1918 Bistro & Grill, the restaurant that revolutionised the gourmet food culture in the Barossa Valley, is celebrating its 25th anniversary by recreating iconic dishes of years gone by at a series of Sunday brunches throughout February.
Owners Tanya and Sid King said 1918 revolutionised the food scene in the Barossa, creating a fine food culture that 25 years later is renowned around the world.
“Prior to 1918’s opening in 1992, dining options in the Barossa were limited to pubs and cellar doors offering café-style food,” Tanya said.
“The idea of 1918’s refined menu was to create dishes that could be matched and enjoyed with international and local wines, which were at the time gaining greater world-wide recognition.
“1918 also provided a friendly and generous place where Barossa winemakers could entertain their guests, and visitors could relax.” Sid said before 1918 arrived on the scene, few Barossa eateries utilised the great local produce.
“1918 set itself apart as there was a strong focus on using local produce, instead of using a mass supplier,” he said.
“It kicked off gourmet food in the Barossa and inspired all of the other amazing restaurants that have come to the region since. The food of the region now matches the calibre of its wine.”
To celebrate the 25th anniversary, Sunday brunches will be held at 1918 throughout February from 10am to 2pm, beginning on Sunday, 5 February. Dishes from the restaurant’s menus across the past 25 years will be recreated including Barossa pork belly with chilli caramel, Asian salad and betel leaf, and the most popular dessert a scorched almond and Baileys ice cream.
“When 1918 first opened the restaurant would make take away pizzas for the winery workers throughout vintage,” Tanya said.
“At our Sunday brunch, pizzas will be topped with delicious in-season produce, such as local Hutton Vale lamb, lemons preserved from my Granny’s garden and pomegranate from the restaurant’s gardens.”
The menu will be complemented with wine, local beer on tap, Barossa gin, and live music. A two-course ‘chef selection’ lunch for $45, including a glass of wine, is also available Monday to Friday throughout summer, and an invitation-only 25th birthday party will complete 1918’s birthday celebrations.Tanya and Sid who bought 1918 in March 2015 and said the quality of the region’s food and wine enticed them to the Barossa.
“After living in Dubai for seven years, where 95% of what we were eating was imported, we were looking for a lifestyle where we could eat local seasonal produce that was more flavourful, and ethically raised and grown,” she said.
“It’s the lifestyle that we love and it’s reflected in the 1918 menu as we are now working with more local producers than ever.”
1918 Bistro & Grill is located at 94 Murray Street, Tanunda.
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