggest you do the same but I can't take any responsibility for who you might be close to right now. And unfortunately the rest of this year's sessions are now completely sold out. Luckily there's always next year. Here's what you can expect.

Cheap tickets. $15 full/$12 concession. That's less than $1.50 per movie.

A town hall. Town halls are always a bit of an unknown. Where do all those stairs take you? What's behind those doors? When will the town ghost make an appearance?

Round tables. You're all equals here. Film critic, film maker, film watcher.

A big screen. Quite important for a film festival. You don't even have to BYO iPad or similar, here you can watch on a good old fashioned material screen.

Drinks and food. From the talented Let Them Eat team, platters are available in all your top hit varieties. Drinks flow from near and far. No popcorn, but we did find some darn cute choc tops. Can choc tops be cute? You decide.

Short films. Oh yeah, there are some films to watch. Usually when the lights go dark you know it's time to get down to business. All genres are represented without discrimination, with story lines neatly wrapped up in ten minutes flat. Or thereabouts.

Opinions. The great things is that everyone has one. The not so great thing is that everyone has one.

Bathroom line ups. Well it can't be a movie night without a bladder close to bursting. Some things always stay the same.

Like, camera, action! If you're so inclined. Support the arts, the people behind them and the people bringing these festivals to a town you're in.

Taste: Cellar Door Wine Festival

I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. Gosh darn, it is HOT in Adelaide! I'd love to know how you escaped the heat this weekend? I trust air-conditioning was involved..

Yesterday I took my heavy head and slightly tired body (see Fringe opening night) to the Convention Centre on North Tce. This year it forms part of the Fringe's newest precinct, The Big Slapple.

The Cellar Door Wine Festival is in its second year and here's hoping it stays around for a long while. Providing a fantastic chance to taste wine, beer and cider from far and wide regions of the state, it's like the ultimate wine tour where everyone's invited.

By prepurchasing our entry tickets, we bypassed the short line up for admission and waltzed straight through. We then collected our glasses and event passports. We were in. I love a well organised event, especially one filled with passionate people who live and breath the love of their industry. The talent is tangible.

Four hours passed quickly in a whirl of tastings, talking, temptations and toilet breaks. I tried a lot. Learnt a lot. And that doesn't even include fortified hour.

Don't worry if you haven't been yet. There's still time! Although you might find some stands unattended later in the day, apparently there are some grapes ready to be picked…



Last day today, 11am-6pm
Tickets available at the door

Do: Relive the Magic

Confession time. I'm going against my own written word. For the majority* of this month I'm not rediscovering Adelaide one drink at a time. No siree, I'm trying out no drink at a time instead. Really it's only one letter different.

In lieu of drinks, what's a girl and her gaggle of cohorts to do on a Friday night? Mini Golf of course. Putt putt it out.

So there we were. On our way to The Beachouse. And 1999. Previously in existence as Magic Mountain, the mountain is long gone but the magic remains. Marketed as an Entertainment and Amusement Centre, this is wholesome fun for the whole family. Arcade games, waterslides, train, bumper boats, dodgem cars, you get the idea. For around $9.50 you can wander around the golf course for two hours and relive what once was. For the uninitiated, why not make some new memories?

A slight skirt around the five person max rule and we were off and running. Well, walking slowly around a tightly laid out lush, synthetic green 18 hole course. Unfortunately, whoever curated this particular course must have forgotten to take their imagination pills. We encountered a repetitive theme of misplaced boxes, not that there's anything wrong with that. Luckily the view is lovely, and if you time it well enough, the sunset's a complimentary bonus.

When you're done, reward your hard work with dessert. Bracegirdles for the hole in one. Winner's shout.

The Beachouse
Colley Terrace, Glenelg
Ph. 08 8295 1511
info@thebeachouse.com.au
Click here for opening hours

*That is, until Feb 24. When all bets are, most certainly, off.

Do: Behind Closed Doors

For those wondering why the streets are so quiet, I suggest you listen harder. There's something happening behind closed doors in the burbs of Adelaide that you should be aware of, but if anyone asks, you didn't hear it from me.

The game's changed. Poker nights aren't just for the boys anymore. They're for everyone. Hosting a night of friendly Texas Hold'em is easy and the laughs are usually free, even if the entry fee isn't. It's pretty simple really, just start with making these four simple choices.

The right mix: Choose your poker buddies wisely. Short attention spans and card games don't mix well. People who bring awesome dessert platters do.

The right place: Nominate your friend with the most comfortable dining set. Offer to load the dishwasher.

The right tunes: There is just no excuse anymore. Online radio is your new best friend. My sneaky suggestion? When guests ask what they can bring, tell them to bring their ultimate poker playlist.

The right cocktail: Gin's the new vodka. Also try to make sure there's enough for everyone, 1kg of peaches doesn't actually make that much juice.

