When I first came to Adelaide as a tourist, four years ago, I resided in Eden Hills. This is probably where my love story with Adelaide began. The house we stayed in was on multiple levels, dating from the 70’s and filled with op-shop furniture and homely touches from my creatively-talented friends. In the surprisingly cold winter, we kept warm thanks to the presence of two wood-burning fires and many a crocheted blanket. The smell of eucalyptus from the beautiful trees was new to me and instantly became one of my favourite smells. The house had a tin roof that pinged in the rain and I remember one night waking up terrified as a possum skittered loudly across the roof. The back deck stretched out into the bush, and so dense were the trees that you were unaware of the neighbours around you. One of my first koala sightings was on that deck, my first Australian BBQ, my first Australian red wine – and no doubt many a donut.
Eden Hills sits adjacent to Blackwood and I’m not entirely sure when one becomes the other. For the first week of my stay, I didn’t even realise that Adelaide city centre was a thing, my exposure was limited to the enchanting suburbs of the hills. It was Blackwood where I first went to an Australian grocery store, stumbled upon TimTams, drank the famed Australian coffee, and “brunched” with avocado. I frequented the op-shops, ran the paths and absorbed the local culture. Some reading this may not even know somewhere like Blackwood has a local culture! Well, it takes a tourist to recognise and appreciate it.
Main Road, BlackwoodView on Map
So, when an opportunity to visit Blackwood, Eden Hills and Belair arises I get excited. A colleague I work with had stumbled across The Holey Grail (and by stumbled I mean I forced one of our business cards upon him) and suggested that there were a few bakeries in the area I should try. Now, this came as a surprise to me – that donuts had existed within a 5km radius of somewhere I had previously stayed and I hadn’t already sniffed them out. This aside, I eagerly accepted the names of the bakeries and having done some background research, managed to find a day I could get up there.
One of these bakeries in Blackwood is Akkerman’s. It sits in a little inlet of shops on Main Road, across from the Hungry Jacks and in close proximity to the main shopping district. The bakery wasn’t impressive from the outside, or for that matter aesthetically on the inside either, but had a defined look that comes from a well-established bakery. The Formica tables, iced coffee and large glass cabinets were simple and to the point. The donuts were much more impressive with a large selection – all of generous sizes – with a couple topping options available. Taking a sprinkle topped donut to go, I went for a wander up one of my favourite trails in Adelaide, enjoying the donut in the emerging sunshine overlooking the city. Now, there’s an experience you don’t forget.
