Sushi Bay, Belconnen, ACT (and Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Squid, Sushi Bay, Belconnen

The Style: I thought the humble sushi train was something that had died out in the noughties until I went to Tokyo last year and found the sushi train concept alive and well. I think it is a kind of cool way to eat Japanese food with an element of kawaii (cute) and quirky. So thankfully I stumbled across Sushi Bay in Belconnen when I was having a horror of a day - the huge, gold flecked conveyer belt, bad eighties music and shouts of irasshaimse were enough to put a smile on my face!!

Salmon, Sushi Bay, Belconnen

Grilled salmon, Sushi Bay, Belconnen

The taste: Sushi. Lots of it. Sashimi, nigiri, maki... All was delicious and it seemed to be getting gobbled up as fast as they put it out so it was nice and fresh. 

The service: Being a sushi train, it was pretty much fend for yourself but the chefs were happy to churn out alternative offerings when requested.

The price: From $3.50 up per plate. The pricings were clearly marked but the stack of plates builds up pretty quickly so keep an eye on it.

The location: Westfield Belconnen, ACT.

Useful links:
Sushi Bay Menu
Himawari Sushi

Fried prawn, Sushi Bay, Belconnen

Sushi Bay, Belconnen

Sushi Bay, Belconnen

Aaaaand just because I can, here was the sushi place in Shinjuku which I practically lived at for a week...here's to Himawari Sushi!! 

Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku

Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku

Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku 

Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku

Jimmy's Saigon, Civic

Pho - Jimmy's Saigon, Civic, Canberra

The style: Jimmy's Saigon is a mix of bright, clean and modern interspersed with some old-style souvenir-ishVietnamese touches like a wooden boat hanging above the drink fridge. It is very casual but definitely not dingy.

The taste: The food here was pretty good - the pho broth was great although it would have gone from yummy to out of this world if there were some fresh herbs to finish it off. The rice paper rolls were fresh and soft and the sauce packed a real punch. And the lemon squash was tangy and refreshing. Overall, for the very reasonable prices this wasn't too bad at all.

Rice paper rolls, Jimmy's Saigon, Civic, Canberra

The service: Super quick and polite, the service here was pleasant. Nothing to complain about.

The price: Considering the super-central location and the fact that some big name places are located nearby the prices here were very reasonable - with entrees from $4 and mains from $11, the pricing is pretty hard to beat.

The location: Smack bang in the middle of Civic - on the ground floor of the Gareema Centre on Bunda Street, Civic.

Useful links:

Jimmy's Saigon Menu

Lemon squash, Jimmy's Saigon, Civic

Desserts and drinks, Jimmy's Saigon, Civic

Lonsdale Street Roasters, Braddon, ACT

Flat white, Lonsdale Street Roasters, Braddon

The Style: I don't think any word fits better to describe this place than 'hipster.' The ironically cool tea-towel cushions and souvenir tea spoons blend with edgy industrial to create a place which draws the crowds. There are long shared tables as well a smaller ones and its a place where you can sit and read a book uninterrupted while you sip your latte.


The Taste: I only tried the breakfast menu and the food was nice enough. The muesli with rhubarb and yoghurt was my choice and the rhubarb was great - the muesli was lathered in yogurt it tasted fine. The banana bread was a winner! There are also a range of pastries, panini and the like on offer. Unfortunately, the coffee which is the main attraction didn't really do it for me. It is sourced, roasted and served on-site but the cup served up to me was extremely bitter and had a seriously burnt taste, not at all creamy. I guess its a matter of taste because the crowds sure suggest that they are getting it right.

Banana bread, Lonsdale Street Roasters, Braddon

Muesli with yoghurt and rhubarb, Lonsdale Street Roasters, Braddon

The Service: Brisk but friendly enough considering how busy it was.

The Price: Fairly standard Canberra pricing, nothing too over the top but not the cheapest on offer. Allow between $8-$15 for breakfast and about $4 for a cup of coffee.

The Location: Lonsdale Street Roasters has two locations on Lonsdale Street, Braddon. There is the cafe and the roaster/bagging operations/wholesale supplier.

Useful links: Lonsdale Street Roasters

                                                      

Floriade Nightfest, Canberra, ACT

Tulips, Floriade Nightfest, Canberra

By day, there is no denying that Floriade is beautiful but by night, it is a sensory experience which takes you way beyond just looking at thousands of flowers. For some reason, I found that the inky night sky blocked out distractions and the visual focus was on the flower beds themselves rather than the myriad of passing daytime distractions. 


