If you’ve never experienced true Italian family style dining, let me just say… you’re missing out. There’s something so vibrant and exciting about cramming around a table so filled with food that you barely have room for your plate. Yelling down the table for someone to pass the gnocchi as you wonder if you can truly fit in another portion.
Aside from the mismatched chairs and cutlery, the almost uncomfortable distance between you and the distant relative next to you and the folks yelling things in a language you don’t fully understand, this fantastic family style of dining is what you can expect from your experience at new Cicheti restaurant at the Brickworks.
The tomato and basil schiacciata.
The animated owner Remo greeted each guest individually last night with quite literally open arms, and a bucket load of food. We were treated to sliders, fresh oysters and pizza as pre-dinner snacks… that’s BEFORE beginning our four course feast. Please note: never wear jeans to an Italian feast, maternity wear is your best bet… but failing that, stretchy pants will have to do.
In true Italian style we were first presented with an impressive antipasto platter that boasted vegetarian frittata, prosciutto wrapped rock melon, salami, marinated fior di latte (that’s divine cheese for those playing at home), marinated olives and cherry truss tomatoes.
Pasta platter (or pasta mounds…)!
This was then followed by rich and indulgent duck arancini, tomato and basil schiacciata, and vitello tonnato (chargrilled veal with seared tuna, aioli, capers and celery leaf.) Each was packed with punchy flavour, with the duck arancini being a definite favourite across the table. An amazing start.
Then came the pasta course. ‘Course’ being an understatement for what came flowing out of the kitchen next. The gnocchi, served up with duck and porcini ragu was handmade by Remo’s mother, Maria. Her passion for not only the family, but for the food that they create together is inspirational. I had heard on the grapevine that you could sit and watch Maria hand making her expertly crafted gnocchi in the kitchen. And as promised, it was certainly a heart-warming sight.
The gnocchi was joined by the grandiose dish of fettuccini granchio with crab. This dish was a clear favourite amongst the table, with plenty of mouths covered in rich tomato sauce and plenty attempting to gnaw on crab’s legs with some sort of decorum. I’m not ashamed to say I threw that decorum out of the window and got myself reasonably messy attempting to get every morsel of crabmeat out of those claws. Not a drop on my crisp white shirt though… success!
Not for tasting when I visited but Glam Adelaide’s Kelly Noble had these amazing pork medallions when she visited.
Even that wasn’t the last of the pasta though! This ‘course’ (see what I mean!) also had a penne salsiccia (pasta with pork meatballs and broccoli) too. Portion sizing is relatively non-existent at Cicheti, as each share dish came out in a sheer mound. Like I said, stretchy pants needed.
Just when we thought we couldn’t possibly eat more, we met the mains. The bistecca tagliata was succulent fillet steak with eggplant relish, rocket, tomato and grana. The chargrilled ribs with smoked herbs were sticky and succulent and the chargrilled prawns with saffron potatoes and salsa verde were cooked to absolute perfection. But it’s safe to say I was now solely being propped up by the back of my chair, and little else.
We washed each course down with some spectacular wines both local and from our European counterparts. The 2015 Hither & Yon McLaren Vale Tempranillo was a sure fire hit, as was the Vinteloper Pinot Gris, all generously provided by Atlas Wine Group.
Fettuccini granchio with crab.
To top it all off out came fruit platters with yoghurt dip and brilliant coffee (yup they’ve got that down pat too!) It was the perfect light way to end a filling meal on a balmy Spring evening.
I really can’t rave enough about how fabulous Cicheti is. Remo has built a fantastic team in such a short period of time, and it’s almost shocking how attentive they all were to each individual guest. The kitchen staff have all come from excellent backgrounds across the Adelaide food scene and it definitely reflects in the tasty traditional meals served up.
A meal that began with many as strangers ended in the very late hours of the evening with cheeks aching from laughter and everyone feeling like part of the family. We’ll certainly be back, again and again because this venue has truly reinvigorated the meaning of the word hospitality.
(08) 8152 0765
Brickworks Marketplace T 12 – 38 South Road
Open 7 Days for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Early AM till late for dinner (closed Monday nights)
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