Adelaide’s toasted cheese sandwich loving community – that is, basically everyone – are in for a treat with Tohsti, the newest addition to one of the quieter sections of the Adelaide Central Market.

Like the Beiglery before it, Tohsti is the latest Renew Adelaide-supported start up to boast an almost unwavering dedication to a simple but versatile lunchtime favourite. If the name and string of sandwich presses didn’t give it away, Tohsti is all about celebrating the subtle art of cheese, bread and a myriad of extras forged into sumptuous perfection by the combined forces of heat and downward pressure.

“We’ve got a menu of 72 toasties, but we’re rotating them,” co-owner Chris tells ripitup.com.au. “We’re using all local produce, supporting local in the market as well, with Barossa Fine Foods for the meat, Paris Creek for the milk and dairy produce and all the bread is organic sourdough from Skala’s.”

Divided into ‘old school’ classics and more ambitious gourmet options, the Tohsti approach to the sandwich press is way more diverse than anything we’ve ever attempted at home (and, let’s face it, probably wearing pajamas). Think combinations like mozzarella and sultanas, bacon and guacamole, tandoori chicken and yoghurt. Or dessert options like banana and cinnamon or mixed berries, cream cheese and light chocolate (“It’s pretty much like a bread pudding,” Chris says).

The idea of dripping melted cheese and the reassuring slick of oil from a slice of toasted bread might not scream ‘health food’, but for the Tohsti crew it’s a point of pride, with the menu’s carb-y core supplemented by a range of smoothies and acai bowls to appeal to both active wear toting health-heads and regular people ducking out of the office for a bite.

And like you even have to ask, there’s plenty of coffee involved. “We’re using an artisan boutique roaster Numero Uno from Sydney, where it’s all hand roasted,” he says. “Each batch is by the sound or by the smell, not machine roasted. We’ve made a blend called Black Mamba, which is strong to match Adelaide’s tastebuds – a strong coffee, but consistent with a chocolate caramel undertone.”

More broadly, there’s an atmosphere of primary school nostalgia in its fitout and operation. Aside from the blackboards, school desks and tongue-in-cheek time out corner, customers can grab a pencil and place brown paper bag lunch orders each morning like the tuck shop of yore.

Only one question remains: how to balance the temptation to dive mouthfirst into your toasted sanga with the looming threat of burning your mouth with a lava-like stream of gooey melted cheese.

Okay, there are worse problems to have.

Tohsti is open from Friday, February 19

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Where

Shop 44, Adelaide Central Market

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