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A Foodies Guide To Making The Most Of The Royal Show

The Royal Adelaide show begins this Friday when means tying a bunch of balloons to the kids so they don’t get lost while you treat yourself to what’s on offer… because it’s really not about them.

If, as an adult, you imagine the Royal Adelaide Show to be a bombardment of sugar, bright colours, loud noises and children everywhere then you are for the most part spot on. But, as IGA Supermarkets are sponsors of the show we are also treated to a vast array of food and drink sourced from our very own backyard so there’s no need to resign yourself to the traditional hot dog encased in batter.

So before you go drowning yourself in slushies and gorging on chips make a beeline for the Goyder Pavillion and IGA Pavillion where Tasting SA and a gourmet food court will present some of our state’s finest local food companies and eateries. That said, there is always room for the things that define the Royal Adelaide show (stand 29 in the Market Bazaar is where the fairy floss is at and the famous Yellow Brick Road is back and still only $10). Here’s our handy foodie guide to navigating it all:

Food Judging and Competitions

Men’s & Women’s Chocolate Cake Challenge – 2nd September, Goyder Pavillion
Find out just who will make the best version of the ever popular chocolate cake in a battle to the floury end. Celebrity guest judges will make the final call. The rivalries are fierce!

Professional Baking Judging – 6th September, Goyder Pavillion
There’s nothing like seeing and smelling professional and apprentice bakers present their wares, with sections judged by Ed Halmagyi of Better Homes & Gardens. Bakers are invited to bake their best loaves, pies, buns, Christmas cakes and slices in order take out the title. Your Nanna’s Anzac cookies might get a run for their money.

High Tea – 2nd September, Goyder Pavillion.
Watch the judges sample and rate tiny delicious foods! Then head over to the Country Women’s Association to get your scone fix.

Displays of all the entries to the following competitions can also be seen after and whilst being judged. Which is kind of odd when you visit right at the end of the show and everything still sort of looks fresh…

Duncan Pavillion – fruit cakes and puddings, Indian cookery, jams and preserves.

IGA Pavillion – olive and table oils, beer, cider and SA dairy.

Goyder Pavillion – honey and fruit

Tastings

Royal Adelaide Beer & Cider Tasting – All dates at 6.30pm, Taste SA Pavillion
Forget look and learn, we’re here to taste and learn! It’s the only way we know how when it comes to getting down to the variety of beer and cider we have in this state which can be sampled here at the Cellar Door.

Say Cheese! – All dates, Goyder Pavillion
Adelaide Central Market favourites Say Cheese are offering tasting of their cheeses both local and imported also for sale at the show this year.

Wine Tastings – All dates at 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm and 5.30pm, Cellar Door
The Cellar Door is where it’s at! Shame on you if you miss one of the numerous tastings.

Olive Oil Tastings – All dates at 10.45am, 11.30pm and 12.15pm, Cellar Door
Dip your bread and taste all the fruity, zesty and smooth flavours of the best we have to offer in olive oils.

Food

The worst thing that can happen while watching the food judging is you arrive without having eaten lunch and watching food critics have theirs sends your stomach into a rage of hunger. Don’t do it, fuel up at one of the following foodie spots.

Kyton’s Bakery – All dates, Taste SA Pavillion
With a new product launching at this year’s show, Kyton’s Bakery give you another reason to be sure they are on your Royal Adelaide Show must-eat list. Their new Belgian style waffles are only $12 in a take home pack or for the same price pick up two packets of their best little coconut covered cakes otherwise know an the lamington.

CWA Café – All dates, IGA Pavillion
School fete style, the CWA will be serving up only the best and freshest scones and sandwiches alongside crafts and jams to take home.

Restaurant Blackwood – All dates, IGA Pavillion
Chef Jock Zonfrillo helms this restaurant especially created for this year’s show. True to JZ form, Blackwood Restaurant sets local South Australian produce in the spotlight throughout the menu.

Red Dove Café – All dates
Hot meals are the go at Red Dove all prepared by Uniting Church volunteers.

Garden Café – All dates, Goyder Pavillion
This is where you want to be if you’ve arrived to watch a show on the Goyder Stage.

Bush Tucker Icecream – All dates, Taste SA Pavillion
Try gourmet flavours using uniquely Australian flavours in their range of dairy and sugar free premium ice creams.

The Passionate Foodie – All dates, Taste SA Pavillion
Preservative free sauces, oils and salts to give your cooking the gourmet touch. Receive a free dukkah when you spend over $15.

The Fast Foodie Co. – All dates, Goyder Pavillion
Tear yourself away from the dagwood dogs and fairy floss of the fairground check out this healthy bunch peddling energy balls, juices and smoothies with vegetarian and vegan meals available.

Charlesworth Nuts – All dates, Wayville Pavillion
No day of wandering is ever complete without a bag of freshly roasted Charlesworth nuts, am I right? Charlesworth are cooking fresh everyday of the show.

Showbags

Because showbags with food in them are the best ones, here’s a rundown of how you can spend your pennies craftily on food whether you’re pining for that cheap childhood must-have Bertie Beetle bag or splashing out on a gourmet monster haul.

Under $10
Bertie Beetle Blue to Bertie Beetle Triple Deal, $2 – $6 – Choose your level of satisfaction with their range of bags of ultimate showbag chocolates.

Arnott’s Shapes, $10 – Five boxes of Shapes for only $10?! Fingers crossed this isn’t where the offload of those weird ‘new and improved flavour’ of Barbecue Shapes has ended up!

Cadbury Showbags, $6 – Just the right amount of somethin’ somethin’ to keep your sugar levels acceptable during your visit. Choose from Freddo, Crunchie, Cherry Ripe, Caramello Koala and more.

$10 – $30
My Kitchen Rules, $20 – Play MKR at home with your own apron, travel mug and a handful of snacks.

Arnott’s Tim Tam, $16 – Slippers, mug and five packets of Tim Tams; I think we get the picture.

Menz Fruchoc Bag, $10 – How can you not?

Charlesworth Nuts Simply Savoury, $20 – Get into what Charlesworth do best…

Gourmet Goodie Bag, $20 – Celebrating, supporting and promoting SA food and beverages like Fleurieu Milk, Tucker’s, Beerenberg and Johnny’s Popcorn. This bag has been made with the “EAT LOCAL” slogan in mind. Discover just who your local producers are with this bargain bag.

$30 and Up
Menz Massive Bag, $40 – Essentially every Menz product ever made plus a movie voucher and discount voucher for the Menz store.

Charlesworth Nuts Mammoth Bag, $50 – Over 30 delectable Charlesworth products in the one bag.

Morish Nuts & Nougat Showbag, $35 – For the more refined nougat connoisseur. Crunchy, soft and assorted nougats with an array of caramel coated nuts.

Morish Jumbo Showbag, $45 – A very savoury mix of nuts and pretzels.

The Wine Showbag… doesn’t actually exist (BOO!) but you can always make one up for yourself.

The Royal Adelaide Show is on from September 2-11 at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds off Goodwood Rd. For tickets, maps, a full list of competitions, showbags and pretty much everything, visit their website.

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