Star of Greece Cafe

From this clifftop cafe at Port Willunga, the waters of the Gulf are like a millpond, so calm that it's hard to imagine the severity of the storm which once claimed the lives of seventeen men. It was off this point that the Star of Greece came to grief in July 1888 as she set off for Great Britain with her cargo of wheat. Some of the remnants of this three-masted iron ship can still be seen at the Port Adelaide Maritime museum. While sections of her hull remain on the ocean floor offering one of the most accessible diving spots in the State. One hundred and eleven years on from that fateful storm and locals and visitors now gather at the Cafe which bears her name. The Star of Greece has long been the local refreshment stop for those taking in the sights at one of Adelaide's most picturesque nearby beaches. The emphasis here is on maintaining the holiday feel of an old-style beach cafe. "People always have these special memories which they had of childhood as well as of travel. It's a wonderful place to come to and it's only 45 minutes from the city. I remember it in the late sixties and early seventies we always visited here and around the area." Now John and Zanhny have given it their own special touch with the sort of decor Gidget and the Big Kahoona would feel at home in. The 50s retro approach is in keeping with a cafe which has always had close connections with the local beach community. It's not that long ago that fishermen used to haul their catch onto the old Willunga Jetty.

Now a well known local is still on the lookout for seafood to supply these tables. "Our local fisherman Jeff Howe still does his fishing right off the beach." Jeff's whiting are handed over to chef Yelka Sever who likes to mix this is speciality with another local Willunga favourite. The whiting is pan fried with ghee while shaved almonds are sautÈed in butter. "And we let them cook until they become nice and golden. And I'll just check to see how the colour is going on the bottom of the fish and we can see it's nearly ready. As you can see these almonds are now really nice and golden at this point we add some parsley and we add some lemon juice and now were ready to pour over the top of the fish. We add a couple of lime wedges and we have a salad with some lovely colourful lettuce greens and we dress it with a lovely raspberry vinaigrette. And this is a lovely way to cook king George Whiting lovely and fresh with an almondine sauce." The Star of Greece Cafe is on the Esplanade at Port Willunga and is open Wednesday through to Sunday for lunch and Friday and Saturday nights for dinner.

For more information you can email info@postcards.sa.com.au

Visit the Star of Greece Shipwreck