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

CBD Dumpling House, Canberra City – DYI Banquet

CBD Dumpling House at the bottom of the Canberra Centre, is very popular and busy, even weeknights.

It offers many of the favourite dishes from the well known, well loved sister Dickson Dumpling House, that are well sized and well priced. There’s a range of banquet options that include great choices, making ordering easy and quick. (A minimum of 5 people).

Banquet B $25 per person (for nine people)

Entree:

Vegetable spring rolls (one per person)

Shanghai Pork Dumpling (12 pieces for 9 people)

Pan Fried Prawn and Pork Dumpling (2 x12 for 9 people)

Mains:

Honey King Prawn

Shan Tang Lamb

Shredded Dry Chilli Beef

Mixed Vegetables with Sesame Sauce

Seasonal Vegetable with Chicken (may not always be included)

Satay Chicken

Boiled rice

Chilli condiments

Dessert:

Vanilla Icecream and topping

There’s no doubt that the dishes are delicious, but the banquet is just way too much food for most people and includes dishes you may not really want (like vanilla ice-cream with topping) but end up eating anyway.

A good alternative to one of the set banquets, that still gives you the best dishes, but leaves you feeling still comfortable at the end of the meal, is the design your own banquet. It also works out cheaper.

Suggested DYI Banquet for 6 people

Entree:

1x Shanghai pork dumpling (6 pieces) $9.80

1x Pan fried Prawn and Pumpkin Dumpling (12 Pieces) $11.80

Mains:

1x Honey King Prawns $19.80

1x Shan Tang Lamb $15.80

1x Shredded Dry Chilli Beef $14.80

Steamed Mixed Vegetables with Sesame Sauce $11.80

6 serves rice $2.00 per serve

Total: $96 ($16 per person)

Corkage is $3 per bottle.

Serve is helpful and efficient.

However, for a group, like the Dickson Dumpling House, it’s very noisy making it quite hard to chat. Try to pick a table along the wall where the soft furnishing help to muffle some noise. The table closest to the bathrooms may be the quietest.

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..

Treehouse Bar, Northbourne Ave, Thursday night special

Treehouse Bar on Northbourne Ave must be Canberra’s best value spot on a Thursday night for a casual dinner in the cooler weather. Now with another ‘tree’ full of lights, it’s sparkly and welcoming inside.

It offers $5 glasses of house wine, beer, basic spirits and sparkling wine until 7pm (also available Wed-Fri) and two for the price of one, gourmet burgers with hand cut chips and aioli ($9 each on Thursdays).

All burgers are good, but perhaps the best, surprisingly is the vegetarian option (lentil burger with tomato, rocket, avocado salsa, alfalfa and peanut sauce)

Double beef burger with tomato, pineapple, cheddar, wholegrain mustard and caramelised onions

Spiced lamb burger with grilled eggplant, baby spinach and hummus

Treehouse is also great on Wednesdays for two for one gourmet hotdogs and Fridays two for one tapas (all tapas and starters except the charcuterie plate for two $18 although another starter of tapas option ( Sourdough with olives and balsamic $12, chilli salt squid with fresh herbs, tomato relish and lime aioli $14 or sizzling honey prawns with shallots and ginger $14) would be free.

Dinner at CIT Reid Hospitality training restaurant – the April-May menu

Booking a table at the CIT Reid campus restaurant for lunch on Tuesday or Friday, or dinner on Thursday, is an excellent way to share a fine dining restaurant experience with friends, at mid-range restaurant prices.

At the same time, you will be supporting a great concept, creating a real-life environment for students to practice and hone their hospitality skills.

The seasonal menu, offering two courses for $20 or three courses for $25, changes every few months and is linked to on the CIT website. Each course offers three choices including a vegetarian option and plenty of gluten free options.