The sharp crunch of gravel underfoot was interspersed with soft sploshes as my feet smashed into puddles, magnified by the darkness. Add to that the smell of damp earth, rain and flowers hanging on the petrified, icy cold air and the tingle of frost kissing your cheeks and it all combined to create a unusual experience. Maybe it is because usually, you garden in the daytime which made the Floriade Nightfest so special, maybe it was just having more time and less crowds so that each display could really be enjoyed. I'm not certain what the magic ingredient was, but I can heartily recommend Nightfest!

Tulips, Floriade Nightfest

Ferris wheel, fairy lights and flowers, Floriade, Canberra

As well as the flowers, Floriade Nightfest offers up some other suprises too with cooking and flower arranging demonstrations, movies on an inflatable outdoor screen, cocktail bars, and even the chance to have your hair and makeup done at Garnier World. Add the Floriade Nightfest market which offered up arts and crafts, candles, soap, clothing and a heap of interesting food stalls into the mix and the event really lived up to it's theme 'A feast for the senses.' 

Night market, Floriade Nightfest Canberra

Floral display, Floriade Nightfest, Canberra

Floriade and Floriade Nightfest are located within Commonwealth Park Park off Commonwealth Avenue and Parkes Way, Canberra. There are free shuttle buses from the Canberra CBD or it is an easy five minute walk from the city centre. Floriade runs annually from mid-September. (Remember to rug up because the Canberra nights at this time of year can still dip below freezing...brrr!)

Floriade Nightfest, Canberra

Lanterns, Floriade Nightfest

Useful Links:

Floriade Official site

Blu Ginger Indian Cuisine, Canberra City

Blu Ginger, Canberra

The Style: When you walk into Blu Ginger, it is hard to miss the huge patterned wall which is pretty spectacular. The restaurant has super-high ceilings held up by concrete pillars. The more plain wall is also pretty spectacular with a huge orange lotus design. The night I visited, there were also beautiful flowers on the front counter - the whole place screamed modern, fresh and fun.

Lamb Rogan Josh, Blu Ginger, Canberra

Vegetable Korma, Blu Ginger, Canberra

The taste: The menu at Blu Ginger is relatively small compared to some Indian restaurants I have been to but I think that is a good thing - better to have less dishes done beautifully than many which fail. The menu has all of the classics - butter chicken, vindaloo, rogan josh and korma. There is also a decent vegetarian selection, some seafood and if you are feeling just a little bit adventurous, a goat curry. 


Every single thing I ate here was absolutely delicious. Just thinking about the tender, tasty lamb is making my mouth water right now!

Garlic Naan, Blu GInger, Canberra

Rice, Blu Ginger, Canberra

The service: The wait-staff at Blu Ginger had that strange quality of being almost invisible. They managed to take our order quickly and politely and get the food out in good time but they did it in such an unobtrusive way that I barely noticed them. (I think that is a compliment?)

Blu Ginger, Canberra

The crowd: Even on the chilly mid-week night when I visited, Blu Ginger was still pumping. There were a few parties as well as a really diverse mix of people packing the tables - people finishing work, couples and families were all there and all looking pretty pleased with their meals.


The price: Entrees at Blu Ginger range from $6.90 - $24.90(this end of the price scale includes platters). Mains range from $12.90 - 21.90 and side dishes are from $3-$4.


The Location: Blu Ginger Indian Cuisine is located at 5 Genge Street, Canberra City.


Useful links:
Blu Ginger

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

The Style: Shogun Teppanyaki is decked out in all things Japanese - think of all the Japanese cliches you can, scale it back a bit and add a pinch of style - that should paint a picture in your mind of Shogun. The restaurant is actually quite a nice place to be - they seem to have pulled it off and in July while I was there, there was a great view of the outdoor ice skating rink which provided some additional entertainment (so long as you like watching people crash in a heap while you eat!).

Agedashi Tofu, Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Pork in ginger sauce, Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

The Taste: The food at Shogun Teppanyaki is not going to win a gold medal for the best Japanese food you have ever tasted but it is also far from the worst. The menu has a decent selection of dishes with all the Japanese favourites like sushi, sashimi and teriyaki making the list. I ordered a pork dish which had a nice but mildly bland flavour. The salad was a little odd, basically just lettuce leaves in a sweetish dressing. It didn't do a lot to add a fresh element to the dish because it too was a little bland. The sushi was fresh, tasty and looked fantastic. Overall, the food certainly wouldn't blow your socks off but it was mildly pleasant and nothing to complain about.

