PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAHead Chef Michael Quist’s cooking sparkles and judging by the dishes he is creating he is a veritable ambassador of Australian produce. Red Ochre plays with indigenous Australian flavours and the result is food as comforting as a down quilt in winter. The woman at the next table raves about her main course, the Australian Game Pie; slow braised kangaroo, wallaby fillet and emu encased in handmade puff pastry with braised mushrooms and Coopers Stout glaze.
The menu abounds with memorable dishes such as the Gawler River quail, a dish that relishes its many contrasts. The gamey quail is balanced by a light fennel and almond salad, the flaked almonds cracking in your mouth against the tender meat. Beside the quail a generous mound of Pheasant Farm pate is framed by two slices of aniseed myrtle brioche. Again, the contrasts flood your tastebuds; the light airy brioche almost flippant compared to the rich pate. Set on the tranquil banks of Adelaide's River Torrens, this restaurant should inspire other restaurants to start taking advantage of our native flavours and make native Australian cuisine stand out on the world stage.
LOCATIONSet on the banks of the Torrens River walking distance to the CBD.
DETAILSRed Ochre is housed in a smart double story building resembling a spacious modern houseboat. Here you have interrupted views of the river and the city skyline with the appearance of ducks and pelicans on the water adding to the nautical atmosphere. Red Ochre which is the fine dining restaurant is located on the upper level whilst Cafe Largo on the lower level, has a more casual feel, serving a good selection of Italian dishes.
FOOD & BEVERAGERed Ochre's bush tucker flavours suits Red Ochre is the brainchild of Andrew Fielke who, with his wife Kaye, developed and nurtured the idea of a "Truly Australian" Restaurant dining experience from Andrew's first experiences using indigenous produce in 1985. They opened their first business in 1987 and began specializing in "Wild Foods" with great success. At the same time, Andrew began his own native food collection and distribution business promoting and selling these amazing ingredients.
FUNCTIONSWith ample parking and located only a few minutes from the CBD, Red Ochre is a great choice for a corporate event, product launch or a wedding reception.
