Temporada menu gets exciting new shakeup

For owner Dave Young - he bought the restaurant off Ben Willis in January - "what a year to finally buy it," he laughs - the year has given him plenty of time to reflect what he wants the restaurant to be. Temporada opened in 2014 and a few people questioned the Moore Street location, but Young is a firm believer that the location works in their favour.

"We're not part of everything else over in Braddon," he says. "We're close but we're not sandwiched in like everyone else. It still feels like a destination."

Temporada shifted gears during lockdown and offered some of their menu for takeaway. They also stopped serving breakfast, and that's something Young hasn't brought back now things are settling in to the new normal.

He has however, decided to start doing lunches again, offering lunch classics such as steak and fries, roast spatchcock with coleslaw and the popular cheeseburger with Pialligo bacon, zucchini pickles and onion rings.

At night he's only offering set menus, a $70 menu Tuesday to Thursday and a $90 version on the weekend. The $90 version offers 10 courses, from Sydney rock oysters to a jaffa mousse with mandarin, thyme and pistachio nougatine.

"Staying with the set menu has been confronting for a lot of people," he says, "but more and more people are enjoying the idea of just being fed, being able to have a drink and then just be fed."

Like many in the hospitality industry, Young said the year has allowed him time to think about the business.

"It's allowed us time to think about what we do and how we can do it better," he says.

Having a new shopfront and some new features in the restaurant has made us feel like there's been a repositioning, from out of the cafe/restaurant into a full restaurant."

One of those features is a stunning artwork by former chef Brian McAllister. It's a David Hockney inspired artwork, compiled of many different photographs of the kitchen. Full of movement and detail, it stretches across the back wall, pots and pans and cookbooks and staff, caught in a moment of time, still, but at the same time energised.

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"We loved the idea that it brought the kitchen out into the restaurant," Young said.

Another venture Young and the team are working on is Tempo Catering, where they'll bring the philosophy of the restaurant to your function, from intimate dinners at home with friends, to corporate events, to weddings.

"Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we'll tailor the event to suit each client," he says, adding he has had some experience in catering before.

"We're not going to the caterers that give you sandwiches and coffee in an urn for your conference; I hate the word bespoke but we'll approach each event individually."

The Australian Women in Wine Awards are being held on November 24 and while COVID restrictions mean the event will be live-streamed, here in Canberra you can head to QT Canberra for a viewing party.

Unfortunately no one from the Canberra region wine-making community has made it to the finals this year but the good news is former winners Sarah McDougall from Lake George Winery and Sarah Collingwood from Four Winds Vineyard will be showcasing their wines.

There will also be wines from last year's winemaker of the year Vanya Cullen and Jeeper Champagne on arrival and canapes throughout the night.

Comedian Merrick Watts will be hosting the national stream. Watts MC's the popular Grapes of Mirth events and also co-writes Delicious Magazine's column The Critic and The Comic with Mike Bennie.

Tickets to the Canberra event are $85 (plus booking fee) and there will only be 50 available so get in quick.