Last week Canberra welcomed Winning Appliances….but very, very memorable, was how Winning Appliances welcomed Canberra! What a party! 

300 invited guests were treated to a showroom that spans the two floors of the original Kingston JB Young department store. 

Photos google and  Winning Appliances
And what better place to set up home. Both JB Young and Winning were young Australian businesses at the beginning of last century. Sadly JB Young was bought out by Grace Brothers but the Winning family business is now in its fourth generation and going from strength to strength! 

Photo from http://mildenhall.moadoph.gov.au/photo/641

Young John ‘Herman’ Winning explained his family’s journey, first supplying hardware and horse and carriage transport and then electrical Appliances. When they moved into retail, his ancestors declared it had to be done with style! However, only in Canberra has there been the space and opportunity to really create the showroom of their dreams!

And so it was, as a testimony to the family’s integrity and high standards that a stellar Canberra team was gathered to launch the new venture with great generosity, elegance and….style!
Mel from ELM by MEL did the invites and hosting. Wren and Rabbit did their magic with the styling. (You’ll remember their magic touch at Pialligo Estates Butcher, Baker, Merry Maker!). Kerrie Brewer was there with the camera!

John Leverink (head chef at the Boathouse by the Lake) and Sam Kildea from Podfood, brought their team to create local produce culinary delight with delicious wines, a blackberry gin fizz, wonderful savouries, an impressive seafood and chicken paella and gourmet smorgasbord of cheeses, meats and fish.

Steamed mussels with ponzu dressing

Pork scratching with sage and potato mousse

Pretzel tarts with chorizo crumb, Swordfish

The paella! 

Whole salmon confit fillet with wild Pialligo Fennel and Russian garlic flowers

Buratta with local olive oil, peaches and basil

Winning Blackberry Fizz with blackberries from the Pod Food garden, Canberra gin, thyme and ginger

Stilton

Comte

Smoked Trout on rye and English pork pies

Three Mills Bakery sourdough 

Eden Road wines

Kitchen envy was everywhere as everyone made sure they had multiple chances to win the $10,000 prize!

And those who didn’t win still took home a lovely ergonomic mug with organic peppermint tea and its own strainer, to enjoy while reading the latest Gourmet Traveller. 

We were just totally spoilt! 
I’m so excited to see such a beautiful store re-opening in that heritage space and making kitchen beauty so accessible to inner Canberra. Welcome to Kingston! Welcome to Canberra!