Salad, Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

The crowd: There was a mix of couples and families at Shogun Teppanyaki - the families seemed to be enjoying the fun of catching food thrown by the teppanyaki chef - there were a few groups opting for this and all seemed to be really enjoying the show. 

The price: The meals here are reasonably priced with mains in the $15 - $25 bracket and the portions are generous. I guess Shogun Teppanyaki is a classic case of 'you get what you pay for.' If you want a pleasant but not spectacular meal that wont break the bank, this is the place. If you want a really delicate, fresh Japanese meal, try somewhere else.

The Location: Shogun Teppanyaki is located upstairs in the Garema Centre off Bunda Street (number 70), Canberra. 

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Lerida Estate Vineyard and Cellar Door, Lake George

Lerida Estate Vineyard, Lake George, NSW

Lerida Estate (pronounced Le-ruh-duh) is located on the banks of Lake George and the vineyard which hugs the hills looks picture perfect, even with the vines barren and bare for winter. The distinctive Glenn Marcutt designed building which houses the Lerida Estate cellar door and cafe is hard to miss and adds a touch of flair to the whole operation.

Lerida Estate Cellar Door

Wine tasting, Lerida Estate, Lake George

A crackling fire made the cellar door experience a that bit more pleasant on the cold, wintry day I visited on. Lerida Estate has a few wines which have gained attention of the good kind with many gold medals and some wines cracking the Australian top-100 wines list. Lerida Estate offers several varieties of cool-climate wine with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot and Voignier all planted and harvested on-site.

Lerida Estate, Lake George, NSW

Lerida Estate offers tours and tastings and both were conducted in a relaxed way with information being offered on a level that was useful but not so technical as to be boring. There were suggestions on which flavours and aromas each wine offered and also an sheet which outlined suggestions for food pairings which I found to be quite useful.


If you visit on the weekend, Cafe Lerida dishes up hearty food which can be paired with wines either by the glass or bottle. The cafe offers both breakfasts and lunches and the menu also has suggestions for pairing your wine to get the most out of the experience. For a full menu, click here.

Beef and red wine pie, Cafe Lerida

During the month of August, Lerida Estate is also hosting events for the Fireside Festival including truffles on the menu and wine master classes.


Lerida Estate's Cellar Door is open 10am - 5pm seven days a week with the exception of Good Friday and Christmas Day. Cafe Lerida is open Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Lerida is an easy drive from Canberra and is located just off the Federal Highway in Lake George, New South Wales.


Useful links:


Lerida Estate


Fireside Festival


2012 Weereewa Lake George Festival 

The Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Style: The Chairman and Yip mixes lush drapes of fabric with paintings, floral displays and mercifully comfortable chairs to create an atmosphere you just want to stay in. For a restaurant with such a reputation, there is nothing pompous about the Chairman and Yip.

The Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Taste: Lunch at the Chairman and Yip is a banquet only menu. There are two to choose from with six courses for $45 or eight for $59. The first three items were entree-style offerings, the remaining three were mains served with fluffy steamed rice. The duck pancake which was the first item to role out was absolutely delicious and set a high standard. There was a great mix of food with duck, chicken, ocean trout, chicken and beef dishes all included on the menu.

Roasted duck pancake with shiitake mushroom, The Chairman and Yip

Grilled field mushroom with cashew and herb pesto, the Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Chairman and Yip's food is so far removed from the oily, fluorescent coloured mush which so many Chinese restaurants sadly dish up in this part of the world. The meats and vegetables were cooked to perfection in all of their natural glory - nothing processed, nothing canned and nothing coated in thick, bland sauces. The flavours were rich and tasty, some with a fresh zing, others with a peppery bite but all yummy.

Kurobuta pork cake with red wine vinaigrette, the Chairman and Yip, Canberra

Sesame crusted ocean trout with cinnamon infused soy, the Chairman and Yip, Canberra

Slow cooked wagyu beef in pombal sauce, the Chairman and Yip, Canberra

The Service: Having arrived without a booking and seeing how busy the place was, I thought we might be turned away. The staff did some quick reshuffling of furniture and managed to squeeze us in. Our order was taken quickly and the first three courses came out in (very) quick succession. I was still eating my pancake when a mushroom was popped onto my plate next to it. There was a break of about thirty minutes between the first three courses and the last which meant the whole meal stretched over nearly two hours. That said, it was two hours well spent.


The Crowd: The Chairman and Yip was packed. There were suits, romantic couples and shoppers taking time out.


The price: The lunch menu is made up of banquets at either $45 or $59 depending on your choice. For full menus, go to the Chairman and Yip's website here.

The Chairman and Yip, Canberra