Exploring Canberra World Food Delights with Friends

Something new at Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka

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There’s no doubt that the Fish Bengali and Chicken Dum Murgh with Onion Bhaji or Samosas for entree and Cheese and Spinach Naan are top picks at Taste of Bangladesh.

But sometimes it’s good to explore the other dishes…

The Palak Papdi Chaat $9 is just as good as the Bhaji or Samosa with a tasty tamarind sauce highlighting crisp spinach fritters on a potato salad. It’s a cold entree perfect for summer and great for sharing.


The Boona Beef is tender and has great flavour, a very good pick for a greater variety of dishes.


The Coconut Fish Curry is a sweeter creamer, but very moorish dish. Well worth ordering.

The Malai Kofta is a good vegetarian choice, but not as good as the Palak Paneer or Yellow Dahl.

The Tandoori Paratha is quite good, but not nearly as soft and tasty as the Cheese and Spinach Naan.

So the Fish Bengali, Chicken Dum Murgh, Samosa, Bhaji and Cheese and Spinach Naan are still great choices, but perhaps the Palak Papdi Chaat, Boona Beef and Coconut Fish Curry are worth adding to the list of favourites.
The mango lassi is great too!

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Taste of Bangladesh Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Cooking Circles, Canberra  – A brilliant post from Karen! 

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Read Karen’s gifted post here about a wonderful evening of great company and pelemeni making!

Thank you so much Karen Really Likes Food.

Chong Co, Woden – perfect for creating an easy dinner party with take-away

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Buying some good quality takeaway that can be easily shared and replacing it at home is a great way to cater for a group without too much fuss or cost.


Chong Co in Woden has great dishes that are well sized for sharing.

Good choices include…
Thai beef salad $17.90


Prawn lemongrass stir fry $20.90


Beef massaman curry $16.90


Pork panning curry $16.90


Chilli basil mixed vegetables with tofu stir fry $14.90

(but better with chicken)

Add some steamed rice…and it’s done.


Chong Co efficiently wraps the takeaway in glad wrap so it stays warm enough for summer eating for ups to one hour without reheating.
NB The Fried tofu and sweet chilli sauce is not such a great choice as it’s fairly bland.


Chong Co Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Canberra Cooking Circles – What A Great idea!

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As Her Canberra and goodfood have already discovered – it’s such a simple, but successful idea – gathering women together in a home, around a meal that is dear to the host’s heart.

New friendship’s are formed, passions and new ventures are shared, new tastes are discovered and the world becomes a little smaller as new cultures are explored through food.
Most recently, a bunch gathered in Juliet’s kitchen  with glasses of wine as she prepared foods from South Africa that everyone shared for lunch.
There were delicious boerewors with  a white maize pap and a tasty tomato and onion sauce.
But probably everyone’s favourite was the Melkert.
And next month it will be someone else’s kitchen and a different meal – which might be lead by the host, or their neighbour, mum  or friend.
Not too fancy, expensive or high pressure, just casual and easy.
But it works so well and everyone chips in to cover the cost of the meal.
There’s no obligation to host or attend, but by joining the Facebook group you can find out what’s happening.
Highly recommended for sharing food and cultures food with new friends.

 

 

Copper Chimney, West Row, Canberra City – more winning dishes

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While it’s good to know some good picks at Copper Chimney, you really can’t go wrong when you try something new.


The Butter Chicken, Kadai Paneer and Saag Lamb are just as good as the Fish Methi Marsala, Chettinad Chicken, Prawn Goanese and Kadhai Lamb.


Another good sharing menu for six to seven people is:

Entree:

The amazing Palak Papdi Chaat $13.90


and the equally good Chicken 65 $14.90 (one of each).


Mains:

One each of four dishes…a popular mix is:

Butter Chicken $18.90


Saag Lamb $19.90


Kadhai Paneer $18.00


Fish Methi Marsala


Add two serves rice ($3 each) and 3-4 Plain Naan ($4 each).

Corkage is $6 a bottle.

Pramod, Sunil and the other Copper Chimney staff deliver very fine and friendly service.


And it’s great value. Altogether it’s around $130 plus corkage for six to seven people.

