Lake Coolangatta Café: At Aldinga in the Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia

From the Lake Coolangatta Café diners can take in stunning views of Gulf Saint Vincent and the culinary delights whipped up by chef, Shane Ortis.

The café used to be the old Aldinga Beach Hut and back in the 60s and 70s Shane and business partner Meredith Riley used to drop in for a Woodies Lemonade and a Dandy Icecream.

Now it's a little more upmarket and a great place to try the dishes Shane's picked up on his overseas travels. The day we called in he offered his take on a traditional Thai dish incorporating papaya and prawns.

First, he peeled several slices of papaya which form the base of the salad. Next, he topped and tailed some snow peas and cut them into very thin slices.

"It's good texture,"said Shane. "It gives the salad a bit of crispiness and crunch."

It's a sweet and sour sauce so next Shane juices some limes and adds some palm sugar, fish sauce and sets the sauce aside.

Shane then prepares the prawn paste. "You've got your rough; red chillies; roasted almonds, dried shrimp and garlic."

The ingredients are ground down into a paste before Shane deveins and salts the prawns before blending the salad.

The prawns go into the frying pan for just a few minutes before being laid out on the freshly made salad.

"Pop a little coriander on and spring onion curls and it's a great taste." Said Shane proudly.

Lake Coolangatta Cafe is at 1 Norman Road, Aldinga. To book contact 8557 4000.

Lake Coolangatta Café
1 Norman Road
Aldinga
Bookings Phone 8557 4000