It is no surprise that Adelaide boasts more restaurants and cafés per head of population than any other Australian city. The South Australian capital is surrounded by nine distinctive wine growing areas each with its own regional food basket. Adelaide chefs are spoilt for choice and so are diners.

Chef Bethany Finn has made it to the top. Her chic and sleek Urban Bistro, just short taxi trip from the centre of the city, has won numerous awards. Bethany and husband Spencer, have developed a winning style using local foods — contemporary Australian “work in progress” as they call it. “The greatest compliment is that other restaurants try to emulate us,” she says. Word of mouth has kept them at the top for six years. They’ve never had to advertise. “Everything we cook is what is in season,” says Bethany who commissions a number of growers especially for heritage tomatoes, Burbank potatoes and stone fruit.

One of the city centre Meccas of trendy eateries is Rundle Street with its array of cafés and bars of every ethnic persuasion and where footpath dining is very much in fashion. Sunday is Market Day when the street is closed to vehicles.

We enjoyed Eros for Greek food, Café Michael 2 for Thai, Amalfi Pizzeria for Italian, Cibo for coffee and gelato and The Majestic Roof Garden Hotel’s Culshaws for modern Australian.

For fine dining overlooking the Torrens River, the elegant Jolleys Boathouse with its all-white décor, raked ceilings and outstanding views is a ‘must’. Pizzazz is an essential ingredient of the regional dishes created by chef Tony Carrol.

I’ve chosen a selection of treats we savoured in Adelaide, which I have adapted for home cooking.