It seems the future really is female, especially in the food realm. Adelaide’s latest addition, the female-founded gastropub Sparkke at The Whitmore, has just confirmed its new head chef will be none other than the lauded Emma McCaskill.

Late last year McCaskill announced that she would be departing The Pot after just 18 months in the role. But its onwards and upwards for the chef, who will join the city-based eatery from late April.

The brewpub’s new menu is already in the works, with McCaskill confirming that her Indian heritage will form a key source of inspiration. She’ll also be working alongside Sparkke’s head brewer Agi Gajic to learn about beverage fermentation and how to incorporate original brews into new dish offerings. Says Sparkke Co-founder Rose Kentish: “Emma brings a track record of success as well as a food philosophy that fully aligns with Sparkke’s. We can’t wait to share her first menu – it’s a total celebration of everything we believe in on a plate.”

What Kentish is referring to is McCaskill’s ongoing passion for local and sustainable produce. “This kitchen will be a collaborative space that supports and involves South Australian farmers and producers, whose hard work means we can create clean and balanced flavours, and deliver a special experience to people every day,” explains the chef of her intentions.

Ingredients will be procured from the likes of Murray Bridge’s Kasim Erkoc of whom McCaskill says: “he can grow radishes the size of my thumbnail, if that’s what we need. We also aim to help minimise waste within our network of suppliers,” McCaskill continues, “so if Kasim has an abundance of produce, we will try to work together to incorporate it into Sparkke’s menu.”

Sustainability will also be a key focus of her new endeavour. “I can’t wait to be immersed in the (city’s) west end community,” says McCaskill. “We also hope to provide some food to people in need within the neighbourhood and we’ll be working to promote sustainable cooking by using the trimmings from our kitchen to make jams and curry bases that we sell on the premises in our bottle shop.”

It was the community involvement which attracted McCaskill to Sparkke in the first place. “There is nothing else like Sparkke at the Whitmore in Adelaide and I am truly excited to be a part of it,” she says of the first female-founded brewpub, which is also behind The Sparkke Change Beverage Company.

Sparkke at the Whitmore
317 Morphett Street, Adelaide
sparkke.com