Tucked away in the heart of the beautiful eastside suburb of Kent Town is the new dining spot and wine bar, Bibo Bar and Eatery.
Owned and operated by Manuel Francesconi—an Italian native who now calls South Australia home and the visionary behind the much-loved Peel Street gem La Moka—this new foodie haven that transforms into a wine bar at night promises a fusion of South Aussie charm combined with Italian allure, creating a warm and welcoming experience of delicious food, exquisite wines and, of course, the finest Italian coffee.
Bibo, which in Italian slang means ‘little’, officially opens on the 8th of January, and Manuel is excited to welcome guests to his new venue.
‘The idea behind Bibo was to create something where friends, family and colleagues can come and sit down, and connect with each other over shared small plates and a glass or two of wine or coffee’, says Manuel.
‘Our focus at Bibo is on serving quality food and wine (and coffee!), and we try to ensure that at least 95% of our produce or products used are either Italian or South Australian.’
With more of a food and sit-down focus than its sister restaurant, La Moka, the menu at Bibo Bar and Eatery is a combination of Italian-inspired dishes that are all designed to be shared—think four or five plates in the middle of the table, and everyone getting a taste of everything!
There’s a selection of tasty brekky offerings, including native granola, eggs with pancetta or prosciutto, breakfast burgers, a beetroot bowl with eggs, beetroot, hummus and quinoa, and fresh pastries and croissants from Cannelles Croissants and French Pastries.
If you’re visiting Bibo for lunch or dinner, you’ll find dishes on the menu like heirloom carrots with whipped lemon ricotta, smoked buffalo caprese salad with prosciutto, fresh South Australian oysters and several delicious pasta dishes too.
Manuel has also employed a traditional French charcutier, Henri Maignan, who makes his own French products and prepares Bibo’s cured meats, cheeses and foie gras, along with an Italian sommelier, Alessandro Paparella, who has helped curate the extensive wine list of both Italian and South Australian wines.
‘We want to showcase wines at Bibo, and our entire wine list is either from Italy or right here in South Australia’, says Manuel. ‘We want to make sure that we’re unique with our wine list, and there’s a reason behind why we’ve chosen each bottle—as an example, we have a 2015 Pinot Noir from Golding Wines, and it’s a wine that no one else has.’
Manuel who originates from Bologna, Italy, has been in Australia for 17 years, originally working for a horticulture company.
‘I always wanted to travel and immerse myself in different cultures, and I had the opportunity to come to Australia with my work, and after three years, I knew I didn’t want to leave!’
When Manuel discovered our wines here in Australia, he noticed many differences between those from his home country. ‘When I first tried South Australian wines, I thought they were so strong compared to Italian wines’, says Manuel. ‘Over time, I came to really appreciate the different and really refined flavours and realised that Australia has some of the best wines in the world, especially here in SA.’
‘The wines here are at an amazing level, and they’re marketed a lot better than those in Italy. So much thought and care goes into everything from the name to the beautiful wine labels—you can tell South Australian winemakers genuinely care about every detail.’
Besides wines, Bibo also has a refreshing cocktail list and, of course, quality coffee using Italian Segafredo coffee beans. Plus, this intimate space that holds 40 inside and 18 outside is also great for functions, and Manuel and the team at Bibo can happily customise a drinks and food package to suit any event or occasion.
So, in the new year, make sure you make a date with friends to head down to the modern Bibo Bar and Eatery in Kent Town and treat yourself to a morning brunch, long lunch, or delicious dinner of Italian-Australian inspired dishes, filling your table with small shared plates, quality coffee and the finest vinos in the city.
What: Bibo Bar and Eatery.
Where: 97 King William St, Kent Town, SA 5067.
When: Open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 am-2:30 pm, Friday, 7:30 am-late, Saturday, 4 pm-late.
For more info, click here.
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