Weekend Australian HOT 50 2015 – Hottest Service, Hottest Restaurant SA

August 22, 2015

So often, things on paper should work… but just don’t. Fino Seppeltsfield isn’t one of them.

The idea of luring the Fino duo of David Swain and Sharon Romeo from McLaren Vale to the Barossa – and a new home in the simply beautiful, restored Seppeltsfield winery compound – has fired from conception to realisation. The wine enthusiasm. The produce-first, simple regionally focused cooking. The glorious “new” premises to showcase Fino’s well-documented oeuvre. And the lusty embrace of Seppeltsfield’s winemaking tradition. My goodness, they’ve done it well.

Romeo is one of Australia’s best waiter/maitre d’/sommelier triple acts, a ball of energy, professionalism and warmth. Her wine list, embracing the “house” fortifieds and sherry styles, is outstanding. And her business partner keeps it so real with dishes of exceptional produce that are easy to get your head around. Bacon broth with chicken tortellini… even the flour is local. Dunk that sourdough in a pool of garlic/chilli oil washing around sardines and school prawns. Cold-smoked kingfish with charred pickled onion. A lamb pie that practically bleats Barossan it grew up so close, and that suet pastry… Where so many regionals are outdoing each other with “creativity”, Fino runs straight into the goals of flavour and real Slow Food and gets the six points. It’s quite the package.

Must eat: Bacon broth with chicken tortellini and cavolo nero

The Weekend Australian HOT 50 RESTAURANTS 2015 – John Lethlean and Necia Wilden

– See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/food-wine/fino-seppeltsfield-barossa-valley/story-fnwdrcg1-1227488766984#sthash.M9HjnBrF.dpuf

Click through to the review here