Eat: Duthy St Deli Cafe

Is it a Deli? Is it a Cafe?

Whichever it is, Duthy St Deli Cafe has been having a hard time of late over on Urbanspoon. Which made me feel overly cautious about choosing it as our Father-Daughter-Brother lunch option. Nevertheless, trepidation aside, we ventured in feeling positive. How can you not when the sky is blue and holidays are well and truly in sight?

For 12.30 on a weekday the place was bustling. In hindsight I should have made a booking but luckily we managed to score the last remaining outside table. We were rewarded with street views and the very popular 'as cars drive by' soundtrack. Lesson learnt. I will make a booking next time. And there will be a next time, all three of us were particularly happy with our menu choices on this occasion.

Haloumi salad with rocket, roast pumpkin, pine nuts and Duthy St balsamic and tahini dressing.

Lamburger with beetroot salsa.

Chicken, pesto and avocado pita.

The only thing lacking was a glass of wine. Or two. And I’m calling it a cafe, but only if you have to get technical.

Eat: Fish Out Of Water

During the past five years, on my numerous short trips back home to Adelaide, I would always try to fit in at least one lunch stop at Fish Out Of Water. I’ve been gradually making my way through the menu and am yet to be disappointed. I view this as both a positive and negative. Yes, everything is amazing but it makes it so damn hard to decide!

The menu is extensive covering standard fish and seafood options, battered nibbles and standard burgers. Then into more gourmet territory with pitta wraps, the infamous vicious burgers, over a dozen salads as well as perfect-for-sharing gourmet packs.

On this occasion, I couldn’t tempt any of my fellow lunchmates to split a gourmet pack, so we all chose individual items off the menu. Plus some chips to share.

Laura’s pitta wrap - Deep fried calamari legs with salad and tzatziki.

Tim’s vicious burger - Grilled chicken breast, bocconcini, eggplant, chargrilled capsicum, sundried tomatoes, olives, lettuce and sweet chilli sauce.

Uncle Johnny’s vicious burger - Grilled chicken breast, jarlsberg cheese, eggplant, chargrilled capsicum, sundried tomatoes, olives, lettuce and sweet chilli sauce.

My cevapcici vicious burger - Spicy sausage, bocconcini, eggplant, chargrilled capsicum, sundried tomatoes, lettuce and sweet chilli sauce.

Chips in a box, not a soggy specimen in sight!

Prices are above average for a suburban fish and chip local, and that’s because this place is definitely above average in my opinion. The quality is great and everything is cooked to order. Be prepared to wait while staff make up your meal with care and a little bit of love.

I’m already thinking about what to order on my next visit..

Do: High tea @ Just Tickled Pink

Looking for something to do on a Thursday afternoon? In the mood for teacups and pink? Feeling dainty? Oh là là! Gather your girlfriends and head straight up Unley Road to the delightful Just Tickled Pink tea rooms.

The tradition goes that the custom of drinking tea originated in England when Catherine of Bragança married Charles II in 1661 and brought the practice with her from Portugal. Typically, tea is served, with a light meal shared between 3pm and 5pm, consisting of sandwiches, scones and usually cakes and pastries.

Recognising the niche market early in 2006, owners Kim and Geoff Graetz opened the Hyde Park shopfront with a view of becoming “Adelaide's Sweetest Tea Rooms". Five years on and Just Tickled Pink has become known throughout Adelaide for their traditional and personalised high tea services and events.

Our seating was for afternoon tea at the not so traditional hour of 2pm. The table was quirkily set with fresh flowers, china teacups and saucers, candles and prefilled glasses of water. While Laura and I awaited the arrival of the two pregnant ladies we took in our gorgeous surrounds.

This too cute elderly couple looked like they had been embracing the joys of high tea together for many years..

The girls arrived, and our glasses of sparkling arrived soon after. Champers for Laura and myself and sparkling (of the juice variety) for Jules and Edwina, both made pink by the addition of blackcurrant syrup. Delicious!

An assortment of finely cut sandwiches, savoury pastries, lamingtons, miniature vanilla cupcakes and wrapped chocolates were beautifully presented on a perfectly matching china trois-tiers.

I am not much of a tea drinker, but I was committed to the full experience and quite enjoyed the traditional blend on offer.

The sandwiches of the day were paté and alfalfa, smoked salmon and chives, crowns of cheese and dijon and traditional cucumber and mint. My favourite was the paté variety.

The cupcakes were moist and vanilla-y perfection. We happily munched down the lot while talking all things weddings and babies. Time passed quickly in a blur of sugary sweetness.

And before we knew it, it was time to say our goodbyes, for the girls to get back to babysitters and one year olds and for Laura and me to wrap up a very civilised day out.

The only improvement I can think of would be to deck out all the staff in matching hostess outfits. I am picturing something like this.

Cuteness factor: 10.