Rama’s Fijian Indian Restaurant, Pearce

Rama’s Indian Fijian Restaurant at the Pearce Shops is immensely popular and busy.

Service is extremely friendly and efficient and there’s a real feeling of being welcomed and entertained.

Prices are probably more than average but this is balanced by no corkage BYO, and more reasonable rice and roti prices.

The food is also very good and serve sizes good for sharing between up to six people.

Entrees include the very delicious Roti parcel $9 each

Cooked pumpkin and coconut wrapped inside a

pan fried roti

and large Vegetable samosa 2 for $12

The mains that included a creamy spinach sauce win over the more tomato based sauces.

The standout dish is Lamb Saag

Cubes of lamb cooked with fresh spices, spinach and

coconut milk. $24.50

quickly followed by Palak Paneer $20

Home made cheese cooked in a smooth spinach sauce

The Curried Beans and Tomato $13 are a good value very tasty dish, good to add to a shared menu.

Sliced beans, chopped tomatoes and onions cooked

slowly at low temperature, with a hint of spices.

The Prawn Saabji $24.50

Prawns cooked with onion, garlic, tomato, spinach

and coconut milk, comes with six prawns and a tasty sauce.

The Aamm Chicken (Mango Chicken) $23

Boneless chicken pieces cooked with fresh spices and a

sweet mango sauce, while listed as a ‘speciality’ is not as good as the other dishes, but better than the

Madras Fish Curry $23.50

Boneless fillets of ling marinated in lemon juice, tumeric,

garlic and simmered in spices, in a tomato based sauce which is fairly hard textured fish in a very spicy sauce.

Pappadam 4 for $3 with yogurt and tamarind sauces

Roti $2.50 each

Rice $2.75 per person (unlimited)

Three dishes between four people is a good amount to share and stay comfortable.

If also ordering one entrée piece each (particularly the large samosa) then three between six may be enough especially with roti.

Suggested menu for six:

3x Pan fried roti with pumpkin and coconut (halved)

Lamb saag

Palak paneer

Curried beans and tomato

1 extra dish (e.g. the Potaotes and Peas Curry which comes highly recommended – Potatoes, pea, onion, tomato and fresh coriander cooked in a touch of spices $20 or try the Fijian Pork Curry $24 or the Goat Curry $23 )

3 roti

6 rice

$160 total approx. ($22 per person – no corkage required)

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.

South Coast Eats: The Rivermouth General Store, Tomakin

On my wishlist…

inexplicable wanderlust

In an effort to preserve summer for as long as possible, I am continuing with my coastal theme and sharing one of my new favourite eateries on the South Coast – The Rivermouth General Store in Tomakin.

On the Sunday that we visited, the sun was shining and it seemed that everyone in town had the same idea – soaking up the sunshine in the cute garden courtyard of The Rivermouth. This little cafe is all about the chill vibes and seaside location. You only have to look at their instagram to know that the team behind The Rivermouth love their surfing and coastal lifestyle.

They also love good food and good coffee – my favourite. The menu is fresh, simple and oh so tasty. Local produce is a big feature and they have a killer drinks menu with delicious juices and indulgent shakes. Did I mention their coffee is good…

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The Hamlet, Lonsdale Street Braddon

If you’ve enjoyed the Forage street food offerings you will love The Hamlet on Lonsdale Street Braddon, a (temporarily) more permanent home for these caravan vendors of yummy, casual eats.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, it’s a great, inexpensive night out and just perfect for sharing a range of samplings between a group in good weather (just bring a sharp knife and a few extra paper plates).

Start a Lonsdale Street food tour (as it’s hard to get a table later) or stay the whole evening.

BYO (drinks and glasses) without corkage, adds to the great value.

Top picks include Mr Pappas’ Pork Belly Roll ($12)….

….and Broddogs “pups” (perfectly sized for sampling, $5-$7 each).

…or a full sized ‘dog’ $6.50-$11 (about 1 1/2-2 times the size of a ‘pup’)

New Yorker Dog with a Kransky

Omi Pup (the best!), New Yorker Pup & Chilli Pup are all good.

Choose from a Vienna Frankfurt, Spicy Kransky or Pork free sausage.

Also worth trying is the pork roll with apple sauce from the Spit Shack ($12:90)…

….and the Bratwurst in a roll with sauerkraut $9 from ‘Bratwurst’…

I’m also told that the Bratwurst’s Schnitzels are good and easily shared ($16 small, $21 large).

One of the great things about the Hamlet, is that there are often smaller serving sizes on offer like Free Range’s pulled pork with couscous, rice and salad ($8).

There’s also plenty to choose from for those wanting gluten free options. Broddogs has gluten free buns available and the sausages are gluten free. Free range’s pulled lamb is gluten free.

Mr Papa’s Pork Belly sandwich is also gluten free if you skip the roll.

Other choices include Mr Papas’ Peruvian Stuffed Potato (tasty, but plenty of outside coating to get through)

…and Mr Papas’ Empanadas and Chicken Wings.

Canberra’s Multicultural Festival

The annual February multicultural festival in Canberra is wonderful. Representing the globe, families, communities and embassies come together for the weekend to share the passion and connection that they have for and with their heritage.

They showcase the foods they love….

Spanish Paella and Moroccan Pancakes

Sri Lankan Kothu Roti

Philippino Halo Halo

The ever popular Gozlemes

Bhutanese Momos, Beef Curry, Chilli Cheese and Saffron Rice

Tibetan Momos

Italian Gingerbread and Nougat

Mongolian Dumpling and Croatian Kransky roll

Greek Loukoumathes

Foods from the Greek Glendi

Their dance and music….

But it’s also a highlight to see communities working together, producing and selling signatures snacks and wishes from their country….

…..and the global mix through those enjoying everything the festival offers….together.

Yes, it gets busy and you might have to wait in line, but there are still plenty of good spot sot get a view of the stage and the lines aren’t so long (especially if you go a bit early). And it’s a great opportunity to chat to those who around you either supporting the stalls and events or waiting in line too. Their pride and love for their country is inspiring.

See, taste and chat about foods and cultures from around the world without leaving home and enjoy one of the great things about living in Canberra!

(Maybe, the ultimate strategy is to go with a few friends and task everyone with collecting a national food to bring back to share along with the back story gleaned while purchasing! Maximum taste and experience.)

Temples of a Siem Reap – Prae Rup & Angkor Wat Southern Gate

Prae Rup and the southern gate at Angkor Wat (and the bridge crossing the moat) are perhaps not as interesting as some of Siem Reap’sother temples, but still well worth stopping at if you’re going past.