Movida @ Sydney Airport

I have been very lucky to travel a bit for work this year, and quite a few of these trips have been to Sydney. Returning from one solo trip, I decided to head to the airport early and have lunch at Movida, in the Virgin Domestic terminal at Sydney airport. On arrival, staff offer bread with olive oil, which I accepted and thoroughly enjoyed – the oil had a strong flavour that suited the soft bread perfectly. I treated myself to a few different tapas dishes, including the Paletilla Iberica, 24 month old jamon, which came out sliced paper thin and accompanied by sweet peppers. The jamon was incredibly flavoursome and something I would happily order again. I also had spiced octopus served with a mash potato puree (so creamy!), but the highlight of the meal was the Pinchitos Morunos, or chargrilled lamb skewer, which turned out to be large cubes of soft, smoky and beautifully tender lamb. I would double my order of this next time without a doubt. Three dishes was just the right amount for lunch and I felt quite spoilt after working so hard. Definitely good for a treat when travelling.

Movida @ the Airport, Sydney Airport T2                                   http://movida.com.au/airport/sydney-airport-menu/

The Merchant

Sometimes picking just one thing from the menu is really tricky, and this was definitely the case at The Merchant, which has recently opened on the Kingston foreshore. I was sorely tempted by the chicken liver parfait, the braised lamb papardelle and the lamb skewer, but after much procrastinating  – mostly spent admiring the pretty tiles on the back wall – I went for the skewer, because there’s nothing like big chunks of lamb at lunchtime! I was struck by the huge portion size when the plate came out and delighted to see a wedge of lemon to drizzle over the lamb; surely ‘lamb & lemon’ are the ‘apple & cinnamon’ of the savoury world. The salad was tasty and substantial, with large pieces of fetta and pitted olives (hooray!). The lamb was a bit variable – perfectly cooked and soft on the outside, but a bit undercooked and chewy inside each piece. There also could have been a bit more yoghurt for dipping. I was, however, very impressed with the iced tea, which was lovely and sweet, and had fresh orange and lemon juice in it. Mmm. Yes they’re still finding their feet, but The Merchant has a lot of promise.

The Merchant, 3/2 Trevillian Quay, Kingston ACT         http://www.themerchant.com.au (under development)

Capitol Bar and Grill

I was looking forward to this dinner for quite some time before it happened. The QT hotel in New Acton has only recently opened under that brand, and with it came the Capitol Bar and Grill, promising excellence in steak. Challenge accepted. I went with three friends who are equally appreciative of a slab of beef, so we each ordered something different and decided to share a range of sides. I chose the 200g Eye/Ox Fillet from Tasmania, which I ordered medium-rare, along with a serve of the garlic and rosemary potatoes. We munched on a range of tasty breads while we waited for our slice of beef perfection. When the mains arrived they were worth the wait – my beef was so tender and flavoursome, and was perfectly enhanced by the horseradish cream picked out from the range of condiments on offer. The highlight of the side dishes was the mac and cheese, quite possibly the best I’ve ever eaten out. Despite being stuffed full, we pushed through for an apple tarte tartin to share for dessert – again very much worth the pre-warned 20 minute wait. Not an inexpensive meal, but we weren’t rushed and could savour every delicious mouthful.

Capitol Bar and Grill,  1 London Circuit Canberra, ACT   http://www.qtcanberra.com.au/food-drink/capitol-bar-grill/

Hopscotch

I actually can’t keep up with the number of new places in Canberra. It’s like there’s something new opening every week, which is fabulous for the city and concerning for my waistline. Nevertheless, when a friend mentioned there was a new meat-and-scotch place in Braddon I jumped at the chance to try it. We went for dinner on a Monday night, and whilst the music was a bit too loud, the staff were friendly and it was no trouble getting a table. I ordered the bulgogi, lured by the prospect of kimchi ‘slaw (yes please), and wasn’t disappointed! The pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender and cooked in Hopscotch’s Argentine wood-fired grill, which gave it a beautiful smokiness that the pickled ginger cut right through. My friend had the jerk chicken – showing the diverse range of eating traditions the menu draws from – which looked beautiful and came with delicious corn bread.  Apparently they’re planning to roast full pigs in the firepit out the front in summer, which could make Lonsdale St feel like someone’s back yard/street party. No complaints here.

Hopscotch, 5 Lonsdale St, Braddon                    http://www.hopscotchbar.com.au/