Torquay’s Italian scene just got more interesting

ITALIANO fresco arriva (in) Torquay.

Excuse my above Italian, it’s not meant to offend. From the (limited) time I’ve spent in Italy, I’m confident it roughly translates to ‘fresh Italian comes to Torquay’. Well, you get the idea anyway.

This seaside dwelling is fairly well blessed when it comes to good eats nowadays, particularly if Italian is your choice of cuisine.

Sitting firmly at the top of the pile here (and for some time, mind you) has been Mortadeli, found along Gilbert Street. The pasta here is simply brilliant, as are the different antipasti options you’ll find depending on which week you visit.

However there’s now a new soulful Italian alternative in town, and don’t let the fact it’s part of a larger accommodation provider deter you.

 

The Sands has been without a decent flagship restaurant for a while now, so the opening of Sabbia has been important. You can understand the concept fitting in well enough, much like how you might see at any resort found in one the colourful Italian villages dotted along the Adriatic and Ligurian coastlines.

What I always love about good Italian restaurants – including Sabbia too, in this case – is the use of good regional/local ingredients, always used seasonally, and then not complicating them on the plate.

It sounds simple enough, where often less is more, yet it seems chefs rarely have the confidence to let the quality of produce speak for itself.

Wood-oven breads, baked to order, feature heavily as a go-to share option to kick meals off, accompanied by your choice of a selection of cured meats, cheeses and dips (eg San Daniele prosciutto or whipped ricotta with hot honey).

 

From here, expect quality antipasti dishes, good pasta and pizza aplenty (again, cooked courteous of their wood fire oven).

There’s a fairly serious selection from the grill on offer here too (eg Ayesbury duck, free-range porchetta), including a mammoth 500g Bistecca alla Fiorentina for anyone craving a good hit of steak. Although at $95, be prepare for your wallet to take a hit also here.

Sticking with the Italinano theme, unfortunately for Torquay, they don’t have my pick for best-pizza found along the coast though. This title goes to neighbouring seaside town, Aireys Inlet, where The Captain of Aireys has nailed its hand-stretch woodfired pizza every time I’ve visited.

 

The place buzzes on Friday and Saturday, so best order ahead (or even online) to avoid any hunger disappointment around delayed enjoyment, which I’ve also experienced. The usual choice is either Hartley Street (their version of a meat-lovers) or the Jinker (a spicy cat), but with roughly twenty different options on the menu, what’s the point of always sticking to one? (I think I’m about three quarters of the way through trying them all).

I don’t mind paying extra for good pizza – particularly when it’s (realistically) only a couple of dollars more than what you’d pay anyway for something lesser in quality – so expect to pay high $20s for any of their pizzas with fancier toppings.

A fellow European beer lover asked me recently if I had been able to put my hand on any good imported versions, as many of the famous beer names from this continent are either now brewed here in Australia (or somewhere in Asia) like Peroni, Heineken or Stella, or simply just no longer imported altogether (I do really miss Hoegaarden).

Besides listing my usual favourite local beer retailers (an honourable mention needs to go to Chas Cole Cellars here), I actually told this beer companion about a fresh find at ALDI, of all places.

 

Yes, you read that right: our cheap and cheerful, third-main supermarket option has one of my favourite German breweries (Paulaner) available, with an insane price tag.

The fully-imported product has been considered a premium German brand for decades, although I hadn’t seen it in bars or on shelves for years.

It was to my great surprise, therefore, to find it at $15 for four large cans, sitting amongst a sea of imitation (ie rip-off) liquor labels at the local ALDI.

It makes perfect sense when you consider ALDI is a German-back supermarket, and is probably ideally suited to importing good/cheap products from their own domestic backyard. Nevertheless unbelievable value and quality here.

Safe to say this has quietly become my staple house-beer…at $3.75 for a 500mL can!