Today, Chris Jarmer returns to the restaurant business, win seafood degustation tickets, hot tips for city dining and more.

Jarmer’s return

Chef Chris Jarmer has re-entered the Adelaide dining scene this week, opening Jarmer’s Kitchen with a bang at Bowden.

Jarmer, son of Adelaide restaurant royalty Peter Jarmer, has taken over Cole Thomas’s failed Plant 13 venture in a government-owned space in the inner-west.

Chris was forced to close his Bistro Air in the David Jones building in September last year, making way for New York jewellery giant Tiffany & Co.

He has dedicated the new place to his Dad, whose fine diner, Jarmer’s Restaurant, on Kensington Road, closed 10 years ago.

Jarmer’s Kitchen

It’s a neat symmetry for Chris, who has given a nod to his heritage with some of the items on the diverse menu.

He’s doing proper Austrian schnitzel, pan-fried (unlike the artery-clogging monsters served in most Adelaide pubs) and served with a traditional potato salad. On Saturday nights, he’s offering Chateaubriand – something his father would have cooked in the 1970s.

Apart from these items, the menu has a modern Mediterranean flavour, with lots of shared plates. He’s also opening his kitchen for the full day – breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“The presentation is very simple – it’s all about good-quality food at a good price,” he says.

Jarmer’s Kitchen is at 18 Park Terrace, Bowden. Telephone: 8340 1055.

Seafood extravaganza – plus reader offer!

The Kitchen Door at Penny’s Hill winery is hosting two epic seafood degustation lunches during the Sea and Vines Festival – and The Forager has two tickets to give away, valued at $120 per person.

The lunches have become a tradition at Penny’s Hill, and executive chef Dioni Flanagan has put together a huge seafood menu matched with the winery’s products.

The menu includes oysters, cured and fresh kingfish, crispy-skin snapper fillet, scallop tartare, a seafood “snag” and a lot more.

Local musician Ellie Foster will provide entertainment with acoustic jazz and blues.

There are two sessions – Sunday, June 8, and Monday, June 9, from midday. Go here for Sunday bookings and here for Monday bookings.

The Forager has a pair of tickets to give away – email here with “Forager Penny’s Hill tickets” in the subject header to be in the running. Include your full name and contact phone number.

A kingfish dish on the menu for the Penny’s Hill seafood degustation.

City newcomers

There are some interesting new dining options emerging around the city.

Gouger Street’s Little NNQ is attracting fans for its fresh take on Vietnamese food. It’s an offshoot of Ferryden Park favourite Nghi Ngan Quan (hence the name). It’s taken over the quaint La Guillotine space, recently occupied by an Indian restaurant.

Over on North Terrace, the Stamford Plaza Hotel has chosen an opportune time to open its new restaurant, Ginza Miyako Japanese Restaurant.

Chef Gamo Haruo has experience in Japanese and French food, and that potentially awkward combination is reflected in the menu – rather deftly. It’s mostly Japanese, but with a gentle French influence in the mains sections (for example, grilled salmon with cepe sauce doesn’t sit too awkwardly next to Japanese sushi and sashimi). The dessert list is more heavily French, featuring creme brulee and crepes.

If you’re looking for something warming and sustaining at lunch, Jimmy Shu’s Hanuman restaurant on South Terrace has introduced a take-away lunch option. His “bento boxes” are packaged for easy take-away and dining at your desk, and come in three types – Thai, Indian and Nonya. For $17.50 it’s a good way to sample Jimmy’s vibrant menu.

Jimmy Shu in Hanuman Adelaide. Photo: Nat Rogers/InDaily

Penfolds health check

Penfolds has announced dates for its upcoming re-corking clinics, during which winemakers give your old bottles a “health check”.

The next Adelaide clinics will be at the National Wine Centre from September 30 to October 1.

It’s part of Penfolds’ complimentary “after sales service” for owners of Penfolds red wines aged 15 years or older.

The Penfolds winemaking team will assess your bottles and any that are re-corked will be certified and signed by a winemaker before being valued by Langtons.

To register go to www.penfolds.com.au

Bookings are essential.

The global food system

Get along to the University of Adelaide tomorrow night (May 29) for a free lecture on changes in the global food system and how they could affect you.

Associate Professor Wendy Umberger, director of Global Food Studies at the University of Adelaide, will provide an insight into both large and small-scale impacts of the changing global food system.

The lecture will run from 5.30-6.30 in the Napier Building, room G03.

It’s free, but you need to register here.