Canberra

Chifley Bar & Grill, Barton – an update! 

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It was only last week that I posted about The Chifley Bar & Grill but already it needs an update.

The menu has changed and sadly the Pear and Pecorino Salad and Tasting Plate have dropped off….(but the plate is still on the dinner menu that starts at 6pm).

The prices have also ( understandably) increased…

And it took a little longer…

The pulled pork burger was a good choice though….


…..And the Club sandwich was generous


Still a beautiful and a lovely relaxed flexible spot to meet a friend for lunch, coffee or a drink.


Chifley's Bar and Grill Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Christmas in July – great dinner party theme for a Canberra Winter

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It truly is cold in Canberra, and not so inviting to venture out to eat. But it’s the perfect time to get friends together for a Christmas in July dinner at home.


By sharing the catering and each bringing a dish or a course, it makes it easier on the host.
We did this recently with a bunch of friends and all invited someone new to introduce to the others.


I discovered new winter gems like hot green ginger wine (just add some boiling water) a quick an easy alternative to mulled wine.

Someone brought the nibbles..

Another the turkey breast roll with cranberry sauce and gravy and  ham as well….


….some one else teamed this with fresh green beans and roast winter vegetables.

Then there were mince pies and plum pudding with custard, cream and rum icecream….


And lastly we had Ginger biscuits and something new to me….Tim Tams dunked in port – surprisingly fantastic! (a true believer would bite off each end and suck the port through the Tim Tam).


I think it’s always worth hanging on to a few Christmas crackers, keeping some Chrissy decorations handy and freezing a few mince pies when they are in the shops….just in case you need them in July!

Turkish Tapas – the easy way

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It’s always great to find an easy way to entertain at home that’s also budget friendly.

Ordering Turkish Banquets from Lyneham Turkish Pide Kebabs, is one of these opportunities where you can transform a basic take away meal into something special in just one hour.

The Family $20 Banquet includes…

2 x Dips, 1 x Bread, 2 Zucchini puffs, 2 Falafel, 2 Fetta Spring Rolls, 2 Chicken Skewers, 2 Kofte, 1 x Rice and Salad, 1 x Pide, 1 x Chips

Minimum order is two and delivery is free.

Two $20 Family banquets arrives looking like this…

1. Cut the Turkish breads in half horizontally and spread with the dips, top with the salad, assemble the top layer of bread ( or leave open) and cut into bite-sized pieces.

2. Serve any remaining bread with the remaining dips.

3. Cut the zucchini puffs, falafel and feta spring rolls into halves and serves with the tzaziki dip.

4. Take the chicken pieces off the kebab skewers and cut in half. Serve with the tzaziki dip.

5. Cut the sides into bite sized pieces and serve with dip.

6. Slice the kofta and chips into smaller pieces and stir through warmed pasta sauce. Add a tin of drained chickpeas. Serve this over the rice, sprinkled with cheese.

7. Set these dishes out and add some small soups or desserts if you have these on hand.

Turkish Pide and Kebabs Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Gryphons Caffe Bar, Griffith

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Gryphons Caffe Bar at the Griffith shops is a great all rounder with easy parking and both inside and outside seating.

The American Pulled Pork Burger – BBQ pork, coleslaw, tomato relish, chips $20 had a bit too much sauce so perhaps the Greek Chicken Burger, Fish Burger or Gryphons Beef Burger would be a better pick.

Great chips though!

Smoked Trout Salad $20 (a special) a nice choice.

If you have the Canberra Entertainment Card it’s two meals for the price of one.

No BYO.
Opening Hours: 7am- Late Monday- Saturday, Sunday 9am-4pm

Gryphons Caffe Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Canberra Labor Club – Movie and Meal Deal $17.50

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The Canberra City Labor Club offers members ($5 joining fee) a $17.50 steak/schnitzel/fish with chips and salad along with a Dendy movie ticket (long use by date).

