'Palate 2 Palette' - Port Broughton: Amber enjoys some of the food and art of the Mid North region of South Australia
It's a sleepy little town in the off season but come the holidays it's all go in Port Broughton. Sitting snuggly in an inlet of Spencer Gulf - on the western side of Yorke Peninsula it's an easy two-hour drive 170 kilometres north west of Adelaide.
Port Broughton's wide main street running down to the jetty harks back to the days when it was lined with dozens of drays carting wheat and barley to the waiting ships. The grand old two-story pub built in those heady days still offers great views over the foreshore and jetty…
Port Broughton is a town proud of its history and the local historical society has a great museum in the old school building. Each room is busting with a different chapter of the town's colourful history. Like the horse drawn pie cart that used to operate on the line to Mundoora.
The town is all very relaxed - and that's one of the things that attracted a couple of Adelaide's corporate high-fliers when they opened a restaurant and gallery in the main street - appropriately called Palate 2 Palette.
Grant Rowlands, Palate 2 Palette: "This used to be a general store which opened in 1910. They used to sell everything from clothing, shoes, canvas, rope, twine etc and food. There was even a butcher shop."
Grant and Helen Rowlands gave up their stressful city careers a few couple of years ago deciding on a 'sea change' before it was too late.
Grant: "Helen's always had an interest in cooking and I think she's a pretty good cook myself. (I was 11 stone when I met her, look at me now.) I started painting about 6 years ago and I really love art and we really sort of wanted to meld the two. The three - we both like to drink. Yes, that's true too."
They've created an interesting mix of food, wine and art - thus the clever name, Palate 2 Palette.
Grant: "When we moved up here we also wanted to open an art gallery. We did a fair bit of research and found that the peninsula has a very big art community so what we display and exhibit artwork from immerging artists right through to established artists."
Grant currently has eight artists in his stable and he's always on the lookout for more. He changes the exhibition every couple of months so diners can see something different every time they come. One of Grant's own whimsical pieces called 'Chilli Days' hangs in the restaurant and it gives a hint of the ingredients in one of Helen's signature dishes - Palate 2 Palette Thai Kangaroo.
Palate 2 Palette is at 6 Bay Street in Port Broughton and is open daily. It's open most days. If you have any furhter questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Palate 2 Palette
6 Bay Street
Port Broughton
Ph: 8635 2552Published 19th April 2009
