Farmer’s Daughter, Yarralumla

Farmer’s Daughter at the Yarralumla shops is looking a bit different these days. It’s less busy and the menu has changed, but it is open daily (except public holidays) (7-3pm weekdays, 8-2pm weekends) and is still a great spot for breakfast or lunch within an easy distance of the Woden business district.

The atmosphere is inviting and there is plenty of seating. The dishes are good value and well sized for sharing.

The salads are interesting and beautifully presented and if teamed with a side of one of the Artisan breads ($2.50 per slice of toast/bread), could even be a light lunch for two modest appetites.

The Grilled Lamb Salad ($14.50) is particularly delicious with rare roasted leg of lamb, rocket, zucchini ribbons, pearl barley (just the right amount), and the fresh peas,
pine nuts. mint and pomegranate really make it special.

The Vegetable Salad ($14.50) is a little sweeter but also lovely with roasted sweet potato, baby spinach, lentils, feta, toasted almonds, parsley, dried cranberries and pepitas.

Both are served with the house dressing which is pomegranate and blood orange vinaigrette.

For a more substantial dish, the Spring Chicken ($18.50) is good with a lemon and thyme chicken breast with fresh panel salad of tomato, spanish onion, cannelloni beans, crunchy bread, basil and parsley.
It would be particularly good for sharing.

Interesting breakfast options are also available all day and the include:
Smoked Trout Roesti ($18.50), Grilled Field Mushrooms with a cress and rocket salad, toasted pearl barley, feta and salsa verde ($16.50), Swey crepes served with passionfruit curd, fresh strawberries, toasted coconut ice-cream and spring flowers ($16.50).

There are also delicious sounding sandwich options like a BLT with dijonaise on handmade caramelised garlic bread $14, Salmon Bagel with cream cheese, dill and capers $12.50, Grilled vegetables with fresh rocket, tomato and olive tapenade on dark artisan rye $9.50.

Service is very quick (great for a workday lunch) but if you are really in a rush, there are ready to go options that include salads, frittata, pies and sandwiches as well as a range of macarons $3.50 and sweet delights $4.50-$7.50 in the display case.

It is also possible to BYO wine ($2.50 per person, but free corkage on Fridays).

Flavour of India, Woden, $10.90 Lunch Special

Flavours of India on the corner of the Westfield Mall is a convenient lunch location for Woden workers.

It is carpeted and quite, usually not crowded and has a pleasant setting and atmosphere.

Currently it offers some good lunch specials starting at $10.90 for two curries (chef’s choice, one veg one non-veg) and either rice or naan.

$10.90 lunch special with vegetable korma and chicken chettinad.

If two or more people are dining it can be good to get one with rice and one with naan and share the naan and rice.

BYO is $8 per bottle of wine and house wine is available at $6.50 per glass.

Yarralumla Halal Pide House, Yarralumla – a great large group idea for an Anzac Day lunch

Ordering Turkish Banquets is an excellent idea for catering for a large group at home.

Adding a few extra touches and re-plating can give the meal a whole new look.

A Turkish lunch is particularly wonderful on Anzac Day to remember the special relationship between Turkey and Australia in the Great War. It’s a great way to get family or friends together after the formalities and share what is such an important time for so many.

Add a few special ANZAC traditions like vegemite on Turkish bread, a Gunfire breakfast (coffee with a shot of Bundaberg rum or condensed milk (whatever was available at the time)),Two Up, and of course ANZAC biscuits!

(Cinnamon Scrolls has a recipe for Anzac Biscuit Sandwiches with Coconut Butter Cream which sound very luxurious if you’re looking for something extraordinary to make dessert particularly special!)

There are several spots in Canberra to order from including the Yarralumla Turkish Halal Pide House who deliver free of charge within 15km – outside of that area a $25 surcharge applies.

Probably a good idea to give a minimum of 1 day’s notice if you will be ordering quite a number of banquets.

Yarralumla offers particularly nicely presented salads as well as the usual options included in most Turkish banquets.

Only order what you need. One banquet per three people may well be enough if you are adding your own dessert, extra vegetable crudités for the dips and perhaps adding a few extra garnishing ingredients to the salad.

Often the basic banquet is the best and most versatile.