Entrees
Salmon carpaccio (GF) – Sliced Salmon with ginger, coriander, chilli, mint and apple vinegar dressing (GF) ( a favourite)

Seven spice smoked marinated duck – Seven spice smoked marinated duck breast with green apple salad in a plum sauce (GF)

Eggplant & smoked goat cheese – Baked eggplants with soy miso dressing served with smoked goat cheese (V,GF)

Mains
Coq au vin – Braised chicken with dry-cured, smoked back bacon, mushroom, eschallots in red wine and brandy sauce served with mash potato (GF)

Steamed Barramundi – Barramundi with ginger and soy broth with seasonal vegetables and soba noodles (GF) (a favourite)

Mushroom and Capsicum Couscous (V) – Mushrooms, capsicum and chickpea stew with couscous and tomato basil

Desserts
Self-saucing Chocolate pudding – Baked chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and pistachio nuts

Gula Melaka – Sago pudding with fresh berries and coconut palm sugar (GF) (recommended by other diners)

Cream Brulee- Lime and ginger cream brulee served with fresh berries (GF) ( a favourite)

Bookings of more than ten people are requested to pre-order to ensure everyone’s choice is available.

Three courses can be too much to be comfortable, but if you’d still like to try all the courses, why not share and entree and a dessert with a friend and both get main courses (i.e. two courses each at $20, but an experience of all three courses).

Drinks (including wine by the glass at $5) are available from the fully licensed bar.

The soft furnishings and patiently paced service are ideal for a leisurely, rich conversation, accompanied by beautifully presented and prepared food.

180 Degrees East, Canberra City, really an amazing special offer!

180 Degrees East is a small restaurant tucked inside the Casino Canberra on Binara Street near Glebe Park.

While it definitely has a ‘club’ feel, this is also balanced by some classic charm reflected in the decor, furnishings and tableware.

Service is warm and attentive and the atmosphere is quiet and great for conversation.

But the real strength of 180 East has to be the recent special offer, which is amazing and possibly still available.

Global Village Deals (previously The Privileges Card) has been offering, for $29.50, 2 glasses of Angove red or white wine….

…two entrees of your choice from the menu (which might be one dozen oysters, natural or Kilpatrick)….

… and two mains of your choice…the Grilled Eye Fillet Steak (200g) with steamed vegetables, mashed potato and sauce of your choice (mushroom is wonderful!) is very delicious, and highly recommended.

Other entree choices include Prawns and Vegetables Tempura – served with Japanese soy or plum sauce…(nice vegetable tempura)…

…but also Soft Shell Crabs – with chilli fish sauce or Asian Style Duck Salad – with Asian salad dressing.

…and other mains like 1/2 roast duck with asian greens and duck sauce…

…or Salmon Fillet – served with stir fried vegetables and steamed rice, BBQ Pork – with Asian greens and homemade plum sauce, Curry of the Day, Grilled lamb Cutlets – served steamed vegetables, mashed potato and mint gravy or and Malaysian Style Mango Chicken – with Wok-tossed vegetables and chicken mango sauce.

If the offer is still available, it’ well worth trying.

Up to 3 vouchers allowed per table (i.e. for 6 people). When you buy the voucher you pay $7 and then pay the balance ($22.50) at the end of your meal.

A good spot for parking is behind the Glebe apartments.

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

Taste of Bangladesh and India, trying a few new dishes

The Taste of Bangladesh and India has great food and hospitality and is excellent value.

The menu includes a wide range of less common dishes and Bangladeshi favourites which are well worth a try.

Kacchi Biriyani $15.50 – is a rice dish with marinated goat meat cooked with spices, very flavoursome, especially the meat and one of the most famous flavoured rice recipes from Bangladesh.

Mirji Handi $14.00 – seasonal vegetables cooked with crumbled paneer and tomato and cashew gravy, is tasty but quite rich and cheesy.

Dum Murgh $15.50 (is still the most amazing dish, and the top pick)

Garlic naan $3 each and plain naan $2.50, rice (which is definitely not necessary if having the Biriyani) and Raita $5 (nice, but not absolutely necessary with the meal)

Two dishes and a Biriyani (with naan) can be more than enough for three appetites. However staff are more than happy to package up any that’s left to take home to enjoy later.

The private area is very good for a larger group and provides good privacy and a very quiet area for conversations. However, a couple or a small group may be better to choose a table closer to the kitchen as the more private area can feel a little too quiet.

