Page 50 - Tropic Magazine Issue 35

TROPIC • FOOD

Home grown The winery has many accolades.
It is real, raw and relevant. The couple
caretake some of the oldest vines in the
PANTRY GARDEN Barossa, most likely planted by the
Seppelt family in the early days of Plant in the right place, at the right
Oliver James from Guyala Café Barossa winemaking. time. Use raised garden beds for good
reminds us of the joys to be These guys live and breathe the natural, drainage, and shade cloth to protect
found in a humble backyard organic and homegrown lifestyle. seedlings from heavier rains and the
The sourdough was made by Suzi most
vegie plot. mornings, and the tomatoes came from harsher sun in the Autumn months
to extend the annual crop growing
their enviable vegie garden. season.
One of my all-time favourite breakfasts Alongside the tomatoes are figs, apples,
is juicy homegrown oxheart tomatoes, quinces, pears, nectarines, garlic, spring There are also plenty of perennial
thickly sliced onto chunky sourdough onions, eggplants, zucchinis and the herbs, spinach, small fruits and root
toast, with heaps of Murray River salt list goes on!
flakes and cracked black pepper. The blossoming friendships, the grape vegetables such as taro and sweet
Simple, delicious, balanced, and very picking, the wine making and the potato that love the tropics, providing
nostalgic. I was reminded of this on my tomatoes on toast made up a wonderful homegrown flavours all year.
recent trip to Barossa Valley, helping and educational experience. Blake Hudson
Wayne and Suzi at Small Fry Wines pick But the surprising, unexpected organicmotion.com.au
organic grapes from their vineyard to take-away for me was a refocus on the
make minimal intervention certified importance and deliciousness of the
organic wine. home vegetable garden.
Both my parents had gardens – Mum There is a common misconception that
grew herbs and whatever else she could, it’s too hot, or too wet to grow vegies
and Dad’s vegie garden was the envy in Cairns. Having grown a small
of many of his colleagues and friends. selection myself, and chatting with
These gardens were the source of the Blake Hudson from Organic Motion,
flavour memories I built as a child. this is far from the truth. Right now,
Real summer tomatoes picked straight it’s actually the perfect time to prepare
from the bush, pulling baby carrots garden beds in preparation for our
and eating the whole thing (including more temperate winter months. I’m
the sweet, bright green fuzzy heads!), off to plant cucumbers and eggplants
breaking through the rosemary bush to alongside my finger limes and kumquats
scavenge some strawberries growing and looking forward to working with
underneath, salads of fresh rocket and Blake on expanding my delicious vegie
mizuna, topped with loads of fresh garden. Look out for homegrown
parsley, mint and fennel, quinces slow flavours on our specials menu at Guyala!
roasted in the Aga wood stove – these
are my early childhood food experiences,
and the surprising and lovely reminder MORE: guyalacafe.com.au
I was given in the Barossa.

50 • Tropic • Issue 35