Fabian Folghera’s failure some 15 years back to find fame and fortune as a rock star is being celebrated – yes, celebrated – down Port Adelaide way these days.

That’s because the budding musician’s realisation that, short of finding fame fast, he’d have trouble paying the rent, prompted him to shelve the dream and visit his then favourite restaurant to ask for a job.

From humble beginnings washing dishes to now owning Banksia Tree Café in the Port, Fabian’s name – along with that of his wife and business partner, Halie, – is today synonymous with great tasting food with a conscience, if you like.

The Folgheras started off by jazzing up a heritage building on St Vincent Street before blending their love of hospitality and ethically generated local produce to bring South Australia together on a plate and in a glass – and at a reasonable price.

The chatter and laughter, rising above the symphony of cutlery on crockery and the general busyness of this breakfast and lunch venue with a difference, suggests they have been highly successful, to the point where Banksia Tree Café is not only a well-loved haunt for local office workers and residents of the surrounding areas but a weekend destination for those living further afield.

The zero-waste establishment uses only local, seasonal and sustainable produce, with a selection of indigenous plants and flowers in its seasoning and garnishes paying homage to the nation’s first people and their culinary contributions.

All meals are also prepared over a woodfire grill, this most primal yet elegant approach taking full credit for, among others, transforming the unassuming French Toast to rarefied heights and signature status.

The thick, single piece of brioche is cooked in the normal manner before being finished over the flames to leave it with appetising grill marks and a delicate smoky flavour. The toppings are changed weekly as Fabian and Halie experiment and push boundaries, their latest creation being a grapefruit, blood orange and mandarin mix with a sprinkling of rhubarb crumble.

For further information

Fabian Folghera
Banksia Tree
147 St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide

7006 2624
info@thebanksiatree.com
www.banksiatree.com

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