For example, the Yarralumla Halal Pidehouse Banquet includes:

A selection of dips, pide bread , kabak, falafel, salad, rice, lamb skewers, chicken skewers and mixed pide – $40.00 for 2 banquets then $20.00 per extra banquet.

Cold starters:

Dips Humus • Beetroot • Carrot • Eggplant • Cucumber

with some extra Vine leaves stuffed with rice, onion, tomato and olive oil $1 each added for variety

…re-plated with torn turkish bread

Warm entrees:

Kabak Mucveri Fried zucchini puffs with yoghurt sauce

Falafel Deep fried chickpea patties with tahini sauce 6 per serve

with some extra Börek – Fetta cheese and spinach pastry rolls ordered and added

…re-plated with the garlic dip and tahini dip

Chicken and Lamb Skewers

…cut in half with kitchen scissors and re-plated..

Mixed Pide

…cut up with kitchen scissors and re-plated..

Salad

Salad re-plated with extra olives and nuts to garnish

Rice

…re-plated…

Sliced meat..as it arrives and re-plated

extra Turkish bread and some roast vegetables

Wheat & Oats – going from strength to strength

Wheat & Oats, in Colbee Court, Phillip is quickly developing it’s menu and specials, making it a very welcome new addition to Woden lunch spots.

It’s excellent value, especially for holder of the Canbera Entertainment Book who are offered a 25% discount.

The regular menu includes a very excellent goat curry $13

..as well as a range of sandwiches, a chilli and chicken wrap.. $10…

…a burger, Raman noodle soup, bruschetta and vegan salad and all day breakfast options.

But perhaps it’s the changing daily specials that are the most interesting and tasty…

…including a Lamb Wrap $10…

…Chicken Schnitzel Burger $8.50..

…Quiche $4.50…

..Quiche with salad $10..

…Salad alone $7.50..

Wheat and Oats, Phillip – first look at a new Woden lunch spot

Wheat and Oats has fairly recently taken over the spot in Colbee Court Phillip that used to be the home of the very popular Chocolate Olive.

It’s an easy 10 min walk from the Woden CBD and has well priced dishes, warm and friendly service and an attractive decor that makes it a good option for a work day lunch.

It is also very helpful that breakfast dishes are available all day.

Chilli Chicken Wrap $10

Chicken, salad, cheese and spicy relish hot pressed sandwich $10

There are also a number of salads and options ready to take with you..

…some specials

…and sweet treats.

Wheat and Oats also generously offers a 25% discount to Canberra Entertainment Book holders, and at the moment there is a 10% discount until June 30 for everyone.

Unlike many Phillip lunch spots, Wheat and Oats is also open on weekends.

Monday to Friday, 7:30am till 3pm

Saturday, 8am till 2pm

Sunday, 9am till 1pm

Fox and Bow, Farrer, a top Woden lunch spot

Fox and Bow is a new-comer to the southside dining scene, having only opened four months ago at the Farrer shops but quickly making it’s mark as a top pick.

It’s a delightful addition to the Woden weekday lunch options, offering a lovely open and stylish setting that is particularly nice in good weather, but certainly will be cozy and welcoming when it becomes colder.

The welcome and hospitality of host Alex is warm and memorable. He is keen that you try his carefully prepared coffee, so much so that it’s not unusual for him to even provide a complimentary cup so you don’t miss out.

The all day brunch menu is full of well priced interesting, creative and original dishes that combine flavours, textures and colours beautifully.

Serve sizes are generous and easily shared to try a wider range of taste experiences.

There are also some good value smoothies and shakes on offer that sound and look amazing and a range of slices and cakes.

Within easy driving distance of the Woden business precinct, it is obviously already immensely popular so it’s a good idea to book ahead.

Open daily, 7am-4pm weekdays and 8am-3:30pm weekends.

El Cubano $13 – Cuban sandwich of slow cooked mojo pork shoulder, shaved ham, raclette cheese, American mustard and pickles served with a side salad – a truly delicious combination of flavours, that is way too good to only order once.

Many thanks Sweet Little Pecan $14.50 – Honey roasted sweet potato, avocado, grilled haloumi, BBQ’d corn, roast peppers, toasted pecans and lime – a wonderful combination of textures (especially the corn and pecans), flavours (particularly the haloumi) and colours

Chong Co, Westfield Woden

There are two Chong Co restaurants in Woden, one in the Southern Cross Club and one of the Corinna side of Westfield. The Westfield option is cheaper,and while the atmosphere is nice as nice as the SCC, it is still very pleasant and has outdoor seating that is especially nice in the good weather.

