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New Local Cafe Takes Fresh Approach To Well Known Brand

Glam was recently invited down to the newly opened Cibo Locale cafe in Findon to experience a new approach to the classic Cibo brand we’ve loved for so long. We sent our resident foodie (and part time coffee snob) Hannah down to check it out…


cibo feat

Glam was recently invited down to the newly opened Cibo Locale cafe in Findon to experience a new approach to the classic Cibo brand we’ve loved for so long. We sent our resident foodie (and part time coffee snob) Hannah down to check it out…

When I hear the name Cibo there are a couple of associated words I think to go with it; quick, consistent, convenient. I also think ‘bread’. It’s a franchise company and therefore most stores follow the same business plan, down to design, layout and of course menu.

So when I was asked to check out the brand spanking new Cibo Locale that opened last week in Findon, I can’t say I was expecting anything too out of the ordinary… how wrong I was.

For starters, unlike many of the Cibo franchises here in SA, Cibo Locale is not located in a high foot traffic area, bustling with people, in a snug venue with an ‘express coffee’ window attached. Instead this spacious cafe is located in a rather inconspicuous spot along Grange Road. Driving past you may barely notice it, aside from the beautiful olive vines and large planter boxes. It’s not even awash with the pillar box red branding we’ve become accustom to!

As I wandered inside a friendly staff member greeted me and walked me to one of the many tables. I noticed there is no counter length glass cabinet packed with foccacias, piadinas and cannolis, in fact apart from some of the staff and a beautiful coffee machine, nothing seemed even remotely Italian.

Opening up the menu was the same story, none of the absolutely delicious sounding dishes came from the cookie cutter selection of Cibo choices we’ve grown to know and love. I was truly shocked. With breakfast menu items like warm quinoa & buckwheat porridge, roasted rhubarb, pistachio and coconut yoghurt or green eggs and ham, fried green tomato, chilli jam and lime, not only was I surprised by the healthy new menu options, I really struggled to choose with it all sounding so good.

In the end I opted for a latte (with almond milk) and the beetroot cured ocean trout served with two poached eggs, kale, avocado, chilli labne (cheese) and sprinkled with dukkah. Honestly, it was nothing short of divine. I was full to the brim at about two thirds of the way through, yet every mouthful was so fresh and flavourful I couldn’t help but to keep going until the end.

I was lucky enough to steal five minutes of owner Anthony Pollina’s time to quiz him on this truly innovative new approach to the Cibo brand.

Anthony has worked for Cibo for over a decade, including in their very first store on Pirie St, and owns three more of the Italian franchises across Adelaide.  He is a passionate advocate for the brand and what it stands for, but we chatted for some time about how he had always dreamed of doing something a bit outside of the little red box.

‘I was truly blessed when this opportunity presented itself’ he gushed. ‘I’ve been lucky enough to work well with this brand that I have loved so much for so many years. It meant so much for me to have the owners trust me to go out on my own and do something that was so different with the Cibo name.’

It’s clear how much the Adelaide cafe market has changed and evolved over the past few years and Anthony told me of his passion to be part of this bustling society that celebrates local food and producers. He showed me the enormous brand new kitchen at Cibo Locale and pointed out the this was the starting point for his vision. It highlighted to me something that now seems so obvious, no other Cibo in the state has a full in house kitchen.

This large kitchen beautiful space is being run by head chef Bill Petropoulos, who was an Executive Chef and Operations Manager for celebrity cooking star Bill Granger. Together with sous chef Paul Cartwright the boys have designed a menu that is certain to keep blowing diners away. I know I’ll be coming back to try out the cauliflower fried rice, cured prawns, sesame cucumber, fermented cabbage, pickled onion and chilli egg.

As a part time coffee snob, and full time coffee lover I noticed that the coffee here tasted a lot stronger and smoother than your standard Cibo cup of java. I was told that this is because the special blend of coffee beans is unique to Cibo Locale. The suppliers worked with the owners to create a blend that was quintessentially Italian. That means it certainly packs a punch. I won’t lie, after three I was bouncing around in my seat the whole way home!

What was clear from our brief chats with all the staff at Cibo Locale is the sheer passion and dedication each individual has poured into this new endeavour. The warm hospitality and service with a smile that we’ve known from Cibo throughout the years is clearly continuing on at Cibo Locale, but with that added ‘local’ feeling.

I know that this spot is a little out of the way for some but as Anthony said ‘we wanted to create a real destination for people. Somewhere that the food and the service made them want to travel to’, and I certainly believe they’ve achieved this goal.

I can’t rave enough (although I’ve tried) about how much I enjoyed the food and the service at Cibo Locale. It’s great to meet people so filled with passion for their craft. I’ll definitely be going the distance again to visit the team and ensuring that I sample one of EVERYTHING on the menu.

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