After having treated ourselves to a wild Melbourne, we rented a car, hugged the Great Ocean Road and headed off to Adelaide. The beauty in this coastline is monumental; expands for acres on end and doesn’t get any less handsome. Every glimpse of the ocean we sneaked through the car windows, made us pull over for yet another picture; the majestic rock structures pierced out from the earth, creating a barren cityscape of its own amidst the crashing waves. The sun was only just starting to peer up and that magnificent orange glow of dawn swept over the scenery, accompanied by a cool gentle ocean breeze. Here lay nature at its best, and no matter how long you stared at it, the satisfaction you got from soaking it all can't really be measured or summarised in words. After a long drive of many scenic stops, our road-trip lead us to Robe, the land of lobsters! Having gotten really lucky with our timing, the store manager pulled down his shutters just as we walked out of there as the last lucky customers of the day. Freshly caught from the ocean and sold by the fishermen, the smell of the ocean oozed out of the cocooned flesh as we cracked open the red exoskeleton. The cashier smiled and waved at us stuffing our faces over the bonnet of the car, using the plastic bags we bought the lobster in as our plates. Our last stop before the sun had set that day, we ended up at the Coorong National Park for a quick peek, dragging our 3-meter long shadows behind us. When we visited in early March, the land was flat and barren, with shrubbery only around the perimeter and a scattered water body that expanded the length of the coastline for over 130kms. We sat and enjoyed the a stunning 2 hour long sunset by one of the many lagoons, before we rushed back to the car and went on our way to Adelaide. And then within a couple hours from the Coorong, we were there. A lot of people under-estimate the South Australian Capital; so much so that the cynics snickered when Adelaide was voted one of Lonely Planet’s “Worlds Best Cities to Visit in 2014”    Unlike Melbourne and Sydney, Adelaide is the mature, sophisticated, smart and cultured sibling, the one with poise and attitude. The yearly Fringe festival charges the city with bountiful of Art exhibitions, Music & Dance concerts and various food festivals; we could not have visited at a better time. I was lucky to have my fiancés’ friends and family shepherd us through the cream of the crop. With the onset of Fringe, we were also treated to world class music thanks to WOMADdelaide, which was held at the Botanic Park. Our ears feasted to the sounds of musical geniuses with the likes of Femi Kutti and Roberto Fonseca who has toured with the Buena Vista Social Club and combines some phenomenal cuban Jazz with urban elements.   Adelaide is the wine capital of Australia, with Shiraz being the favorite of the majority. As we drove through the Barossa Valley, our eyes feasted on miles and miles of rolling hills blanketed by vines laden with plump pregnant grapes. The vineyards not only bragged of world-class wines, but food that tingled all your senses. Over the 5 days I spent there I was lucky to enjoy the delicacies these vineyards had to offer over the 3 days that were dedicated solely to wine tasting. Oh how I was spoilt! Spoilt by wine, by top quality food and by extraordinary company of M's family. We poked around through Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards, McClaren Vale’s d’Arenberg, the spectacular Saltram and Peter Lehmanns lush green cellar doors where I was introduced to ‘The Black Queen’. Inspired by the Sparkling Burgundy of the 1950’s this full bodied sparkling Shiraz hits your taste buds with hints of chocolate, cherry and pepper as it fizzes at the tip of your tongue. This amongst many other outstanding wines made their way back to our home in Dubai along with a lovely book gifted to me - Marion. This book is so beautifully written, I was almost instantly connected with the author. She starts by saying "I don't know when it was that I 'fell in love' with food"; and it is the exact same emotion I share. The recipes in here are a collection of heart felt food escapades painted by her Thai and Australian upbringing; but more on the book later. An independent restaurant ‘The Star of Greece’ resting over the edge of a cliff in Port Willunga that over looked the vast expanse of the turquoise ocean, stole my heart. As you walked into the doors of this humble restaurant dressed in white, you are instantly teleported to a Greek Island. The ocean breeze that crept through the windows added to the mediterranean-like ambiance. Every plate was dressed like a Greek goddess, seductive, elegant and sophisticated. It was just amazing to be a part of such a special family gathering overlooking the old wreck that gave this restaurant its name. The appetizers had whet our craving with fresh aromas, the meats were drenched with abundant flavor, and the desserts blossomed with an array of colors. The culinary display of this restaurant was simply incredible accompanied by extremely reasonable prices; and if the food didn't do the trick, the outstanding 8 page wine list will definitely sweep you off your feet. I don't think my trip to Adelaide would have been the same without a visit to this magical place. Another captivating pit stop for me was Maggie Beers’ Farm shop. I wished I could have taken the whole shop in my pocket on my way back to Dubai. I was told that if I were lucky I would get to see her, the lady who popularized the magic of the iconic ‘Verjus’. And behold, my luck strikes momentarily and she walks into the door with just enough time to spare for a quick picture with me. This little shop is a foodie’s haven, selling various types of vino-cotto, fruit jams and spread, various flavours of duck liver pate, oils, pastes, dressings, stocks, glazes, preserves and so much more. The farm came with a large charming duck pond, little walkways lined with pomegranate trees, orchards, wandering peacocks and even pheasants. What a stunning place to come down for a breakfast picnic before heading out for a day of wine tasting. And just when I thought I have done most of it and sampled everything I needed to, I was seen off with some spectacular culinary specialties of the Schramm family. From Baked figs stuffed with Pancetta and blue cheese to Florentines, I was fed a pretty awesome parting meal. How beautiful are these Florentines- Below is Mama S's recipe. There is tons more than what meets the eye in Adelaide. Poke around the vineyards, the pristine beaches, soak up some culture and engage in spectacular culinary delights of what the city has to offer. In no time will you understand the reasoning behind Lonely planet’s affectionate vote to promoting Adelaide as one of the must visit cities of 2014. Until next time, see you soon Adelaide. Eaternally Yours, Drina C. [gmc_recipe 2902]