Diane or Mushroom Sauce is an extra $1


Clearly a club atmosphere, it’s a bargain nonetheless.

Wine by the glass starts at $5.

Canberra Labor Club Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Little Brooklyn, Green Square, Kingston – a week of specials 

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Little Brooklyn is good for burgers…and specials!

Burgers include the Big Brooklyn Burger – angus beef w bacon, cheese, pickles, caramelised onion, brooklyn ketchup & house mustard $19

But also has a nice Haloumi Salad – grilled haloumi & quinoa salad w baby spinach, roquette, roasted carrots, cherry tomatoes, yoghurt dressing & toasted sesame seeds $20

The Canberra Entertainment Book offers two meals for the price of one.

But as part of the Cocu group..it is just one of many specials on offer during the week!

Little Brooklyn Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Ducks Nuts, Dickson

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Ducks Nuts is a new kid on the block in Dickson and has had plenty of promotion through Her Canberra and Food & Wine.

It looks promising with happy hour 4-6pm, some weekly specials and some lovely duck themed dishes.

But it is very noisey and very pubby with sport on the overhead TV.

The dishes are sadly not quite as good as they sound.

But good to give a new spot a try.
Peking Ducks Nuts Burger $19


Naked Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burger $19


Roast Duck Salad $19


Wine by the glass from $7.50

 

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

Pialligo Estate Farmhouse Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

The Chifley Bar & Grill, Barton – my new favourite for lunch @chifleysbarandgrill

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The Chifley Bar & Grill at Hotel Kurrajong, my new favourite for a weekday lunch in Barton.

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I love a great setting for enjoying a meal and Hotel Kurrajong does heritage so very well.

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With all its great style and service you might expect a high price tag, but surprisingly the menu is similar to what you would pay in most eateries.

Being a hotel restaurant, it is open every day from breakfast to around 10pm and staff are very flexible to cater for a large range of appetites and preferences.

Sandwiches are around $15 and arrive with Chips and aioli….

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The roast lamb with grilled vegetables, Harissa and Mayo is good, but I think any of the sandwich choices would be excellent.

For a light lunch there are also salads or dessert to choose from for $15 -$17.

Stone baked bread with Pepe Saya butter is $4, and sides like the amazing pear and pecorino salad with baby spinach and candied walnuts are $8.

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For two modest appetites it’s perfect to share a sandwich and a pear and pecorino salad.

Wine starts at $8 a glass.

I will definitely be back for another pecorino salad and I’d love to try the stone baked bread!

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Chifley's Bar and Grill Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Movenpick, Kingston Foreshore @movenpickkingstonforeshore

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Last Monday, Sid treated the Canberra Food Bloggers to an evening of his new Movenpick Kingston Foreshore winter desserts.

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Movenpick is new to Canberra- one of the 400 stores worldwide in 40 countries. The icecream is shipped frozen from its home of creation in Switzerland where it has been made since the 1960’s from ingredients sourced from around the the world. The pistachios are from Iran, rum from Jamaica, mango from India, coffee from Colombia, macadamias from Australia, strawberries from Poland, blueberries from France and chocolate from Venezuela.

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Flavours are many and varied but my favourites were strawberry (50% fruit), vanilla brownie, caramel and coconut chocolate.

Sid and his team have been working hard to showcase the best to Canberra.

The winter desserts include the apple strudel (my favourite) and chocolate fondant – $14.95….

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….and waffles or pancakes for $16.95 which you customise to your own pick your type of pancakes (eg nut or berry), sauce, icecream and garnishes.

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The chocolate fondue is also impressive at $29.95 for two or $39.95 for four people.

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Drinks include milkshakes like a blueberry cheesecake milkshake or a lovely lime sorbet.

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In the icecream range there’s also some beautiful options like Decadence at $9.95.

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A good spot for great traditional cone or a dessert to share to finish a meal out along the Kingston Foreshore.

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