Cook. Eat. Repeat.

Good morning, Hills lovers!

Markets are buzzing, live music is waiting, and we’ve tracked down some of the best food and drink deals in the region. There’s a comedy night to shake up your weekend, a festival you’ll want to book in for now, and a look at an off-grid distillery that’s doing things differently. Plus, I went to a cookbook club and left convinced it’s the best excuse for a long lunch.

Let’s get stuck in.

THE PANTRY TABLE 
Cookbook Club: A Solid Excuse For A Long Lunch

Over the weekend, I went to a friend’s place for our first Cookbook Club. Her idea, and an excellent one. The concept is simple: we all cook a recipe from the same cookbook, then bring our dishes together for a long lunch. Every six weeks, a new cookbook, a new host, and a different spread to try.

For the first round, we cooked from Community by Hetty McKinnon. Safe choice. Mostly salads, easy to prep, and no stress. But next time, we’ll mix it up. Everyone gets a turn choosing the book, which means anything from elaborate feasts to dead-simple weeknight meals or even a fancy high tea could be on the cards.

It’s the best kind of gathering: low effort, high reward, and a great excuse to slow down and eat well. If you like cooking and don’t mind an afternoon off, get a few friends together and start one. Highly recommend.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK 
Sticky Fig & Balsamic Glazed Chicken

Fig season is upon us, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with this sticky, sweet, and savoury masterpiece! Juicy chicken thighs, fresh figs, and a luscious balsamic glaze come together for a dish that’s equal parts cosy and gourmet.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin on for best flavour)

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tbsp butter

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 fresh figs, quartered (or 2 tbsp fig jam if out of season)

• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• ½ tsp smoked paprika

• ½ cup chicken stock

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• Fresh thyme, for garnish

Method

1. Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika, then sear skin-side down until golden (about 5 minutes). Flip and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.

2. Make the glaze: In the same pan, add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard, and chicken stock. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.

3. Add the figs: Toss in the fresh figs and let them soften slightly, infusing the sauce with their rich, caramel-like flavour. If using fig jam, stir it in instead.

4. Simmer and reduce: Return the chicken to the pan, spoon the glaze over the top, and let it cook for 10-12 minutes on low heat until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through.

5. Serve: Garnish with fresh thyme and serve with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad to soak up the sticky, delicious sauce.

MAKE & CREATE 
Beginners Handbuilt Pottery Class

Get your hands in the clay and your creativity flowing with this beginner’s pottery class. Local artist Rebecca Prince will guide you through the magic of handbuilding, teaching you how to pinch, coil, and slab your way to beautifully imperfect, totally unique pieces.

Across four relaxed two hour session, you’ll learn the fundamentals of working with clay and create your own usable household items—whether that’s a rustic cup, a quirky bowl, or something completely your own. No experience? No worries. This class is all about fun, creativity, and giving it a go.

📅 When: Thu, 13 Mar, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
📍 Where: Norton Summit Community Centre, 4 Crescent Dr, Norton Summit
💰 Cost: $140 per person (includes firing & glazing for four pieces)

Your pieces will be fired and glazed at The Summit Community Centre’s own kiln. Want to make more? Extra items can be fired for a small fee.

Spots are limited, so don’t miss out. Book here.

HILLS PEOPLE DOING COOL THINGS 
Handmade Spirits, Powered by the Sun

The Adelaide Hills is full of people doing cool things, and Sue and James Tilly are no exception. From their off-grid property, this husband-and-wife duo are distilling small-batch spirits using nothing but solar power, pure spring water, and a whole lot of passion.

HillTilly Distillery is a family-owned microdistillery, creating handcrafted gin and vodka from scratch. Every bottle is made sustainably, with carefully chosen botanicals and a commitment to keeping things local.

They don’t have a cellar door (yet), but you’ll find them at markets across the Hills, pouring tastings and chatting about their process. Their Magic Gin shifts from deep blue to soft pink with a splash of citrus. Their Honey Gin is infused with raw, local honey. And their Salted Caramel Vodka? As smooth as it sounds.

You can catch them at the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market, Uraidla Market, and Meadows Country Market, or browse their range online at HillTilly Distillery.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
Passata Party 2025 🍅🎶 FESTIVAL | Norton Summit
📅 Sun, Mar 2 | 12 PM – 9 PM [Booking Required]
Learn the art of traditional Italian passata-making at The Scenic Hotel with David Scarsella & his team of Nonni. Tickets $35 include a hands-on session, a take-home bottle of passata & Nonna Rosa’s lasagna. Live music & bus transfers available. Kids under 10 free.

Discover Play Pathway 🚴‍♀️ OUTDOORS | Woodside & Mount Torrens
📆 Sun, Mar 2 | 9 AM – 3 PM [FREE]
Explore 15km of fun along the Amy Gillett Bikeway, with Touch-a-Truck, a bike skills track, markets, live music & food stalls. Start at Woodside or Mount Torrens & make your way through interactive play stops.

