Russell Jeavon's Pizza Restaurant - South Australia

[nissanneill]

I had the privilege of taking my family and friends to Russell's Restaurant which is located in the township of Willunga, (one of South Australia''s southern wine areas), where we thoroughly enjoyed a pizza feast.
As in his book, he has restored a 150 year old cottage, you back to those days with the decor and interior doorways only aroung 5'6"" high, plaster last ceilings and the decoration within the era.
The actal interior dining area is quite small, catering for around 25 people with an enclosed veranda holding 6 tables and a rear rustic shed area that had around 40-50 people sitting on benches. This area was also wood fire heated which also added to the whole experience. There is also a small private dining room for 'special occassions' that can accommodate 10-12 people.
Very basic and quite unique. You just walk around the whole venue, through the kitchen, around the ovens etc talking to the 10 to 12 staff working the two nights that it is open.
I was keen to check out his 2 ovens, the very ones that he features in his book. Made from local pressed red bricks and conventional mortar, the larger one was cooking pizzas for the 60-70 guests plus take aways on the night, no door on it (but hung beneath the openning), NO chipping or spalling? whatsoever. Maybe the type and quality of our local bricks as these ovens are used every week on a commercial basis for his restaurant and courses that he runs.
You can get take away, order specific pizzas from a menu or as we did, had the 3 course deal for Aus$35/person which includes corkage. (You bring whatever you wish to drink).
I am not too familiar with the names of the different types of tucker, it all started with trays of virgin olive oil, a variety of breads with crushed nuts and spices as a coating: - very tasty. Also as as entr.appetiser were rays of fresh salads containing pickled, sun dried and crisp local produce, topped with deliciously different dressings.
Then came the pizzas, from seafood to the most exotic. These kept coming and coming continuously until some of them went back only partially eaten, really all you can eat! To top off the night were the sweats, from apple strudle to cheesecakes.
If anyone is ever over this way, it is well worth the experience.
There was no music nor entertainment but that should be provided within your own group. My kids and their partners never waste an opportunity to make the occassion memorable and we had the dining room in fits of laughter on numerous occassions. A thoroughly great experience.

Neill

[CanuckJim]

Neill,

What a fine, fine story to share, thanks. Never been to your neck; maybe I will some day.

Cheers,
Jim

[Bacterium]

Sounds great Neil...... the word "rustic" springs to mind
I will get there one day

Its an interesting point you make about the bricks not spalling and so forth. ......will find out soon (with mine).

[billrd]

Sounds terrific Neil, I am determined to get there the next time I'm in SA.
Cheers
Bill

[james]

That sounds excellent. My kind of restaurant. Great olive oil, pizza and free corkage. Can you beat that?

We should get an introduction between the FB Fourm and Mr. Jeavon. Can anybody engineer that?
James

[nissanneill]

James,
I have an email address for his partner? Grace. I will contact her and send on the FB address and link for Russell to contact 'us' if you wish rather than publish his address direct here.

Neill

PS. have sent an email with all the relevant contact details.

[james]

Thanks Neill,
Maybe we can strike up a new relationship and expand the community. We're all interested in the same patch of ground.
James

[nissanneill]

Hi all,
My son has booked one of the main rooms in Russell's Pizza Restaurant for his 30th birthday on 22nd September. My son's best mate and family own a local winery from the southern vales and Fleurieu Peninsula and is supplying all the wine for the 30 odd guests (BYO). Pity I don't drink eh, there will be some top grog on the tables, hope they have some soft drink for me, but hey, somebody has to drive the drunks home.
I was going to take my camera and my infra red thermometer to check on his ovens and a few other features but is there anything else that any member would like me to check out? (apart from some of his attractive waitressess).
I will post some pics and a report on our return.
I have also enrolled in one of his cooking courses later in the year and will report once completed.

Neill

[james]

Excellent. We'll see how hot those ovens really are. :-)

Tell Russell to send me an e-mail so we can get introduced. I am really looking forward to hearing how the cooking classes go.

James

[Bacterium]

Neill you are now the "official FB scout" on this

I was watching one of my favourite cooking shows the other night and they featured Russell.Here is a link:
Food Lovers' Guide to Australia - Chef
Couple Episodes down the Page "Russell Jeavons (Series 5 : Episode 1)
I think you can get some vid or something.....
Food Lovers Guide is a great show that shows on one of Australias free to air TV stations(SBS). It showcases a whole range of Australian cooking and culture - around food. .....Aus is very multicultural hence a very varied cusine


My other favourite show is one called "The Cook and the Chef" which is aired on another channel - ABC
ABC TV: The Cook and the Chef
Maggie (the cook) and Simon (Executive Chef) are quite an interesting mix(funny and very creative). They don't just experiment with food they also interview local producers and look at how different things are grown or produced. I can go on and on about it, as I really enjoy it. There are stacks of great recipes online and you can even download the shows themselves - quite an enjoyable half hour

Maggie also has some interesting produce she makes:
Maggie Beer - A Barossa Food Tradition - Home
she sells a quince paste......Its the best - what you do is get a water cracker, spread it with the quince paste and then top with a very sharp aged cheese.....its gastronomic.....no point at stopping with one.

I dont work for them.....but I do enjoy their shows and stuff