My friends and I booked into Beltana Farm, the newest restaurant open in Pialligo. No it doesn’t replace the former Pialligo Estate, it’s at a completely different address. I don’t even remember what was here before this place. I’m a bit worried about parking as I drive in as I know there are roadworks along Beltana Farm. Luckily, there’s a big carpark on the premises just inside the gate. Walk past the bookable yurts and cottages (staycation anyone?), and you’ll find the big restaurant building at the very end. There is a tasting menu ($110 per person) and the a la carte menu. Drinks wise, I ..read more

As 2023 is coming to an end, I’m going through my Top 10 favourite eats of the year. In no particular order: Louis So highly impressed with the offerings at European bistro Louis in Barton, I’ve actually been back two more times. The chicken liver parfait, capsicum panisse, calamari with grapefruit salad, chicken ballotine, and trifle with mandarin and white chocolate are amazing. Louis also offers a 2 or 3 course set menu lunch which I’ve taken advantage of. I’ve never been disappointed here, they are happy to do up a mocktail, and it’s just lovely sitting in the outdoor courtyard. View thi ..read more

What better occasion than a birthday to dine in at Pilot? The 7-course degustation menu is $140 per person, and we all opt for the non-alcoholic drink pairing, an additional $55 each. Seating just 30 people, the restaurant is laid back and casual with an open kitchen and bar. We start off with a cold-brewed Welcome Tea and receive a packet of this loose leaf tea at the end of the night as a parting gift. Course 1 – the Watermelon Mary – is a compressed watermelon in a celery, watermelon and spring onion broth, topped with salmon roe. This is served cold, and is quite a unique taste – sweet yet ..read more

We checked out the new Louis Bar in Barton on a Saturday night with friends (secured a babysitter woot woot). Headed up by chef Ben Willis (of Aubergine fame) I can’t help but have high expectations. Happy to say it does not disappoint. I’m glad to see more and more places having a dedicated non-alcoholic menu that doesn’t just list Coca-cola. I see four options including an Altina Pepperberry Shiraz. I ask our waiter if they do other mocktails, and yes they do. ‘What do you like?’ he asks. I prefer something fruity and he goes off with my preference to the bar. I’m given a pineapple and citru ..read more

I’ve been meaning to go to Corella Bar in Braddon for what feels like ages. Opening hours don’t seem to fit my schedule with work and a toddler in tow. So I am very excited when my friend has her birthday dinner there and I have the night off. Corella Bar’s indoor space is small, probably fitting about 30 people maximum. There are clothing hooks by the front door where I can hang my winter jacket. There’s dim mood lighting and the place soon fills up with more people than I expected for a Thursday evening. Our waitress tells us we can order the set menu ($95 per person) or try the a la carte ..read more

A friend and I caught up for lunch in the city and tried the Inka express lunch for $50 consisting of four courses. Our water preference is noted and brought out, and soy sauce dishes filled. Course 1 and 2 are the chef’s selection of sashimi (three pieces) and a maki roll to share. We are surprised with salmon, kingfish and scallop sashimi – all divine and melts in my mouth. The maki roll is salmon and avocado, topped with an amazing spicy bell-pepper-ish sauce on top. It’s different enough that it sets it apart from a regular salmon and avo roll (my usual lunch-time takeaway healthy go-to ..read more

Some months ago, Mr FPJ and I had a lovely dinner banquet at Chairman & Yip. The dinner included sushi from a new sushi chef which we thought was a little odd given we were in a Chinese restaurant. Our waiter informed us that the Chairman Group were opening up a new Japanese restaurant in Canberra and the sushi chef would be working there. Well, Mu Omakase by the Chairman Group has now opened at the new Constitution Place precinct. Omakase means everything is left up to the chef so you won’t know what you’re eating until you get there. Mu Omakase is a 12-seater restaurant (where the seats ..read more

It was exciting news when the Boat House decided to open its doors for lunch services from Friday to Sunday. A prix fixe lunch menu is offered and diners can choose from either 2 or 3 course options. The best part – not everyone at the table has to have the same number of courses. I booked myself in on a Friday off work. Mr FPJ decided to join me so I amended the booking to two people. We had a table by the window overlooking Lake Burley Griffin with the Kingston Foreshore on the far side. It was a lovely day with blue skies. Our waiter informed us about the course options and asked if we had ..read more

I quickly put together my best eats of 2021. The categories are: Best cheap eat Best expensive eat Best brunch Best lockdown eat Best lockdown eat (fine dining) Best home bakery dessert Best Cheap Eat – Kebab at Turkish Halal Pide House Yarralumla We rediscovered the famous Turkish food in Yarralumla after we realised it had been years since we last visited. These kebabs are amazing – the wrap itself is soft and fluffy, it’s loaded with plenty of fillings, and my last one weighed nearly 1kg at 908 grams. Yes I weighed it! It’s enough to share between two making it great value for money and i ..read more

Mr FPJ and I had a staycation at Hotel Realm and booked in to the Chairman & Yip across the road for dinner. We were shown to our table and menus and water provided. There is a choice of 2 banquets – 6 courses or 8 courses and we went for the latter at $88 per person. We had made our reservation online and I wrote in my pregnancy dietary requirements in the notes field so that the restaurant could prepare. Our waiter informed us that the non-pregnancy friendly dishes would be swapped out with mainly vegetarian dishes which is fine with me. Course 1 – sushi trio with yellowfin tuna, seafood ..read more