If you have a Canberra Entertainment Card, it’s even less with a 25% discount up to $30.

Well worth having on you list of ‘go to’ restaurants!

Copper Chimney Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Mandalay Bus, Haig Park, Braddon – just as good as ever!

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The Mandalay Bus in Haig Parkin Braddon is still going strong.


Open Wednesday to Sunday from 6pm, the favourites on the regular menu are as good as ever….


Satay Chicken with Kimchi on Roti $9


Spicy Pork Tortilla $10


Burmese Chicken Coconut Noodles $10


Vegetarian Samosaa $9


However there are some great specials to try too…


Jalapeno Aioli Fries $9


…and  the Burmese Style Greeen Bean Salad with coriander, peanuts and tamarind dressing $11. It’s a large serve of crisp green beans with a tart yet sweet and light dressing and a yogurt garnish. It’s lighter than the other dishes and an excellent choice on a warm evening.

The Peach and Vanilla Pannacotta $8 is just beautiful and worth getting just because it looks so great. The fresh peach is accompanied by wonton crisps, cream, pannacotta and raspberries.


The Crispy Lamb Ribs with Asian cabbage $15 while tasty and a good sized serve, is very fatty.


It’s till a good option to take your own chairs, wine and glasses and set up under the trees.

The Mandalay Bus Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Miss Van’s, Westside, Acton – a first look!

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Miss Van’s is perhaps the most popular of the street food options at Westside. Serving colourful dishes full of fresh herbs and classic Vietnamese flavours, it’s a fun spot for a casual lunch or dinner in the good weather.

There’s plenty of seating nearby although it can get busy at weekends.


Take your own drinks and glasses and anything else you might need like plates for sharing dishes.

The regular menu includes a range of Banh Mi like the Vietnamese Pork roll $8 with five spiced red pork, Vietnamese pork loaf and homemade pate.

There are also two gluten free noodle salad bowls each $13.
The rice noodles (quite a lot of the dish is noodles) are topped with a salad of beans shoots, cucumber, lightly pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, fried onion and garlic and Vietnamese dressing.

Surprising the Lemongrass and Chilli Tofu is the top pick …..

……ahead of the Ginger Soy Chicken.

There are also changing specials on offer.

Service is efficient but not as welcoming or as flexible as Daana.

Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch, Wednesday to Saturday for dinner.

 Miss Van's Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

A great Christmas Party idea – $20 for three courses with drinks at Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka

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If you’re hosting a large party, but want to eat out, it can be hard to find a budget friendly venue that’s flexible and happy to work with you to create a great lunch or night out for your friends, family or work colleagues.

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So Taste of Bangladesh upstairs in the Style Arcade in Manuka is a real gem.

Not only do they serve delicious, well priced dishes in generous serves for sharing but they charge no corkage and have plenty of room for a large group to relax.

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For $20-$25 per person (depending on what you spend on the wine) you can enjoy three courses along with drinks.
And if you want to give people the opportunity to mingle and chat over a drink when they arrive, just ask for the private area and some entree fingers foods like onion bhaji with mint and tamarind chutneys ($7 for 4) and chicken tikka pizza $12 per pizza ( slice into 8-9 pieces) to be served as canapés.

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Pappadoms are complimentary and another snack that’s good with a drink.

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By ordering three dishes ($14 – $16.50), a raita ($3.50) two rice ($3 each) and two naan ($2.50 each) per 4-5 people, there’s a good range of flavours that’s perfect for sharing.

Fish Bengali…

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Chicken Dum Murgh…

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and Palak Paneer….

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are always winners and the cheese and spinach naan is delicious!).

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The Yellow dal is great too, especially if more people like vegetarian dishes.

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Either share some gulab jaman and mango kulfi (both $4.50 each)…

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….or bring along your own cake and cream ( or other dessert) to share for dessert.

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Cakeage is $1 per person but it also means you can bring your own soft drinks, juice and decorations (it’s a ‘party charge’ actually).

