Where Adelaide's best chefs would take the world's best chefs when they’re trying to impress.

Tasting Australia starts this Sunday and we needed help narrowing down our event wishlist, so we reached out to luminary Adelaide chefs Duncan Welgemoed, Jessie Spiby and Paul Baker for advice.

We can’t say they were much help.

Duncan Welgemoed
Africola

This picture: Andre Castellucci

What events do you have on during Tasting Australia? 

I’m cooking with Lennox Hastie from Firedoor and Thi Le from Anchovy at The Glasshouse on Sunday evening, a few demos, a chef quiz and the final supper.

Which non-Adelaide chef are you most excited to hang out with during Tasting Australia?

I’m excited to be hanging out with Marco [Pierre White] during his time here. It’s been more than a decade since I’ve had a drink with him and pretty chuffed to be cooking for him.

If you could take him to any Tasting Australia event, which would it be?

The Fresh Wine Disco is going to be pretty epic, as well as the Heroines Soul to Glass at Fall From Grace and hopefully I can get a spot for 10 Years of Wendouree.

After that event, where would you continue the party?

Parwana always. It’s my go-to whenever I host anyone new to the state, as well as Golden Boy and La Buvette. If it’s for a pint, the Exeter is my local and for me an iconic and integral establishment within the South Australian hospitality ecosystem.

Jessie Spiby
Jessie Does Food

What events do you have on during Tasting Australia?

Food Booze + Dancing Shoes is the main focus this year! It’s taken a fair bit of energy to bring such a boisterous group together. You might see me popping up at the Chefs Quiz too, and taking over Tasting Aus social media Sunday, 7 May.

Which non-Adelaide chef are you most excited to hang out with during Tasting Australia?

Ana Ros, The Worlds Best Female Chef. I love her story of ski champion turned chef and how she’s triumphed in her new industry all the while being a self-taught chef.

If you could take her to any Tasting Australia event, which would it be?

I can’t say my own so I’ll say the Heroines Soul to Glass event. We would have a fabulous time mingling with some of our incredible female winemakers and I’d get to show off my ‘happy place’ McLaren Vale!

After that event, where would you continue the party?

Pink Moon Saloon for Negronis and cheese.

Paul Baker
Botanic Gardens Restaurant

This picture: Brendan Homan

What events do you have on during Tasting Australia?

Q&A The Pantry, Rundle Mall Sunday, 30 April.

Glasshouse Dinner Friday, 5 May.

Supper Club Saturday 6 May.

Which non-Adelaide chef are you most excited to hang out with during Tasting Australia?

Tim Montgomery. He’s a former Adelaide boy and a very good friend of mine. He hasn’t been back for a while so it will be great to show him around.

If you could take him to any Tasting Australia event, which would it be? 

Heroines Table dinner at Salopian Inn. Karena Armstrong & Alex Herbert are both amazing chefs in their own right, but in a kitchen together this will be epic.

After that event, where would you continue the party?

After heading back to the city we would hit The Exeter for a beer, then some Thai at soi38. Terry [Intarakhamhaeng]’s food is really good.