LOCATIONOne street away from the Adelaide Central Market and Gouger Street nightclubs.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAIf you live or work close by, you may have met this new kid on the block. Within walking distance to the markets, you might have spotted Jam the Bistro while on route. Perhaps talk of it has spread in your direction as it continues to catch the attention of Adelaide’s foodies. Large windows bring you into a space that is light, tight and simple. During the day, the black chairs are pulled up to uncovered, white tables, while the walls highlight several spotlighted artworks which reveal the restaurant’s contemporary taste. Likewise, owner and chef John Pana has crafted a menu of sophisticated and modern Mediterranean flavours.
The “let’s get started” section invites guests to begin with entrees such as char-grilled octopus with lime, tomato, rocket, endive, vincotto and verjuice, or some Saganaki cheese with white anchovies. “Serious food” is an appropriate header for dishes such as duck confit with pea mash, caramelised muscatels and baby carrots. Its camardo coffee bean jus should perk your curiosity. Local snapper fillet, pan-seared South Australian prawns and lemon with a Szechuan pepper reduction stray from the Mediterranean theme but are good examples of the kitchen’s close proximity to Adelaide’s seafood suppliers. Return to breakfast on Jam’s blue swimmer crab omelette.
Roz Taylor, May 2009