Thirst’s Street Food Banquet – two for one on Mondays and Tuesdays

Thirst is a long-time favourite for Thai food in Canberra and they have also been offering an amazing two dishes for the price of one on Mondays and Tuesdays for years.

It’s great food and great value in a lovely setting with good service and hospitality.

But even better…not only are dishes two for one on Mondays Tuesdays, but so is the Thirst Street Stall Banquet. This has got to be the very best option going on a Monday or Tuesday night.

The Thirst Street Stall Banquet

(usually $29.90 per person, but for us $15.90 each) includes:

Entree:

Spring rolls

Corn fritters

Fish cakes

(one each per person)

Mains:

Chicken Laab Salad

Beef Massaman Curry (can be swapped for Penang for an extra $2 per person ($1 on Mondays and Tuesdays)

Chicken and Chilli Jam Stir fry

Steamed Jasmine Rice

The dishes are some of Thirst’s best and large more than enough for any appetite.

The flavours and textures are fabulous and everything you would expect form Thirst.

It a great night out for a group, but just remember on Mondays and Tuesdays there is no BYO option.

It can also be noisy for a group, so best to try to sit closer to the front entrance if that’s a problem.

Copper Chimney, Canberra City, still a top choice for Indian cuisine

Copper Chimney has not long taken over the restaurant space that Jewel of India, on West Row, used to occupy.

Pramod, the new owner, has kept the same luxuriously carpeted and elegant décor with soft chairs and the gorgeous colourful feature wall.

This sets the mood for a special night out and allows for easy conversation even when the room is busy.
Copper Chimney has a new menu, but it still features many of the Jewel of India classics, which is very good as ‘Jewel’ was a top choice for Indian food in Canberra.
The service is excellent, attentive, professional and thoughtful, delivering a ‘fine dining’ experience.
Pramod is a pleasure to chat to and only too willing to help design a menu for a group or to accommodate special requests.
Serve sizes are generous and ideal for sharing between up to six people (for a ‘tasting’ banquet).
Corkage is very reasonable at $6 per bottle.
Copper Chimney also offers 25% off for Canberra Entertainment Book holders (to $30) and is happy to take up to three vouchers (for groups of 6 or more).

Excellent choices based on Her Canberra’s recent review are:

Entrée:

Pappadoms with mint sauce and tamarind chutney (complimentary)

Chicken 65 (spicy and delicious) $14.90

Mains:

Prawn curry Goanese – prawns cooked in a sauce of coriander seeds, cumin, turmeric powder and freshly ground coconut $24

Chicken Chettinad – a speciality from Southern India, chicken with a pepper spiced curry $19

1 Goat Bhuna Masala – spice coated pieces of goat, served on a sizzling plate $21

Aloo Paratha (with potato) $5 each

3 serves rice ($4 per serve)

Raita $5

Dessert

Mango Kulfi $6

Pistachio Kulfi $6

Gulab Jaman with icecream $8

This menu below for 5-6 would be $22-26 per person ($16-20 with 25% Canberra Entertainment Book discount).

If your budget is very tight you could leave out the Chicken 65.

Entree:
Pappadoms
1 x Chicken 65
Mains:
1 x Prawn curry Goanese
1 x Chicken Chettinad
1 x Goat Bhuna Masala (or swap this for Fish Methi Masala ($24), also a lovely dish)
3 x Aloo Paratha (cut into ¼)
3 rice
Raita x 1

Dessert
2 Mango Kulfi
1 Pistachio Kulfi

Fine Eating

Hints Hacks and Highlights

Eat

CBD Dumpling House, Canberra City – DYI Banquet

Wheat & Oats – going from strength to strength

Treehouse Bar, Northbourne Ave, Thursday night special

Dinner at CIT Reid Hospitality training restaurant – the April-May menu

180 Degrees East, Canberra City, really an amazing special offer!

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

Taste of Bangladesh and India, trying a few new dishes

Thirst’s Street Food Banquet – two for one on Mondays and Tuesdays

Copper Chimney, Canberra City, still a top choice for Indian cuisine

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