Serve sizes are particularly generous and great for sharing.
Three dishes from the main menu and two serves of rice ($3 per serve) is plenty for six ( about $10.50 each).
The Pork with Prik Khing is especially good $17.90 but chicken is probably a better meat to pick.

Chicken with Malay Sauce, $17.90, is also good.

Mixed seafood with lemongrass, $20.90, includes two prawns, two calamari tubes, two mussels and one scallop, but is not as good as the other two dishes.

A takeaway container is happily provided for leftovers.

Sharing at Smoque, Woden

The new Woden Smoque, while specialising in a range of American styled burgers and salads also offers the option of all-meat dishes and a range of sides, which can be added to a sharing menu for variety.

Cornbread can also be ordered on its own.

The Mac n Cheese ($5.90 for the large serve), is good value, tasty and Moorish (but pretty rich and oily).

The Carolina Pulled Pork $14.90 is also pretty oily. The pulled pork is probably better enjoyed in the Original Burger.

The Garden Salad, while not as interesting or tasty as the Texan Waldorf or Thanksgiving salads, is good value at $9.90 and excellent for adding more salad greens to a menu selection.

While it’s good to try a range of Smoque’s options, the best sharing menus are based on the gourmet burgers and a mix of feature salads/garden salad. The Vegie Burger $13.90 and Original Burger $11.90 are the best burger choices and the Texan Waldorf or Thanksgiving salad, both $16.90 are good combined with a Garden Salad $9.90 which is less rich.

Vegie Burger $13.90

One burger or salad can be shared between three to four people (just need a sharp knife) and the total number of salads and burgers can be the equivalent of three between four people, making the cost of the shared menu around $10 per person.

Turkish Pide House, Woden

The Turkish Pide House in Woden has lovely outdoor seating and inviting interior seating.

It also has a menu full of interesting Turkish dishes and a very convenient location for Woden workers.
The tricky challenge has always been how to order an interesting range of dishes to share and leave feeling content but comfortable.
A banquet (starting at $19.50 and including a glass of wine) is an easy way to share but is way too much food.

However, an alternative for sharing between a group of six is to order a dip and Turkish bread to start with another entrée item and a couple of salads with chicken veal or seafood as well as a pide.
This works out at around $13 per person.

Entrée:

Carrot Dip with Turkish bread – carrot, olive oil, garlic, yogurt, mint & herbs $10.00

Kabak Mucver– Crispy zuchinni puffs served with yogurt & dill dressing $12.50 (halved)
(Two different dips would also work)

Mains
2 Salads:

Meditarranean Tavuk Salatasi- Tender chicken pieces char-grilled and tossed with mesculin lettuce, roma tomatoes, cucumber & topped with croutons. Served with a savoury piquant dressing. $19.00

Other choices include:
Prawn Salad– Char-grilled King prawns, tossed in mesculin lettuce with roma tomatoes, cucumber and infused with a tangy dressing. $20.00
Calamari Salad -Grilled Calamari, tossed in mesculin lettuce with roma tomatoes, cucumber, & infused with a tangy dressing. $19.00
Aegean Salatasi- Thinly sliced veal, char-grilled and tossed in baby spinach, fetta cheese, mesculin lettuce, tomatoes & topped with tzaziki dressing. $19.00
Karisik Balik Salatasi -Grilled seafood salad including salmon, prawns & calamari $22.00

1 Pide

Vegeterian Deelite – Roasted pumpkin and potato with fetta, garlic, capsicum, onion & cheese topped with pesto aioli. $18.50

BYO is also welcome at around $4 corkage per bottle.

Fine Eating

Hints Hacks and Highlights

Lunch spots in Woden

Farmer’s Daughter, Yarralumla

Flavour of India, Woden, $10.90 Lunch Special

Wheat & Oats – going from strength to strength

Wheat and Oats, Phillip – first look at a new Woden lunch spot

Fox and Bow, Farrer, a top Woden lunch spot

Chong Co, Westfield Woden

Sharing at Smoque, Woden

Turkish Pide House, Woden

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