The Wirrabara Bakery is one of those places that is both every foodies dream and nightmare. It is a bakery that one cannot help gushing about. It serves some of the most delicous pies and cakes in Australia in a 1950s atmosphere, complete with antique/thrift store attached. Yet, to see the bakery commercialised, or overrun by tourists would be a disaster.
Wirrabara is south of the Southern Flinders Ranges and north of the Clare Valley. One would think that these regions would offer many places where one can replenish their energy sources. Sadly this is not the case and on Sunday afternoons 4WDs descend upon Wirrabara with hungry families eager to overcome their days of camping meals. And they have visited a great spot to do so.
The Old Bakery Wirrabara offers 15 or so varieties of pies. The plain steak is an extraordinary stew of quality steak, soy suace and several secret ingredients. The steak variations are just as good, as is the kangaroo. If you want a special treat try the Rabbit Stew pie. It is as good as Stephanie Alexander's Mother's Rabbit Stew pie sounds.
The sausage rolls are also excellent. If this has not tired you out, try the lumberjack cake or the qundong slice. The Old Bakery Wirrabara is part of a recently developed Central South Australian bush foods network. There are places in the Flinders Ranges that offer bush food tours and tastings during the year, but save the expense and just eat qundong at Wirrabara.
My final word of advice is to spend a rainy afternoon in the bakery. Don't eat too much during the previous few days (camping is an excellent pre-bakery pasttime) and spend a long afternoon drinking plunger coffe, muching pies, cakes and mints. Visit the Wirrabara Hotel for dinner if you can leave your seat.
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