I find that my friends like a bit of direction. Outline the house rules, schedule in drinks (and bathroom) breaks and set an end time. Make sure everyone knows you're playing for keeps. And bragging rights.

Poker night, not everyone's a winner, but everyone's a playa.

Do: Pub Trivia

I like Pubs. I like Trivia. Do you?

Torrens Arms Hotel, aka The TA, runs free weekly Tasty Trivia Tuesdays. Kick off is 7pm sharp. Allow yourself a bit of pregame time to settle in, grab a drink and read through the rules and regulations. Hang on, what? Written rules? Oh yeah, this is serious. There are CASH PRIZES people! Have you ever heard of such a thing? I hadn’t.

Pub Trivia takes the fun elements of Trivial Pursuit, combines them with real prizes plus real drinks and throws away the dice. The result being just you, your mates and a true test of who has the greatest amount of irrelevant knowledge stored in the back blocks of their mind. A little bit of friendly, harmless competition is good for you on a weeknight. And a good test of friendship. Are you sure that is Adam Gilchrist in position 3? Are you SURE?

Quizmaster Lindsay runs a smooth operation and keeps everyone to a tight schedule. Which is important if you want to get home in time for Survivor. Or is that just me?

Topics range from Who Am I to Sports Cars. Something for everyone really. And your efforts will be rewarded. We came a respectable third (ok so there were only four teams) and walked away with a bounty of prizes...

Up for the challenge? Game on.

Tasty Tuesday Trivia
Torrens Arms Hotel (TA Bar)
95 Belair Road
Kingswood
Ph. 8272 9255

Eat: Arriba Grill

The search is over! Found: Good Mexican in Adelaide. Hello Arriba Grill.

It is without question my favourite cultural cuisine and whilst living across the border I was spoilt for choice when it came to high quality Mexican inspired food. For speed and easability, Mad Mex was where it was at. Like for like, Arriba Grill comes pretty close to matching those lofty heights of grande expectations. Cause for celebration indeed! I’ll bring the Coronas, you bring the blender and margarita ingredients. Deal?

Located a tad north of North Adelaide, you might spot Speedy on the sign along Prospect road. Pull over and step into the world of fresh and tasty made-to-order burritos. Think subway style, but a hundred times better. The choice is yours. In five easy steps. Choose your tortilla (or bowl), meat, extras, salsa, salads, guac etc. And voila!

So what makes this place better than others? It’s about quality ingredients really. These boys have done their research and the proof is in the pintos. All the dets on their use of organic ingredients can be read about here.

My one tiny gripe? The HOT sauce barely registered on the scorch scale. But in all other areas this place is plenty hot enough to make up for it.

Go forth and be happy, fellow burrito connoisseurs.

Eat: Buffalo Wings

Disclaimer: this is not first date food.

But it is delicious food. In all its spicy, tangy glory.

Gilbert Street Hotel hold Bourbon and Buffalo Wing Night every Thursday. There are plenty of people in the know about this special night (judging by the large crowd that gathers here religiously each week) but sadly I was not one of them. With thanks due to The Luxury Pie & Co. for quickly getting me in the loop, I now feel it is my duty to spread the word far and wide.

One kilogram (1KG!) of these beauties will set you back a measly ten bucks ($10!). Please do let me know if you have come across a tastier, value for money, alternative amongst the streets of Adelaide.

If you’re feeling particularly hungry at the moment, may I suggest you look away now.

Book early to avoid disappointment.

See: Cheap Thrills

Fifteen dollars doesn’t get you very much these days. On tightarse Tuesday it might cover the cost of a movie ticket or a cheap parmie, but what about the other six days of the week? Last night, a Friday, I got over three hours of quality live entertainment, a lot of laughs and change from fifteen bucks. Wanna know where?

Most Adelaidians are familiar with Rhino Room. An inner city venue that gets a thorough workout during March Madness that is the Fringe. But perhaps you didn’t know that they maintain that support of comedic talent throughout the whole year. Every Monday, Thursday and Friday, comedians and associated visual artists take to the stage, lifting the spirits of the intimately gathered crowd.

During a standard Friday night show you’ll see a handful of comedians, from beginners, youngsters and hobbyists to interstate and international guests. There’s no long queues to get in, just a bar with pretty lights. Every seat’s a good seat and you definitely won’t get lost in the crowd. You get a close up view as the funny people put their best foot forward and test their wares. Plus there are plenty of drinks breaks. And the beer list’s good.

Pre-purchase your tickets if you’re super tight organised or simply make your way down after a few work drinks. When the Fringe Festival rolls around you might even feel confident enough to recommend a local show to friends and family. Get yourself in the know and have a few well priced laughs along the way.

Eat: What's the biggest pizza you've ever seen?

Saturday night, making new friends and reacquainting with old, celebrating for celebration’s sake. It’s cold outside so what better way than to warm up with wine and storytelling? The CCs are good, the Grain Waves even better. But suddenly you want something more. The crowd pleaser is pizza and your hosts know a good place.

