The Art of Dining in Canberra

Posted on 17 July, 2019

Love art and food? We’ve got you covered. 

Ahead of the National Gallery of Australia’s Monet Truffle Dinner experience, happening this 20 July as part of the Canberra Region Truffle Festival, we’ve paired some of the Gallery’s most beloved pieces of their permanent collection with their dining equivalents at cafes, restaurants and bars across Canberra.

After working up an appetite exploring the range of artworks spanning the globe and centuries, tuck into a bite inspired by each of the artworks. After all, fine art deserves fine dining.

If there’s two things Canberra does exceptionally well, it’s dining and an appreciation for arts. Combine your love for the finer things in life with an eat-itinerary of the dishes around Canberra (we think) could’ve been inspired by the masterpieces housed at the National Gallery of Australia.

Ned Kelly – Sidney Nolan

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Highroad (@highroad.cbr) on Jun 24, 2019 at 7:07pm PDT

A quintessential Australian artwork needs a quintessential Australian meal to match.

After you’ve had your fill of one of the most predominant Australia painting series of the 20th century, enjoy the most Australian breakfast of them all with an avocado on toast with Vegemite ricotta, courtesy of Highroad.

To the Vegemite sceptics, we highly encourage you to give this one a taste.

Blue Poles – Jackson Pollock

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by enigma fine chocolates (@enigma_chocs) on Jul 4, 2019 at 6:36pm PDT

Contentious at the time, and now interwoven in Australia’s political and artistic heritage, Blue Poles is one of the most frequented artworks at the National Gallery of Australia.

Enigma’s chocolates have recreated this style of art in edible (delicious) form and is available from the Gallery’s gift shop, or pop into Enigma’s chocolaterie in Braddon.

Francesco – Urs Fischer

Urs Fischer, Francesco 2017, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Purchased with the assistance of the Foundation Gala Dinner Fund 2019. © Urs Fischer, courtesy Sadie Coles HQ, London. Photography: Stefan Altenburger.

A huge candle by Swiss-born artist Urs Fischer is lighting up the National Gallery of Australia, as one of 2019’s most recent additions to the permanent collection.

Over several months, the constant heat of candle flame reduces this sculpture to debris to be recast and burnt again. If you’ve got flames on the brain after seeing this work in its resplendent glory, take the 20-minute walk from the Gallery along Lake Burley Griffin to Brodburger in Kingston.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Brodburger (@brodburger) on Jul 13, 2019 at 5:39pm PDT

After their flame-grilled burgers have satisfied your cravings, pop next door to the Canberra Glassworks’ hot shop to see more fiery action at work.

The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descend into the Heavens – Yayoi Kusama

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by eightysix (@eateightysix) on Apr 25, 2018 at 10:27pm PDT

Kusama’s works are known to help transport you to another world, and The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descend into the Heavens is no exception.

This addition to the permanent collection has seen many an Instagrammer ascend on the National Gallery to take part in this immersive installation.

Yayoi Kusama, THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO HEAVENS 2015, Installation view at The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (Museum MACAN) © Yayoi Kusama. Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/ Singapore/ Shanghai. 

Be inspired by the many, many pumpkins you’ll spot inside this infinity room by tucking into eightysix’s pumpkin ravioli.

Unfortunately, eightysix’s truly delightful ravioli aren’t infinite, but you’ll wish they were.

Nymphéas [Waterlilies] – Claude Monet

Claude Monet, Waterlilies [Nymphéas] c. 1914–17
oil on canvas 181 x 201.6 cm. Purchased 1979
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.

Try a Geisha’s Kiss, a delightful concoction of plum wine, sake and a hint of rose. Marvel your dining company with your knowledge that Monet collected Japanese woodblock prints.

Feature: Yayoi Kusama, THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO HEAVENS 2015, Installation view at The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (Museum MACAN) © Yayoi Kusama. Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/ Singapore/ Shanghai.