Have to love our multicultural nation ... more reasons to celebrate.
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Always one of their most popular events of the year, the Narrabundah restaurant serves up a traditional eight-course meal, with a distinctive Australian twist. The first seating on January 28 will include a lion dancing performance to celebrate the arrival of the New Year in style. At $88 per head and limited seating available, this event is in high demand every year. Book now to secure your spot. A highlight is the yee sang "prosperity" salad, which arrives at the table and is tossed in the air by all. The higher the toss, the better your luck and fortune for the new year. Things might get messy.
Chairman & Yip
Try the delicious banquet at Chairman, $70pp, eight dishes, minimum of four to a table. A highlight is the Lo-Hei Yu Sheng salad platter with slow-cooked ocean trout, fermented radish, kohlrabi, pickled carrot, gailan leaves, finger lime, beetroot and puffed rice. Or the steamed medley of seafood with glass noodles, salted lemon and herbs. Hard to choose. Book early, the special menu only runs from January 21-25.
Lanterne Rooms
Another prosperity salad at Lanterne Rooms, a yee sang ocean trout salad. Toss it high. And then sampe the rest of the banquet menu, highlights include tom yum infused prawns with rockmelon and apple and the classic deep fried whole barramundi, tiga rasa. $75pp, minimum of four.
Natural 9
Natural Nine at the Canberra Casino is celebrating with a nine-course Lunar New Year banquet. Think steamed edamame with smoked tea salt, prawn toast spring rolls and native currant dipping sauce, magic chilli squid with tom yum mayo, among other things, finished with a Ferrero Rocher steam bun. $52pp. Saturday, January 25, from 5.30-10pm.
Ginseng
The Canberra Prosperous Mountain Lion and Dragon Dancers feature at Ginseng at the Hellenic Club in Woden for a performance on Sunday, February 2. This multi-award winning restaurant offers a vast selection of innovative and fresh Chinese cuisine and the yum cha is to die for. Book for yum cha on 6282 9866.
Madam Lu
The Canberra Singapore Club is hosting an eight-course banquet at Madam Lu restaurant in the City. Sunday, February 2, from 6.30pm. There'll be live music performances consisting of both traditional Chinese and Western classics, plus a best-dressed competition and lucky draw prizes. There'll also be a prosperity toss. For membership enquiries contact info@canberrasgclub.com
Gundaroo Pub
Head chef Bella Jakubiak is serving up an Australia Day buffet full of native ingredients out at the Gundaroo Pub. Think slow roast lamb with Tasmanian mountain pepper, kangaroo sausage rolls, chicken skewers with Vegemite marinade and damper among other things. There'll also be yabbie races, thong throwing contests, a lamington eating competition, classic tunes and singalongs. More importantly, $5 from every lunch buffet purchase goes directly to the WIRES emergency fire relief fund. $44 per adult, $19 for kids under 12.
The Dock
A few of the crew down at The Dock in Kingston have either been affected directly by the horrific fires, or knows someone who has. As a result, they are throwing an Australia Day Fundraising Party on Sunday, January 26, to support the Rural Fire Service and victims of the NSW fires. This will be a ticketed event which will cover all your food and drinks (house beer and wine) from 5pm till 7pm, with all money raised going to the RFS and some victims of the fires. There'll be live music, raffles, auctions and heaps more. Tickets $50 plus booking fee via eventbrite.
Contentious Character
Or head out to Contentious Character Winery for Sunday Sounds. There'll be live music from The Advocates from 4-8pm and the special menu highlighting Australian produce. Desserts include their fun take on Mint Slices, Cherry Ripes and Golden Gaytimes. Tickets $15pp with all proceeds going to the Wamboin Rural Fire Brigade. The specials menu, a snack menu and drinks will be available to purchase.
... And welcome back
You might notice some changes to The Canberra Times' food liftout. A new masthead, some changes here and there, but we're still about good food ... and wine, and producers, and passionate chefs. We're going to do our best to promote the Canberra district in 2020. If there's one thing this disastrous summer has taught us it's we should pay more attention to where our food comes from, who is making it, and the struggles they're going through.