Where Chefs Eat: Masterchef’s Callum Hann Really Loves a Good Falafel

Callum Hann was just 20 years old when he first appeared on Masterchef. He came second overall, pipped by fellow South Australian Adam Liaw.

Fifteen years on, Hann is a stalwart of the Adelaide food scene. He runs Sprout Cooking School, as well as Italian eatery Roma and Mediterranean restaurant Olive, in partnership with collaborator Themis Chryssidis.

Hann is now back on our screens competing on Masterchef Australia: Back To Win. He spoke to Broadsheet about where (and what) he’s eating in Adelaide.

What’s your go-to for a quick takeaway?
My wife Crystal and I are obsessed with Real Falafel in the Adelaide Central Market. It’s the place I take people to convert them if they’re not falafel lovers. They’re crisp on the outside and so full of fresh herbs that they’re bright green in the middle. A handful of these with some hummus and pickles and you’ve got yourself a great snack or a quick dinner. My kids love them too, so I know they’re a winner!

While we’re in the market, we usually grab half a dozen oysters from Angelakis or Fair Seafood – they’re freshly shucked and hard to beat. Oysters are actually in season right now, despite most people wanting to eat them in summer.

And for a drink and snacks?
I love going to Thelma in Piccadilly for beautiful, thoughtful cooking driven by whatever they pull out of their garden. I’ve been enjoying Tom [Campbell]’s food since he cooked at The Summertown Aristologist. It’s the perfect spot to pop in for a coffee or a glass of wine and a few snacks. I usually end up ordering way too much and making it lunch anyway. The service is great too.

Where’s your favourite for great baking or pastries?
Without being too biased, when I need a sweet baked treat, it’s hard to go past Poh Ling Yeow’s Jamface at the Adelaide Showgrounds Farmers’ Market. Poh and her team are so good at their craft. My kids would recommend the snail cookies!

For bread, I usually grab a loaf from Basket Range Baker while we’re there, as they do a wonderful job. During the week, I think Emma Shearer and her team at The Lost Loaf do the best sourdough in the state. Emma made the bread for our wedding. Bread is very important in our household, so I think that says a fair bit!

What’s your personal favourite dish on the menu at Olive and Roma?
Obviously, it’s hard to decide as we wouldn’t have things on the menu if I didn’t love them, but here goes…

The beef tartare cannoli at Roma is such a fun snack. Taking the technique of the classic Italian dessert and stuffing it with one of my favourite entrees is just crazy enough to work. We use plenty of classic flavours in the beef – capers, cornichons and chives – but the secret ingredient is the black garlic mayo we bind it with.

At Olive, it’s perhaps underrated because it’s so simple, but I think our Basque cheesecake is hard to beat. Blackened on the top the traditional way and nice and gooey in the middle, it doesn’t need anything else. Although plenty of our regular customers would say that the pistachio baklava olive oil sandwich is the best dessert on the menu.

Do you have a go-to for a long lunch?
I’ve been a fan of Kane Pollard’s food for a long time. If you haven’t been to Ondeen yet, it’s worth a drive to the Adelaide Hills to check it out. The food is stunning and it’s in a relaxed setting, so my kids love coming along too.

Where do you think does the best coffee in town?
I love The Coffee Bean Shop in the Central Market – I always get a coffee for me to drink then and there and then grab a bag of beans to take home! Closer to my house, Mighty Mighty Coffee Roasters in Lobethal is well worth stopping by.

And what about the best food close to where you live?
Pot in Hahndorf for awesome cafe-style fare, or Lot 100 when I’ve got time to lunch properly. Shannon Fleming, who looks after the food there, cooked for my wedding, so I’ve got a soft spot for anything he does, but it’s more than just nostalgia that makes the food there worth a drive!

Where’s a good place to go with kids?
Pickle in the Middle in Unley. I’ve been a fan of their food since the business first started in the Central Market years ago, but now that I have young kids, the little play area at the back means I can eat without distraction for a brief time at least!

Where’s your go-to spot for fish’n’chips in summer?
I am a big fish’n’chips guy so when the weather is warm, grabbing a serve from Pearl in Aldinga and eating it on the sand with my kids is perfection.

@callums_kitchen