Viva Pizzeria is your typically surburanesque local pizza joint. They’ve got all bases covered (pun intended) with standard favourites The Lot, Capricciosa, Meatlovers, Hawaiian and Vegetarian. As well as gourmet territory with examples such as the intriguing Chicken Caesar – chicken, onion, topped with creamy Caesar sauce and croutons – tempting the adventurous, or mad?

The art of knowing how much to order is a finely acquired skill. It takes practice and patience. How hungry are you? What about you? How much room is in the fridge for leftovers? Oh what the hell. Let’s order the 24” king size! Plus a couple of 18” party sized. Just to be safe.

We are warned there’ll be a wait of no less than an hour. That’s just to cook the king size.

So when the doorbell rings at 8.50pm, we’re all pleasantly surprised.. There’s no chance of fitting this on any normal sized coffee table.

Oh basil, how I love thee!

King sized:
American – tomato, cheese, salami.

Party sized half n half:
Chicken Supreme – tomato, cheese, chicken, pineapple, bbq sauce.
Margaritta – tomato, cheese, marinated tomato, basil.

Gourmet party sized half n half:
Gourmet Italiano – Salami, olives, sundried tomato, roast capsicum, basil.
Mamma’s Delight – Spinach, roast capsicum, prosciutto, basil.

Satisfied (anonymous) customers.

If you find yourself in the area, hungry and up for a challenge, I would highly recommend the Viva boys to anyone wanting a hit of cheesy goodness. Order early.

Eat: Ying Chow

I admit I was feeling slightly dubious about what Friday night in the city had to offer on the late night food front. The last time I was in Adelaide, a fish and chip shop was closing when I arrived with friends just before 9pm (9pm!). But this time, I needn’t have worried..

Guided by Michelle, we followed the masses and headed to Gouger St. The central market and surrounding China town area was pumping with an assorted bunch jostling for tables and street side views. The restaurant was packed with not a spare table in sight. Our booking was made for 8.30pm and timed to perfection we arrived just as a group of four were leaving.

We were seated near the entrance which proved to be great fun watching the shenanigans of passers by. Fast paced service is the go and it seemed most patiently waiting patrons knew what to expect. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone defending the service, it’s not great but obviously the locals love it for what it is. Noisy, cramped, quick and tasty.

Happy to put faith in my foodie cohort’s tastebuds I quickly handed over the reigns of the menu. She obliged and we decided on a starter and three mains to share. Our biggest wait of the night proved to be between being seated and holding a waiter’s attention long enough to place our order. We killed time by drinking a few glasses of our byo wine..

Once we had ordered, our starter arrived soon after. The crispy salty shallot pancakes were accompanied by a sweet dipping sauce. Lovely buttery goodness. We were pretty hungry by this stage and they were swiftly gobbled up.

The house specialty, BBC. Broad beans, bean curd and Chinese chutney. Al dente broad beans, thinly cut, lightly fried bean curd tossed in a mild chilli sauce. Nearly every table had this brightly coloured dish on their table. Lovely freshness. These little suckers put my (very limited) chopsticks skills to the test!

Steamed duck with salty sauce. Great smokey duck flavour.

E-Shand egg plant clay pot. Ridiculously tender egg plant in a sweet spicy chilli sauce. This was my favourite dish of the night.

We made a mess and enjoyed it all.

Tipsy fun in the heart of the action. But the best bit? The great conversation was free!

Eat: Jerusalem Sheshkebab House

Dad and I made a date for lunch in the city and so began a series of searches for a suitable quick and cheap, but more importantly tasty, spot close by to his offices. It was daughter’s choice and I settled my decision on Jerusalem Sheshkebab House after reading about it here and here.
We arrived just after 1pm and the place was pretty empty. Under the watchful eye of a friendly camel, Dad and I seated ourselves in a small booth close to the entrance. I grabbed some menus from the counter and sat back down. Eventually someone came from the kitchen to take our order and we decided on the cauliflower and traditional lamb sheshkebab. We were umming and ahhing before the makeshift waiter suggested some hummus, salad and pita to go with it. Perfect.

Within two minutes our salad, pita and hummus had arrived.

Quickly followed by our hot dishes.

The hummus was lovely and rich, with olive oil and paprika. The salad was divided on the plate with half tabouli and half capsicum, tomato and cucumber in bite sized pieces. Pita bread was standard. Our cauliflower dish was served warm in a white sauce. Definitely not your traditional white sauce (béchamel), this was instead a lovely blend of spiced yogurt and tahini. The charcoal grilled lamb was nicely marinated but unfortunately a little bit chewy. I put some in my pita and when I tried to take a bite the whole lot came with it.

The total price was a little bit higher than I expected ($45 for food detailed above plus two drinks) and service started very slowly. But overall, the dishes all hit the spot. I firmly believe you can’t go too wrong with a basic combination of some dips, pita and heavily marinated meat.

Simple, tasty, old school.