Five ways to get a bit of Canberra on your plate
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Canberra isn’t well known as a food bowl, but you may be surprised at the riches of regional produce just waiting to be discovered.
From smallgoods to wine and even truffles, here’s how to taste the region.
PIALLIGO ESTATE
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Imagine a little slice of the countryside—lush green swathes of lawn lined with lavender, olive groves and orchards—just 10 minutes from the CBD. This is Pialligo Estate—a sensational food and wine destination nestled on the banks of the Molonglo River. The sprawling property just begs to be explored, incorporating restaurants, dining pavilions, vineyard, academy, market garden and an award-winning smokehouse. The food here embraces the Estate’s paddock-to-plate ethos—fresh seasonal produce is simply prepared, showcasing regional flavours with minimal fanfare. Think entrée of Figs From The Garden, Duck Ham & Hazelnut, or a main of Jack’s Creek Flank Steak, Corn, Smoked Beef Fat Onions or Roast Pumpkin, Lentils, Smoked Cashew Cream & Sage.
The real showstopper, however, is the Estate’s signature dish, their Smokehouse Charcuterie Board. Wooden planks are piled high with house made smoked meats—chicken breast, salmon gravlax, spicy pork and more—and served with farm-style condiments like pickled onions and marinated eggplant. Sit back with a glass of Riesling, Merlot, Shiraz or Sangiovese from Pialligo Estate Vineyard and gaze across Canberra’s skyline to Parliament House and Telstra Tower atop Black Mountain. It’s an experience unlike any other.
PIALLIGO MARKET GROCER
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Initially conceived during the early days of COVID as a drive-through way for Canberrans to enjoy their local food fix, Pialligo Market Grocer proved so popular that it put down permanent roots at The Plot on Beltana Road. Offering gourmet, boutique products from around 60 local and regional producers, as well as products from Pialligo Estate’s award-winning smokehouse and estate gardens, it’s a wonderful way to taste the region (quite literally).
URBAN PROVIDORE
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Urban Providore Food Boutique is a gourmand’s dream—bursting with Australian regional artisan crafted delicious gourmet foods. Sourcing foods from urban, coastal, alpine and highland regions surrounding Canberra, fill your shopping cart with everything from salami to sauces, chocolates and cheeses.
MOUNT MAJURA VINEYARD
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A winery a short Uber ride from the city? Yes please. It’s teeny (just nine hectares in total), but Mount Majura Vineyard punches above its weight when it comes to quality wines. You’ll find familiar varieties like Chardonnay, Shiraz and Riesling here, but also some more exotic offerings such as Graciano, Touriga Nacional and Tempranillo. The cellar door is open seven days—bookings close the day prior, so it pays to plan ahead.
THE TRUFFLE FARM
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Black Périgord truffles are one of the most coveted foods in the world, and Majura just happens to have its own trufferie, The Truffle Farm. During the winter months, you can rug up and join a truffle hunt, seeing the friendly truffle dogs in action and learning how to harvest and handle these little bits of ‘black magic’ before they make their way to market. Want to eat the fruits of your labour? Book in for a truffle hunt and degustation. Best be quick, though, weekend hunts often sell out.
Feature image via facebook.com/PialligoEstate
