While many in the food world strive to out-do, out-cook, even out-shock with their offerings, not every café or restaurant is destined to make waves. For every absinthe bar, themed diner or exotic food novelty, there is a humble operation quietly serving up good food and good spirits to lucky locals.
in Adelaide is exactly that kind of place. Owners Leo and Adella Corrieri opened the Sturt St local after years in the business working for other people. Adella tells SBS they have “never looked back.”
“This is something I love doing,” says Adella. “Whether it's cooking up a new meal or talking to the customers or staff and having a good laugh, training the staff on some of my little tricks in cooking and seeing the look on their faces after trying the food.”
There's no set menu and customers are regularly surprised with house-baked goodies like these apple and blueberry pies. Source: Ladle of Love
We find customers like to be surprised,” she says. “They know that there's always something different every day.
Adella hasn’t ever had a menu in the café, preferring to cook seasonally using produce she sources locally. “We find customers like to be surprised,” she says. “They know that there's always something different every day.” Adella cooks dishes from all over the globe, adding her own “little twist”, so regulars are as likely to be served up a coconut chicken curry as an Italian pasta dish.
Eggplant sandwiches are definitely not on the menu
Husband Leo, who comes to help set up the shop every morning before he heads out to work, has a proud Italian heritage. Adella refers to him as her “professional taste tester”, and says that when they first got together she opened up a whole new food world for Leo. “Not just Italian style,” she laughs. Like many Italian migrants, Leo’s family stuck to a traditional menu.
“Sunday was pasta with meat sauce, Monday was meat night, Tuesday night was some sought of pasta dish, Wednesday was leftovers from Sunday, Thursday was a different pasta dish, Friday was always pasta in fish soup and Saturday was usually some sought of roast,” says Adella.
Adella and her team have slowly coaxed Leo away from a strict Italian diet. Source: Ladle of Love
These days Leo will try most of Adella’s menu, but he won’t touch eggplant. Eggplant sandwiches on thick continental-style bread were a staple in his school lunch box and he was apparently turned off for life.
A very special canteen lady
Ladle of Love cater for the Stuart Street Community School canteen, right next door to the café, and eggplant sandwiches are definitely not on the menu. “We give the kids healthy options for their lunch,” says Adella. All of the food at Ladle of Love is made on the premises, without preservatives, additives or added flavourings. That extends to the fresh-baked goods, including biscuits, pies and a new flavour of muffin each week for 'Muffin Thursdays'.
“We have our very own flat bread and the mayonnaise, honey mustard, chutney and many other things are all freshly made right here.”
Order a coffee and prepare to linger over choosing a house-baked muffin on 'Muffin Thursday'. Source: Ladle of Love
I love to learn, create and prepare beautiful food. Real food just for you, made with love.
Feeding the kids is clearly a passion for Adella, who has fond memories of times with her mother and grandmother in the kitchen back in England: “My mother and Grandma were amazing cooks, I would watch them create beautiful soups and delicious roasts and there were always scones in the oven.
“I love to learn, create and prepare beautiful food. Real food just for you, made with love.”
Tandoori chicken flatbread wraps - everything is made in house, including the flatbreads. Source: Ladle of Love
Caring for the community
Adella’s love extends to those most in need. Aside from trying to ask the fairest price possible from her customers, at the end of each day, “weather permitting”, she leaves any leftovers at the back door for the local homeless community.
“We feel that it is important to give back to our community because I've seen firsthand it's not nice to go hungry,” she says. “There is always someone less fortunate than yourself.”
Ladle of Love has a strong place in local's hearts. This sweet chalk message was left outside the cafe by a customer after the fire. Source: Ladle of Love
Not even when a fire ravaged through the little café in December last year was Adella’s spirit dimmed. “It was a major setback for us, as our little dream was set a light,” she says simply. Police suspected the fire was a and it took the small business five months to rebuild after extensive damage.
“Unfortunately we will never know who or why they did it,” Adella says. “We are looking forward to a better year.”
2074 Sturt Street, Adelaide
Mon-Fri 6.30 am – 4 pm
