This was published 6 years ago
Kangaroo Island places to eat: Chef Asher Blackford's seven dishes you must try
Honey from Island Beehive.
ISLAND BEEHIVE HONEY
It's easy to visit Island Beehive just down the road from the airport at Kingscote. Stop in and taste test the world's only pure Ligurian honeys, each with a different flavour depending on the bees' place of business – from Coastal Flora to Sugar Gum. We use Island Beehive in many different ways at Southern Ocean Lodge, from hot toast to honey-flavoured ice-cream.
Kanagroo Island pheasant.
AMERICAN RIVER OYSTERS, THE OYSTER FARM SHOP
The oysters from American River on Kangaroo Island are among the best I've ever had – fresh, with a taste of the salty Southern Ocean. Tasting American River oysters is as good as having a swim. Visitors can stop at the Oyster Farm Shop to try these incredible Pacific oysters as they come, smoked in sheoak or Kangaroo Island Kilpatrick-style.
(Tangara Drive, American River.)
Chef Asher Blackford.
PHEASANT BREAST, SOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE
One of my favourite ingredients on Kangaroo Island, we source free-range pheasants and also partridges from Kersley's farm. Guests at Southern Ocean Lodge love it for its rich flavours, and it's something they don't necessarily have for dinner every day. We've paired pheasant with apple, sage, caraway and bacon to bring out its earthy sweetness.
See southernoceanlodge.com.au/eat-drink/
SOUTHROCK LAMB
Free-range lamb from the rolling green hills at Southrock Farm at Antechamber Bay on the island's east coast is wonderfully flavoured, fine eating meat. Owners Andy and Kate Gilfillan pride themselves on raising happy, stress-free, chemical-free lambs and work with a small network of like-minded farmers to ensure supply. At Southern Ocean Lodge we buy the whole lamb, and use every element in our menus.
GIN, KI SPIRITS
A visit to the tiny distillery at KI Spirits neat Kingscote is great fun, with hand-crafted gin, vodka and limoncello tastings on offer while "Mary", the still, works away in the background. Ki Spirits Wild Gin uses native juniper from Kangaroo Island's wild coasts. Its distinctive taste makes it a perfect take-home souvenir.
See kispirits.com.au
KING GEORGE WHITING, KI FRESH SEAFOOD
KI's famous fresh king george whiting was one of the main attractions for me – it's hard to find a sweeter, more flavourful fish. Happily, the bays around KI offer up plentiful supplies and it's always a highlight on the menus. Visitors can also buy it – as well as top fish 'n' chips – at KI Fresh Seafood at Kingscote. See authentickangarooisland.com.au
SHEEP'S MILK CHEESE, ISLAND PURE
Visitors who time their stop at Island Pure well can see sheep being milked or frolicking in the green pastures around the dairy. We love Island Pure's cheeses and yoghurts, especially the sheep's milk haloumi and manchego, which we use often on the menus at Southern Ocean Lodge. The dairy shop stocks lots of great treats. See islandpure.com.au
Asher Blackford heads up the kitchen at Southern Ocean Lodge where a daily changing menu features exclusively Kangaroo Island and South Australian ingredients, offering guests a real taste of the destination. He previously worked at Luxury Lodges of Australia properties Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley and Lizard Island. The Southern Ocean Lodge restaurant is reserved for guests.
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