Sunset Drinks @pialligoestate and a foretaste of Taste of Two Regions @stantonkilleen @WinesofKV

Last night Pialligo hosted their Sunset Drinks, the third event in their ‘The Butcher, The Baker and the Merrymaker’ festive winter events series.

It was an exclusive opportunity to meet winemakers of the King Valley and Rutherglen regions and have a taste of the upcoming August Taste of Two Regions events in Canberra.

In a masterclass for readers of Her Canberra, Wendy Killeen and her daughter Natasha (the seventh generation of Stanton & Killeen wine makers) treated us to their wonderful range of Muscats one of the only true Australian style wines.

Starting with the Rutherglen Muscat aged 2-4 years, then the Classic, aged an average of 12 years, and finally the Grand and the Rare aged 20-25+ years, we moved to richer and more viscous and luscious wines. We learnt that only the exceptional vintage grapes are used for the Grand and Rare muscats.

We noticed the raisins and rose petals characteristics and the developing complexity and silkiness. And along the way we shared in a little family history – how Norm Killeen married into the Stanton family wines started by Jack Stanton. How Norm was frugal and bought second hand barrels that turned out to have been used for rum, creating a new rum flavoured wine still requested today.

Tanya from Brown Brothers Wines introduced us to their King Valley Prosecco (a region in northern Italy but also the name of the wine as the cuttings have been brought from Italy).

Brown Brothers are market leaders in Prosecco, a wine with a fruitness – apple and pear on the nose, soft and round on the palette and an ‘approachable wine’ that matches well to seafood, fish, sushi and a soft Brie. Available in both vintage and non-vintage varieties, a few of us prefered the sweeter non-vintage.

In Canberra, this Brown Brothers Prosecco is easily available at Palace Cinema.

A wonderful and fascinating insight into the delicous world of wines! If you missed Sunet Drinks you might like to catch the Taste of Two Regions next month!

Fine Eating was a guest of the generosity of Pialligo Estate.

Chefs of Canberra Truffle Dinner @TruffleFest @ VisitCanberra

Last week some of Canberra’s best chefs created an amazing truffle gala dinner at the Arboretum’s Conservatory Restaurant – a highlight of the 2016 Canberra Region Truffle Festival featuring truffle themed dishes and Canberra wines.

The evening commenced with canapes of truffled Belvedere shooters and truffled popcorn from Chef Janet Jeffs and the Ginger Catering Team. This was served with 2012 Mount Majura ‘The Silurian’ Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir and Kosciusko Pale Ale.

First Course was created by Chef David Revel from Rydges, Capital Hill – a beautiful looking 65 degrees egg with foie gras emulsion, pain d’epices, bronze fennel, red vein sorrel, target beetroot and shaved truffle. The accompanying wine was my favourite of the night – 2013 Lark Hill Byodinamic ‘Mr.V’ Marsanne/Rousanne/Voignier.

Second Course came from Chef Alex O’Brien who cooks at the Boathouse. Truffle Savoy cabbage, raclette, bone marrow and herb truffle brioche with shaved truffle. Unexpectedly, it was my favourite course. This was teamed with 2014 Lerida Estate ‘Cullerin Pinot Noir’.

The next course was Chef Sean McConnell and Daniel Flatt’s, from Monster at Hotel Hotel – Wagyu rump with truffle, lardo and turnips – teamed with 2012 Freeman Secco Rondinella Corvina.

Dessert was a creation of Chef Frankie J Bodel and the Ginger Team – choux truffles, truffle custard, green peppercorns and white chocolate – along with Surveyor’s Hill Sweet Touriga.

Amanda Whitley, of HerCanberra, convened a panel of local producers who entertained us with their inspiring stories and passion for their products….

….Jayson Mesman from the Truffle Farm Canberra, Chef David Revel of Rydges and Anne Caine from Lerida Estate.

A very lovely event and a very fun night out with tables of ten.

Well worth the $112.50pp, all inclusive cost.

Well done Canberra!

Beer Day Out – Canberra’s Festival of Beer, this weekend!

If the word ‘beer’ conjures up stubby holders and cans of VB or Fosters, from your youth, then you are in for a treat this weekend.

Beer has entered the world of fine drinking and like wine, there is much pleasure to be had in beer tasting that showcases the subtleties and complexities of boutique beers created with much love by passionate and dedicated brewers (even for non-beer fans).

And it is true what they say some beers can be the perfect drink to have with food especially in the summer as many Asia travellers have discovered.
To know more about this new world of drinking joy or to indulge a long term beer love, join Anthony and Steve from Plonk who are the power behind Beer Day Out.

It’s Canberra’s own festival of beer that’s happening at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston this Friday evening and Saturday.
Hosting more than 30 local and international craft brewers…

….the line up includes the work of both well established local Brewers like Christoph Zierholz….

and Bentspoke as well as gypsy Brewers (those up and comers who borrow the facilities of others until they get their own space) like Kevin from PACT.

There’s also live entertainment, information sessions and a wonderful array of foods on offer including Frugii’s unique beer ice-cream, offering form Akiba and a cider sorbet.

Details:

4pm to 9pm – Friday 6th of November, 2015

12pm to 6pm – Saturday 7th of November, 2015

Former Transport Depot,Wentworth Avenue, Kingston ACT
Tickets purchased via Moshtix will be $28 (plus booking fee) or $47 including $20 worth of vouchers.

