Gastro Tourism Begins With a Bang!

Back to Uni and Winter School, the first day back was wonderful. After our morning lecture we headed out to McLaren Vale to visit Producers of McLaren Vale: Tori Moreton and David Arbon, passionate regional producers and growers of growers of mostly dry grown and organic fruits farmed for flavour making wine, olive oil, preserves, vinegar and apple cider. The two enjoy sharing the good life, with hands on gastronomic toursism experience offered using only regional produce from McLaren Vale and the entire Fleurieu Peninsula.

This is the courtyard view that welcomes you as you enter - the limetrees are just surreal and it looks picture perfect - something out of a movie! It was a truly beautiful day and a remarkable afternoon...

A fireplace was lit when we arrived adds to the old world charm of McLaren, while the sleek furniture, precise angles and large French windows add a contemporary touch.

Tori had lunch prepared, and we sat down to a 'Shared Table' ... a rustic meal that was absolutely delightful.


Crusty, freshly baked bread was gorgeous with Tori's very own pressed pungent, peppery, rich olive oil with a neon shine to it. She had a green salad pf letuce and one of wild rocket, parmesan and pear tossed up.

Heather is seated on the left, Peter in the middle and Tori on the right.

A hearty tomato based soup with sliced duck and cannellini beans finished off with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and topped with deliciously succulent black olives and almonds. The perfect winter lunch! Warming and delicious while not too heavy...

We continued learn more about Toris gastronomic tourism business over some local Blue Cheese and Quince Paste. Yum - mo!


The best truly came last - this cake was mind blowing! I mean the depth of flavour - WOW! I was just bowled over by the zesty, fruitiness of the orange bits in the cake and how moist and delicate it was. I mean it tasted as if there was semolina in there binding it together, with the distinct richness of pure almond paste, but Tori said she had used no semolina just almonds!! Now we're talking quality ingredients - and well I had one piece and stopped right there.

This expresso was just what we needed to perk us up and help is into the car for the hours drive back into Adelaide.

Cari shows off her ring! Yes, this girl is getting M-A-R-R-I-E-D! Her boyfriend of five years popped the question in Sydney and they celebrated by the Opera Bar with a glass of bubbly! How romantic is that... Congratulations to the happy couple!!!!!

Architect Max Pritchard has cleverly designed a luxurious space that inspires creativity. There is endless amount of energy and activity that flows through, and with an attached processing room, commmercial kitchen, cellar and dining rooom wrapped around a Spanish style courtyard, well there are so many things to try, uplive and experience.

We all bought a bottle of her fabulous olive oil with the deep peppery charachter and well we all took home a preserve to sample, and will probably exchange notes during the week. I took home a fig, almond and honey jam and Amy got a fig and cardamom. Sharil tried the mulberry and peach - soooo hard to choose they all sound delish!