Bellucis’s Manuka lunch special- an update on the salads

The $20 weekday lunch special at Bellucis in Manuka is as good as ever.

The two salads on offer as light and fresh, perfect with the glass of wine that’s included.

25% off for Canberra Entertainment Book Holders

INSALATA DI SALMONE – beetroot cured salmon w/ watercress, shaved baby fennel, baby carrots, pickled golden beetroots & chard

INSALATA DI POLLO – poached chicken, baby cos, asparagus, grilled marinated peppers, ‘san daniele’ prosciutto & caraway aioli

Little Brother Red Hill – back again already!

I’m not sure why, but I just love the raisin toast at Little Brother Red Hill. On another cold and rainy day, it was just perfect for my brunch.

My fellow diners chose the Sweet potato and beetroot fritter with poached eggs, wilted spinach and horseradish cream $19 which was a lovely dish.

But a big part of why I enjoy heading to Little Brother (besides the great view) is the lovely, warm service!

Highly approachable and accommodating, Little Brother also takes bookings and gives Canberra Entertainment Book holders a 25% discount.

A wonderful Bangladeshi Cuisine Cooking Circle Canberra at Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka

Last Saturday Shafique and Farhana hosted Cooking Circles Canberra to an amazing introduction to Bangladeshi cuisine at their Manuka restaurant, Taste of Bangladesh.

They lead thirty of us through the delicate flavours of Chicken Dum Biriyani, fragrant with spices of Cumin, Star Anise, Chilli, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Clove and Mace…

…along with ginger and garlic, ghee, fried onions.

The spices were ground and mixed with yogurt to marinate the chicken which was then cooked..

…before being layed with the separately cooked rice for the final cooking, that allows the flavours to penetrate layers.

While the Dum Biriyani was cooking, Shafique showed us how to prepare the wonderfully delicious classic – Gulab Jaman.

His shortcut method is to mix a dough using milk powder and baker’s flour (softened with cream) which is rolled into balls…

….and cooked in oil before being added to a sugar (and cinnamon stick) syrup.

Farhana told us about the traditional (lengthy) method used in Bangladesh to prepare this dessert, using paneer. When a new baby is born into a family, the new parents send this special sweet to friends and neighbours.

While we were waiting for the Dum Biriyani, Shafique also showed us an Eggplant Pakora (Beguni) entree.

He first thinly sliced the eggplant…

…then mixed it with spices – chilli, mace and garam marsala…

…and then chickpea flour and water to coat it in batter before frying it.

We were all so eager to enjoy this delicacy that no-one captured any photos whatsoever!

As the meal deliciously came together we chatted and enjoyed mango lassis and glasses of wine…

…but when the Dum Biriyani was served, perfectly matched with yogurt raita, the flavours were wonderful to savour!

And the Gulab Jaman was a perfect end to a excellent meal, with fine company and much pleasure for all the senses, discovering another lesser known world cuisine!

Little Brother, Red Hill Lookout – perfect for a weekend coffee @littlebrotherredhill

Little Brother has the most gorgeous position, overlooking Canberra’s hills and valleys.

It really is worth booking a table by the window to make the most of the great views.

But if you miss out, it’s still cute and cosy anywhere.

The brunch and lunch menus are great and if you have the Canberra Entertainment Book you can also have a 25% discount.

But if it’s too early for a glass of wine and lunch, or you just looking for a light brekkie or a coffee then it’s hard to beat the morish, thick slices of raisin toast, just $5 for two huge slices.

Available all day, it’s the perfect comfort food in cold or cloudy weather.

Road testing the Thali Lunch at Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka just $13

So pleased that Taste of Bangladesh are doing Thalis at lunch again!!

Monday to Friday 12-2pm, they are offering what must be the best value lunch in Manuka.

$13 buys a large serve of rice, large pillowy naan, poppadom and three curries – a vegetable kadhi and two others that change each week.

This week it was a delicous butter chiken and beef vindaloo…so good!!

And if you fancy a glass of wine or best togo with yor Thali, just take it along, there’s no corkage charge!

1 On One Expresso, Forrest/Barton @1ononeexpresso

1 On One Expresso is new to the Department of Finance Building, at 1 Canberra Ave, Forrest (Barton side).

It has an attractive decor….

….and interesting lunch menu with salads including a delicious haloumi fritters $17

..as well as a quinoa salad $16 (not quite as good).

Sandwiches ready to go are $8.50 and wine by the glass starts at $7.

Breakfast is avaialbe until 12 Noon, but a couple of the brekkie rolls are avaiallbe all day:

BACON AND EGG ROLL tomato or house bbq sauce $7

DELUXE BACON AND EGG ROLL rosti, smashed avo, cheese, house bbq sauce $10

Grill’d Manuka – a good spot for a group

It’s not always easy to make a chain eatery work well for a group meal because tables as often smaller and fixed position and it’s often busy.

However, Grill’d in Manuka, has a great large, sunny table near the front of the store that’s perfect for a larger group. It’s also less busy in Manuka than some other stores and has an atmosphere that doesn’t feel so much like a chain outlet.

If you have the Canberra Entertainment Book you can use the two for one vouchers making it good value.

There’s lamb burgers $13.50 like the Morrocan Lamb with roasted peppers, tzaatziki, salad and relish 2100kJ…

…chicken burgers $10.50 – $13.50 like the Simon Says $12.50 with avocado, trim bacon, salad, relish and herbed mayo 2240kJ…

…with thick cut potato chips or zucchini chips for an extra $4.80 and 1710kJ…

….beef burgers $9.90 – $13.50 like the Crispy Bacon and Cheese 2830kJ $11.50…

…or the Almighty 3260kJ $13.50.. with bacon, egg, beetroot, salad, relish and mayo..

…and I’m told the ‘Baa Baa’ Burger is the very best pick of all, a lamb burger with avocado, tasty cheese, salad, relish and herbed mayo.

For those who aren’t so keen on burgers, there’s also some lovely salads on offer like the Chicken, pomegranate and goats cheese 1890kJ $13.90, with grilled chicken breast, black and white quinoa, meredith dairy goats cheese, pomegranate, almonds, mescaline, raspberry andpoppy seed dressing

There’s also wine (glass or bottle), cider and beer on offer too.

Chomolungma, Manuka – good for Nepalese cuisine

Chomolungma in Manuka is a great spot for Nepalese food.

I really like their thali style choices but this last visit we tried some curries with rice and breads and of course, the momos.

For a light lunch the pork momos are great…

..about $14 for 10…

$11.90 for 6 fried..

But it’s also a good option to share one chicken/lamb/goat or pork curry cooked with ginger, garlic onion, tomato & Himalayan spices $17.50 and rice $3 and a roti $3 with a friend..