Pre-sale ticket purchases will also entitle the holder to early event entry on Saturday 7th (midday).

Additional vouchers can be purchased on the day.
Tickets will be available on the day for $40, with entry from 4pm Friday and 1pm Saturday .
Vouchers can be purchased from designated stands inside the event. Vouchers will be sold in $20 bundles.

Canberra’s Vaisakhi Mela, Commonwealth Park – another Indian community festival with great food

One of the great things about living in Canberra are all the different community festivals offering tastes from around the world that are celebrated on our doorstep.

Last Sunday the local Punjabi community came together for their first Vaisakhi Mela at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park for music, dancing and great food ….

…..like Samosas $5…

..Rasmalai $5….

…Jalebi $5…

And lovely hot Marsala Chai $2

A number of food outlets catered for the event including the Café Tandoor from Scullin that offered some delicious dishes like Choley and Bhaturey $5….

and Butter Paneer (with Rice $8)..

Definitely worth trying out more of Café Tandoor’s dishes in at their home in Scullin. They are also starting catering services and offering some great options at very reasonable prices.

Holi celebrations in Canberra

Sharing in the recent Indian Australia Association of Canberra hosted Holi celebrations at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park was a great opportunity to support the local Indian community, enjoy some colourful dress, dance, and dry colour ‘play’, henna painting and wonderful Indian foods.

Particularly good were the goat and chicken biryani $8, palak paneer $8, samosa $2.50 and rashgulla and gulab jaman $2 from Taste of Bangladesh in Style Arcade Manuka.

Aso for sale were choley kulcha $5, pani puri $6 and papdi chaat $6

Enlighten Noodle Markets 2015

Canberra’s newest food festival, the Enlighten Night Noodle Markets are a very welcome addition to the annual Canberra Enlighten.

Running for the ten nights before Canberra Day on March 9 (in 2015) they are well worth including in a visit to the ‘must see’ Enlighten projections on some of Canberra’s significant buildings along the lakefront near Old Parliament House.

Don’t be discouraged by the reports of long lines, crowds and parking issues. Like other Canberra festivals with food, it just needs a few good strategies to overcome the challenges:

Go with a group
Park away from the main area and walk down to the lake.
Grab a table and chairs close to the noodle markets (there are nice ones in front of Questacon from where you can also see some of the projections as it gets darkTake your own wine and glasses (not allowed into the actual noodle market stall area) as well as a few extra paper plates for sharing dishes. While one person minds the table and ‘tableware’, others in the group can head to the stalls, each bringing back a dish to share.
Lines move fairly quickly, even the long ones, but look for some that are shorter.
Some excellent options (e.g. Thirst, Mork’s) have very short lines. (It’s also great to support these local Canberra eateries).

7. Try to avoid the very busiest times.

8. Time your dining to coincide with the projections starting on dusk, because they are an essential finale to any noodle market visit.

BBQ Pork buns from Let’s Do Yum Cha (5 for $10)

Vegetarian Dumplings from Let’s Do Yum Cha (5 for $10) (Good*)

Fried Pork and glass noodle salad with tamarind jam dressing from Thirst $12 (Good*)

Yellow Curry with Chicken,Potato and Rice Noodles also from Thirst ($12)

Boat noodle soup (dry version without the broth) from Morks $10

Pad Thai (probably from Spanthai for about $12)

Mango Chicken (also probably from Spanthai for about $12) (also Good)

Enlighten projections

National Library

Questacon

National Portrait Gallery (perhaps the very best)

National Art Gallery

Old Parliament House

Canberra’s Multicultural Festival

The annual February multicultural festival in Canberra is wonderful. Representing the globe, families, communities and embassies come together for the weekend to share the passion and connection that they have for and with their heritage.

They showcase the foods they love….

Spanish Paella and Moroccan Pancakes

Sri Lankan Kothu Roti

Philippino Halo Halo

The ever popular Gozlemes

Bhutanese Momos, Beef Curry, Chilli Cheese and Saffron Rice

Tibetan Momos

Italian Gingerbread and Nougat

Mongolian Dumpling and Croatian Kransky roll

Greek Loukoumathes

Foods from the Greek Glendi

Their dance and music….

But it’s also a highlight to see communities working together, producing and selling signatures snacks and wishes from their country….

…..and the global mix through those enjoying everything the festival offers….together.

Yes, it gets busy and you might have to wait in line, but there are still plenty of good spot sot get a view of the stage and the lines aren’t so long (especially if you go a bit early). And it’s a great opportunity to chat to those who around you either supporting the stalls and events or waiting in line too. Their pride and love for their country is inspiring.

See, taste and chat about foods and cultures from around the world without leaving home and enjoy one of the great things about living in Canberra!

(Maybe, the ultimate strategy is to go with a few friends and task everyone with collecting a national food to bring back to share along with the back story gleaned while purchasing! Maximum taste and experience.)

Fine Eating

Hints Hacks and Highlights

Canberra Food Festivals

Canberra’s Vaisakhi Mela, Commonwealth Park – another Indian community festival with great food

Holi celebrations in Canberra

Canberra’s Multicultural Festival

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