Double Drummer

Given the number of people who work in the Parliamentary Triangle, you would think that someone would have come up with a concept like Double Drummer before. Essentially, it’s a lovely large cafeteria with practical but fun style (e.g. green flamingo upholstery), serving home-style meals at very good prices (for Canberra) to large numbers of office workers, and it has only been around since mid-2014. I must admit, this is another place where I end up always ordering the same thing – how can you go past a golden, crispy chicken schnitzel? The schnitzel is offered with a choice of two sides, which is food for thought when lining up at the counter (there’s always a line at lunchtime). My favourites are the chips and Caesar – the chips are crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, whilst the Caesar has nicely sized pieces of lettuce with just the right amount of dressing and croutons. The schnitzel itself is the stuff of food comas – a huge piece of tender chicken coated in a crispy deep-fried shell. The menu stretches from sandwiches to soups though, so I might have to be more adventurous next time…

Double Drummer, Ground Floor Courtyard, 4 National Circuit, Barton ACT   http://thedoubledrummer.com.au/

Old Parliament House

Friday drinks at OPH were something of a myth when I moved to Canberra – they’d been all the rage but had since stopped, so I never got to go. But good things come to those who wait – once again OPH is opening its courtyard to those seeking end-of-week beverages. We headed over for a friend’s farewell after work, emerging into a lovely green space full of benches and beanbags. The bar is set up under a pergola and offers wine, beer and cider, and alongside it is the food. For $6, you could choose to eat 1. a bratwurst with sauerkraut, 2. tandoori chicken skewers or 3. a green paw paw salad. I went for the bratwurst, after seeing that it was DIY condiments (yes!). I heaped my hot dog up with bacon chips, sauerkraut, diced pickles, aioli and cheese – it was definitely the right choice. The roll was just the right thickness and held everything together without dominating the flavours, whilst the sauerkraut and pickles really complemented the  sausage. The cheese didn’t add much flavour, but the bacon chips were crispy and worked well with the whole combination. No better way to send a friend off in style.

Old Parliament House, 18 King George Terrace, Parkes ACT   http://moadoph.gov.au/events/friday-night-drinks/

Parlour Wine Room

I remember watching the smoke pillar rising up into the air when Parlour, amongst other venues, caught fire in 2011. I was disappointed, having heard great things about it, but never having been, so was pleasantly surprised when it re-opened in late 2013. It took me another eight months to get there, but I did for a Sunday lunch catch up with a friend. We had the lunch deal, $16 for a meal and glass of house wine, which is very good value in Canberra. On this occasion I chose comfort food – the pappardelle with pork belly and sofrito (which is apparently a red sauce). The pasta was handmade and silky, and the pieces of pork were tender and full of flavour, although spread a little thinly. The parmesan had a good amount of bite to it, and the glass of house red matched reasonably well. My friend ordered the calamari, which was beautifully presented but appeared to be a much smaller serving than the pasta. We were impressed by the cozy atmosphere, and were considerately seated away from the four or five other diners. Definitely one to come back to.

Parlour Wine Room, 16 Kendall Lane, Newacton Pavilion, Canberra ACT http://www.parlour.net.au/

Molly

There’s a real sense of adventure arriving at Molly, Canberra’s own speakeasy. I’d agreed to meet my friend there on a Friday after work as we’d both heard good things but never been. When you do a google search, all that comes up are co-ordinates to put into your GPS. It’s like going on a treasure hunt, except you find a big wooden door instead of an ‘x’ to mark the spot. The temperature drops going down the stairs, but you emerge into a gem of a bar. The tables are close and cozy, the bar is the only well-lit section and there’s a charcutrie for high-end snacks in the back corner. The vibe fantastic – the low lighting and small space does make you feel like you’re back in the prohibition era, and the fitout is fashionable without being cold. I ordered a mint julep and a toastie to snack on. The drink was small but packed a punch – garnished with fresh mint and well-crushed ice, the amount of bourbon in there isn’t for the faint-hearted. The toastie was more of a gourmet sandwich made to perfection with jamon and pickles amid the oozy cheese. Highly recommended for a classy night out.

Molly, undisclosed address, Hobart Place, Civic ACT                     http://www.molly.net.au

Dolce & Salato

After lunch at Bent Spoke, we went into town in search of icecream to make the most of a sunny spring afternoon. Wanting something a bit more special, we opted for Dolce and Salato over Gelatissimo in the Canberra Centre. I’d never had anything from D&S before, and was pleasantly surprised by the range of gelato and sorbet flavours available. I will always pick fruity over chocolatey, so went with the peach sorbet and raspberry sorbet, wanting something refreshing. It was a good choice – the raspberry was nice and tart, but the peach was the standout, somehow managing to convey a really strong peach flavour.  The sorbets had substantial texture – they weren’t too smooth, and were just what we wanted on a warm arvo. A friend chose the most exotic flavour on the menu – prickly pear – and was rewarded with what was probably the nicest flavour. Definitely a place worth being adventurous at. Note – their website claims that a ‘woodfired breakfast menu’ is coming soon. One to keep an eye on.

Dolce & Salato, 108 Bunda Street, Civic, ACT          http://dolceandsalato.com.au/

Blackfire

I have been eating in Braddon a lot lately. I think I’m close to trying them all (this has become a Pokemon-like quest). Today’s adventure was Blackfire, a brunch catch up with good friends. I slept in and didn’t have a pre-brunch snack, so was pretty hungry when I arrived. How to address this? Order the big breakfast, of course. It’s called the ‘Blackfire morning’, and comes with grilled mushrooms, avocado, asparagus, eggs your way, ciabatta, black pudding, rosemary potatoes and bacon. Again for me, having bread that was crispy but not hard to cut was a huge winning factor of this breakfast, and I was excited to have black pudding served on a breakfast plate. The mushrooms and potatoes were excellent, and the only thing that stopped me from finishing the plate was the fact that I was completely full (I got very close to finishing though). The staff were very friendly taking our orders and we sat comfortably for a good half hour after eating without feeling pressured to leave. The decor is upmarket, with modern wood panelling on the walls and iron chandeliers. After this, I’ll be adding it to the dinner ‘to eat’ list.

Blackfire, 45/38 Mort Street, Braddon ACT http://www.blackfirerestaurant.com.au

Asian Noodle House

If you’re a Canberra local, you’ve probably eaten at the Asian Noodle House more than a few times. I certainly have, and whilst the Dickson store is the original, it’s not super close when you’ve been to the theatre. Luckily the Civic outpost is, and that’s where we headed for a post-show dinner. The menu is a mix of Asian cuisines, from Thai to Laotian (hello larb) to Chinese to Malay – diners are spoilt for choice. I’m not sure if the laksa is Singaporean or Malaysian-style, but it’s legendary in Canberra.  Packed full of greens, tofu, two types of noodles and a mix of sweet spices, the Asian Noodle House laksa is a dish that expats make a beeline for when they’re back in town. It’s no wonder, when the laksa is reliably delicious and the same at every store, every time.  For those whose eyes are bigger than their tummies (guilty), there’s a half-size available too.  A local legend for a reason – check it out if you haven’t already, and if you have, well, it’s probably just about time to go back for another bowl.

Asian Noodle House, 49 Northbourne Ave Civic Canberra City  http://www.noodlehouse.net.au/Noodle_house/Welcome.html