Kel & Amy’s Comedy Road Trip 🎤🤣 COMEDY| Loberthal
📅 Fri, Mar 8 | 7:30 PM [Booking required]
Laugh out loud with Kel Balnaves & Amy Hetherington, two of Australia’s best stand-up comedians, as they bring their sharp wit & hilarious stories to the Lobethal Bierhaus. Expect a fast-paced, high-energy show!

This Old Cello Box – William Jack 🎻🎶 MUSIC | Hahndorf
📅 Sun, Mar 2 | 4 PM [Booking Required]
Experience William Jack as he blends bluegrass, jazz, and world music on solo cello at Hahndorf Academy. Fresh from his UK/EU tour & Edinburgh Fringe, this is a must-see for music lovers!

Transcendent Narratives – Jacinta Smart & Sandy O’Callaghan 🎨🖼 EXHIBITION | Hahndorf
📅 Feb 6 – Mar 23 | 10 AM – 5 PM [Booking Required]
A stunning exhibition exploring landscape, abstraction & shared journeys from Adelaide Hills artists Jacinta Smart & Sandy O’Callaghan. See their decade-long creative evolution at Hahndorf Academy.

Hills Harvest Exchange 🍏🌿 COMMUNITY | Norton Summit
📅 Sat, Mar 2 | 10 AM – 12 PM [FREE]
Join the Hills Harvest Exchange at the Hills Environment Centre, Norton Summit, a monthly fruit & veggie swap where locals share their homegrown produce, preserves, baked goods, seedlings & more. Enjoy a cuppa, chat gardening & cooking tips, trade your homegrown goodies for some else’s.

Wednesday Trivia Night ❓🧠 TRIVIA | Stirling
📅 Every Wed | Evening [FREE]
Gather your friends for a fun-filled evening of trivia at the Stirling Hotel. Test your knowledge across various topics and enjoy a lively atmosphere. Booking is essential to secure your spot.

ON LATER, BOOK NOW
Penguin Noir Tour 2025 🔎📕 AUTHOR EVENT | Stirling
📅 Wed, Mar 26 | 7 PM [Booking Required]
Four bestselling crime writers Gareth & Louise Ward, Amanda Hampson & Margaret Hickey come together for a night of thrilling book chat at Coventry Library, Stirling. Your $12 ticket includes a glass of SC Pannell wine and can be redeemed against any featured book on the night. Book now, limited seats!

MARKETS
🧺 Mylor Market - Mylor Oval
Sunday, 2 March from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
A community market is held on the first Sunday of each month, featuring plants, homemade gifts, crafts, preserves, baked goods, and homegrown produce.

🧺 Uraidla Market - Uraidla Institute
Sunday, 2 March from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Held on the first and third Sundays monthly, this market offers produce, crafts, art, plants, and local goods.

🧺 Mt Torrens Market - Mount Torrens Oval
Sunday, 2 March from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
A local market supporting the Mt Torrens History Centre, featuring artisans, produce, food outlets, and entertainment.

🧺 Oakbank Market - Oakbank Soldiers Memorial Hall
Saturday, 8 March from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
An artisan, homemade, and craft market is held on the second Saturday of each month, featuring stalls with candles, books, plants, jewellery, clothing, pet treats, jams, and more.

CHEAP DATE
Weeknight Takeaway Meal Deal 🍕💰 | Stirling
📅 Sun–Thu | From 5 PM
Enjoy a cozy night in with The Stirling Hotel's weeknight takeaway special: two pizzas plus a garlic bread pizza or kids' pizza for just $40. Perfect for a budget-friendly date night at home!

Monday Night Pizza 🍕🍻 | Aldgate
📅 Every Monday | From 5 PM
Start the week right with wood-fired pizzas from just $15 at Aldgate Pump Hotel. Perfectly crisp, deliciously cheesy, and best enjoyed with a pint! Kids can enjoy playing in the outdoor playground!

Taco Tuesday 🌮🍹 | Stirling
📅 Every Tuesday | From 5 PM
Spice up your week at Miss Perez Kitchen & Bar with Taco Tuesday! Enjoy a variety of delicious tacos, including halloumi & chorizo, beef brisket, fried chicken, crispy cauliflower, and panko-crumbed mushrooms, each priced at $8. Pair your meal with a half-price margarita for the perfect midweek treat.

Wednesday Wing Night 🍗🍺 | Hahndorf
📅 Every Wednesday | 11:15 AM – Late
Dig into 1kg of wings for $16 or 500g for $11 at The Haus. Choose from BBQ, Buffalo or the new Lemon, Herbs & Tequila flavour. Add blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce for $4. Dine-in only.

Schnitzel & Pint Night 🍽️🍺 | Crafers
📅 Every Monday - Thursday | 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Enjoy a midweek treat at The Crafers Hotel with their Schnitzel & Pint Night. Indulge in a delicious schnitzel paired with a refreshing pint in a cozy atmosphere. Perfect for a budget-friendly date night!

We try to only include accurate information, but sometimes things can change. Everything included in the newsletter is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time the newsletter is sent out. Sometimes we make money from the links we include but we only recommend things we genuinely like.

Thanks for reading Adelaide Hills Pantry today. Feel free to share with a friend who sounds great when they sing in the shower.