Words by Helena Snelling
Rachel Macapugay, who opened Serendipity Brew alongside her husband, said that the hospitality business was “not originally part of [their] original plans”.
She said that while she previously worked in hospitality management, she stepped away from the industry to focus on her family and work at a skin cosmetics company in Lonsdale.
It was not until this year that the opportunity to take over the building from their friends at The Green Room arose.
“Once I saw the café and the location, I fell in love with it,” she said.
“My family wanted to explore a challenge, and for me it was to dig deeper into my passion for food”.
The café offers a western-style brunch menu with Filipino influences.
“I think Filipino food has been so underrated,” Rachel said.
“The population is growing, and there’s not many Filipino food options in the south.”
Customers can expect traditional brunch favourites, including eggs benedict and shakshuka, alongside a standout Filipino dish, champorado, a chocolate rice porridge.
“Because of the winter, we’re trying to find something warm and comforting,” she said.
“[Champorado] is my kids favourite.”
Also on the menu is Macapugay’s infamous barbecue pork skewers, which were a sellout item at her Chinatown popup in 2022.
Macapugay added that there is unexpected demand for Filipino flavours in Adelaide’s south.
“I found that there’s a demand for people down south who want to explore different flavours,” she said.
“The flavours are so different. We’ve got the sweetness, the sourness and the saltiness all balancing into one dish”.
The business is also hoping to secure a liquor licence and showcase local wines, including a collaboration with nearby winery Mollydooker Wines.
“We’re going to try to work together to get this fast-tracked so that her wines can be featured here,” Rachel said.
“The personality of her wines is very fitting with Serendipity Brew. They have a unique personality in each bottle name and a sentimental value in how they’ve been named. It goes with what we’re going for with Serendipity – the personalities blending together.”
Serendipity Brew
Where: 2 High St, Willunga
For more information, click here.
