CANBERRA – SO TASTEFUL

As the waiter places a goat cheese tartlet flanked by green papaya salad in front of me, then faultlessly pours wine from its decanter, and whisks away an invisible crumb, I can’t believe I am dining in Parliament House. In the Private Dining Rooms. Minus the pollies, minus the stuffed shirts.

You see, they moved out some time back. This is OLD Parliament House, and these rooms are also minus several layers of paint and veneer, which have been painstakingly stripped off to reveal the original delicate art deco hand-painted wall panels.

I’m in The Ginger Room, love-child, brain-child restaurant of noted chef, Janet Jeffs, who by day runs a highly efficient catering business, but moonlights here, teasing the best flavours out of a French-Vietnamese fusion of ingredients and styles.

That may be the new use of the old seat of power here in our Nation’s Capital, but it’s a metaphor for what’s going on all over the place, here. Just as this city is known for its seasons – it snows, it blows, leaves drop and, sadly, bushfires raged through the suburbs one summer – so too is there a season of change in Canberra.

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This article continues with details of the hip new attitude apparent in Australia’s national capital and  includes information on accommodation provided, local food and cuisine, things to do and see.

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(finishes…)

So what if you’ve ‘done’ Canberra before. Maybe there was the obligatory family trip years back, to show the children the seat of power, the War Memorial, and get some fireworks. But there’s more reason, now, than ever to go back.

This time pack an picnic basket and pick up some of Australia’s best smoked meats at Poachers Pantry in Hall, just minutes from the CBD. Come prepared to do some wine-tasting too (and buy some for your cellar), take in an exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia, or take a side-trip to dine at Grazing, in Gundaroo

Stay for Sunday, so you can spend as long as possible at the Old Bus Depot Markets, only open on that day, and make your last stop at Silo so you can grab some of that sensational bread and cheese to take home.

After all, you’ll want to keep the taste of Canberra with you as long as you can. 

©Sally Hammond 2006

Picture Credits: ©Gordon Hammond 2006

(Sally and Gordon Hammond travelled as guests of Australian Capital Tourism)

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