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Whatever you need just have a chat to Shafique and Fahana who just want to do whatever they can to make your lunch or dinner a success!
Taste of Bangladesh Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Daana, Westside, true South Indian hospitality

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In South India there is a tradition that ‘the guest is God’. At Daana, Westside Acton, Sunita and Sanjay are following that tradition, making their ‘guests’ feel welcome and special.

Sunita faithfully recreates  dishes full of flavour from her home town Palakkad in Kerala, including Canberra’s rare (perhaps only) fresh idli and a range of vada.

Idli Sambar $10 – steamed rice and lentil cakes  served with coconut and tomato chutneys and sambar – a spiced lentil and vegetable stew.

Dal Vada – a crunchy and mildly spiced Bengal lentil dumpling served with coconut chutney $10.

I’ve also heard the Peanut Chakna is very good.

But perhaps the star of the menu is the dosa! Choose from a marsala spiced potato filling or a very delicious spiced lamb mince.

A generous serving of two dosa with coconut and tomato chutneys and the  very good sambar is $14.

If there’s two or more of you, it’s great fun to get the family sized dosa to share ($30 for the lamb $28 for the potato filling).

Other options are the Onion Pakora $8 – crispy onion fritters with tamarind chutney and mint yogurt

Be transported back to Bombay with a Vada Pao $12.

Travel and Beyond raves about the biriyani that’s served on Sundays. Sunita makes the Andhra Biriyani and Sanjay the Chicken and Goat Biriyanis. The style of biriyani will depend on which week you go, but why not try them all.

Daana is a great spot to head with a group. Grab some tables, take your own wine and glasses and order some dishes to share.

For a group of eight,  two plates of Dal Vada with a drink, followed by two plates of idli and then two set of Dosa (or a family dosa), would be perfect.

And do finish with a Marsala Chai, made from scratch with a special home-made blend of spices.

There’s plenty of gluten free options on the menu like idli, dosa and onion pakora.

Sanita and Sanjay are generous with their food and extra plates and sambar and chutneys are no trouble, but most of all they are generous of themselves and will do what it takes to make sure you enjoy your visit.

Daana is cute by day and cosy by night. It’s a small spot in plain surroundings but Sunita and Sanjay have created a haven of warmth and friendliness, that you will remember as you leave, promising yourself to be back soon for more.



  
  

Daana Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Roti House Malaysian Restaurant, Canberra City

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The Roti House at the bottom of the Ernst and Young building on Marcus Clarke Street in the City, has really great flaky roti. Once you try it, you will just have to go back for more.

Roti is available with some dahl and chicken curry for $12 per plate….

…but it may be better to order the single roti for $6.50 and team it up with the very delicious Beef Rendang $16.80 – beef curry slowly stewed in coconut milk and secret spices.

….and some tasty Belacan Kangkung $14.80 for variety.


Another popular option is the Murtabak Chicken Roti for $12.50 – roti stuffed with minced chicken, eggs and onion filling $12.50.

The Chicken Satay is tempting at $13.00 for six or $19.50 for nine, but the chicken thigh pieces are fairly fatty.

It’s also worth budgeting some room to share a Roti dessert. Warm sweet Roti goes well with ice-cream and condensed milk, like the Roti Kaya with Ice-cream $8.50 (Roti filled with sweet pandas coconut jam).

Or an alternative to a Roti dessert would be the Sago Gula Melaka – tapioca pearls in palm sugar syrup and coconut milk $7.50 …

…or one of the famous Malaysian shaved ice desserts like Chendol $7.50 or Ice Kacang $8.

Desserts are large and easily shared.

A good menu for four people would be…

1 Beef Rendang $16.80
1 Belcan Kangkung $14.80
2 Roti Canai ($6.50 per serve)
2 rice ($2.80 per serve)

1 Roti Kaya with Ice-cream $8.50
or 1 Roti Pisang (bananas) with ice-cream and coconut jam $11

Approx $15 per person.

BYO wine corkage is $6 and one Canberra Entertainment Book 25% voucher is allowed per table.

Open Monday-Saturday 11:30am-2:30pm; 5pm-10pm.

The decor is plain, service efficient, and it can be chilly in winter when the door opens, but the Roti is amazing!


The menu is on the restaurant website but there are also blackboard specials and some banquet options.

 Roti House Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato