Disclaimer: I was a guest at the launch

Ichitaro Dining’s canapés

If you’ve been reading for a year or more, you’ll know that last year I attended the menu launch for the annual Variety on King William Road lunch, which is part of the Adelaide Fashion Festival. If you know me personally you’ll know I wasn’t invited on account of my sartorial awesomeness … I was fortunate enough to be invited again this year but unfortunately I’m not able to bring you a wrap up of the entire menu because real life (that is, work) got in the way of what should have been a smashing afternoon out. However, I was able to attend the very first part of the launch and, from what I saw, yet again, punters will be spoiled with a very impressive showing from the restaurants and providores of King William Road. Our experience started at Ichitaro Dining with a glass of bubbles and two of the canapés: a sushi style morsel including both quinoa and rice and some crispy chicken, marinated in yuzu and topped with an edamame based paste. Definitely keep your eyes out for this one!

At Bottega Rotolo

We then headed down the road to Bottega Rotolo for more canapés. A leek and Gruyère quiche was pipped by the lovely crème fraîche tartelette, served with smoked salmon. As there were some left overs, I was not the only person sneaking in a second helping …

Faraja’s stuffed chicken breast

Next door, Faraja was ready to serve us the first of the mains. A chicken breast, stuffed with spinach and hazelnuts topped with an orange hollandaise and served with asparagus and a potato galette. I’m not a huge fan of orange so the hollandaise didn’t really float my boat but the chicken was well cooked and the stuffing was great (it seems such like an obvious combination now I’ve eaten it).

Unfortunately, at this point I had to leave so I missed out on the other main course (a Spring lamb salad by Parisi’s) and dessert (a chocolate tart by By Blackbird and a lime custard by Mulot’s).

On Thursday we had amazing weather, unbelievable transport provided by Mercedes-Benz Adelaide and were joined by the face of Variety on King William, Katya Komarova. The actual lunch will be held on Friday 23 October and guests will dine on a closed off section of the road. Tickets are $140 a head and can be purchased at King William Road. Lunch kicks off at midday.

If you can’t make lunch, you will still be able to join in as the footpaths will be open as will all shops, restaurants and cafés.

Huge thanks to Little Lion PR for the invitation to the launch event – it’s always interesting to meet bloggers who write about things other than food and (in the case of fashion bloggers) check out what they are wearing!