Emilia Pirone is living her best life in South Australia. For the 26-year-old general manager of health and wellness food brand Goodies and Grains (and “chief of doing whatever’s required” at family business Rio Coffee), there are plenty of reasons to boast about Adelaide, the city she’s always called home.
“We have the best food, the best wine, you’re a 30-minute drive to the Adelaide Hills and a 30-minute drive to the beach,” says Pirone. “Everything is at your fingertips. It’s such a great overall lifestyle.”
We asked Pirone to talk us through her typical work week as well as the spots you’re likely to find her at when she wraps up for the day.
Work (and post-work) routine
During the week, Pirone splits her time between Goodies and Grains and coffee wholesaler Rio Coffee (conveniently located in the same building), overseeing production, sales and pretty much anything else that needs doing. Goodies and Grains has seen a huge growth period over the last few years, starting off as an Adelaide Central Market institution before Pirone converted it into a manufacturing and wholesale business, with the products now available to purchase nationally. You could say Pirone is definitely kept busy by the two businesses, even taking out the 2022 award for South Australian Young Entrepreneur of the Year. She lives in the inner suburb of College Park and work is in Stepney. “It’s a five-minute walk to my work and a 15-minute walk into the city,” says Pirone. “We spend very little time getting between places.”
Living close to work is great for avoiding the commute, of course, but it’s not the only reason to stay in the Stepney area. “One of the great things about Adelaide is how easily accessible everything is. You could start your morning with a hike in the foothills of Morialta Conservation Park and then in the afternoon, head to the beach for a swim and to soak up some sun. With the city and beach being only a short drive apart, you can easily fit both activities into your day ,” says Pirone. “A lot of my friends were moving further away and buying bigger properties, but we’ve just got a small place because the lifestyle here is fantastic.”
After work, Pirone has a few spots she frequents if she’s after a knock off-drink. “There’s a local wine bar called Ferg’s, a quiet little place with some really good-quality local wine,” says Pirone. “If it’s for a drink on a Friday night, Little Bang Brewery is a convenient walking distance away.”
Weekend Spots
On the weekend, you can probably find Pirone at one of her favourites, Peel St, the fire-infused Shobosho or Asian-leaning Part Time Lover. “I think we get overlooked here in South Australia, but in my opinion, we have a really great food culture and incredible small-scale and artisan producers,” she says. “I love going to Rustic Gourmet in Kent Town for lunch. Their menu is based on seasonal, local produce and it changes regularly. I also enjoy the Adelaide Farmers Market at the Showgrounds on Sundays. My partner and I love strolling along and picking up anything that catches our eye. We try not to go with too much of a plan and come up with some meals from what we find.”
But it’s not just the urban bars and eateries, Pirone’s favourite part of the Adelaide lifestyle is its proximity to little getaways, be it the beach or wine regions. “We have some of the best secluded, sandy beaches, whether it’s the Yorke Peninsula or down in Robe,” says Pirone. “West Cape beach on the Yorke Peninsula is beautiful.”
South Australian spots like these do wonders for the body and mind. It’s easy to find picturesque places to decompress and seasonal food to fuel the body, nailing the right balance for personal wellness is the hard part. “I try to eat nourishing food, move my body in ways that feel good and manage stress,” says Pirone. “In saying that, work is a huge priority in my life and as much as I wish I could say I am the perfect picture of wellness, I am very much still learning the art of balance. I am lucky that we have so many beautiful places in the East that make going for walks with friends so convenient. The River Torrens, Victoria Park and Mount Osmond are my favourite spots.
When it comes to spending the weekend exploring the wine regions, Pirone is spoilt for choice, but narrows it down to two. “I like Barossa for the shiraz but I love McLaren Vale as well because we’ve got some great eateries,” says Pirone. “One of my favourites in McLaren Vale would be Vigna Bottin, a great spot for a feed and a glass of wine on the weekend.”
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with South Australia – A New State of Mind.
