It’s sad to write this piece because it might be my last one specifically about Canberra for a long time, as I’ve made the move to the ‘big smoke’ of Sydney. But for a last hurrah on HerCanberra (at least writing about Canberra-specific things) here is my Canberra, almost wholly based on food, because that’s the kind of person I am. So here is my Canberra food map of sorts.

Best neighbourhood dining

I recently discovered the joys of Thips Thai in Belconnen and have since been wondering what I was doing with my Thai-intake beforehand. This is a no frills joint which is popular with the lunch crowd during the day but stays open in the evenings during the week only to serve you up delicious take away, or you can eat in house. The curries have that extra authentic kick and it’s definitely the best pad thai I’ve had in Canberra to date, though I realise this may be sacrilege to readers as everyone has their favourite Thai place.

My favourite for a very casual meal out with a group of friends is King Fook in Florey. It’s a no-frills neighbourhood Chinese joint that specialises in bbq duck (see home page image for drool-inducement). I go for the duck banquet, a banquet which is actually now famous for helping to elect Yvette Berry as an MLA campaign (the banquet was the main attraction of a fundraising event). You have to give them at least a day’s notice to prepare the duck, from which you’ll get duck pancakes, duck with noodles or duck sang choy bow and finally duck soup. With a few extra sides and a few bottles of wine, this turns into a feast that will rarely set you back more than $20 a head.

Best lunch

For a fancy lunch, maybe with a visitor or with your mum, I love the cafe at the Beaver Galleries in Deakin. It does excellent quality cafe fare and serves food for an extended lunch period well into the afternoon on the weekends. It’s also a fabulous boutique gallery in a truly lovely spot.

For a more relaxed healthy lunch I love going to My Rainbow Dreams in Dickson for a bite. Their ‘rainbow wrap’ is super delicious for something that contains so many vegetables and vitamins – and their juices and smoothies are unsurpassed in Canberra. It’s also a bit of an oasis within the garish Dickson shops. It’s also great to pick up a quick take away lunch, or one of the many healthy things they sell to take home for dinner (the dahl is definitely a winner).

Favourite place for drinks

While I am loving the fabulous and fancy new joints in town like Playground, I am an Edgar’s girl at heart. This simple pub has all the right moves, from a gorgeous and easily accessible location within the inner north to a decent pub grub menu. The spiced chickpeas are a favourite, as is $10 burger night on Mondays. And if you don’t feel like the usual beer or wine, just ask those bartenders to mix you up a surprise cocktail – they have game. I love nothing better than sitting outside having a cider or beer with friends.

Higher end dining

This is tough. We’re really spoilt for choice with great restaurants which have won awards. For a long time I loved Pulp Kitchen. Then I was all about Italian and Sons. I’ve had amazing means at Aubergine and Ottoman Cuisine. I do have a soft spot for the elegance of the Chairman group (The Chairman & Yip, Lanterne Rooms) and their latest offering Malamay is pretty fabulous too. If I could go to one spot though, it’d probably be The Artisan for its ability to be both simple and innovative at the same time, and for the deference to the coeliacs among us (two words: potato souffle).

Coffee

In no particular order I enjoy ONA coffee in Manuka, Two Before Ten and Lonsdale St Roasters (both digs on Lonsdale Street at their subsidiary at the ANU food coop shop too).

Take away

For those naughty can’t be bothered type occassions, the Braddon Takeaway is a hidden gem of delight behind Fenner Hall on Lowanna Street, Braddon. From excellent Turkish pide to arguably the closest thing Canberra has to Heston Blumenthal’s thrice cooked chips, a hangover has never tasted better. Oh yeah and that random burger joint (Brodburger) by the lake you might have heard about does alright too, if you can stand the queues.

A few other mentions…

Shanghai Dumpling Cafe on Childers Street at ANU deserves a run purely because of the (slightly shameful) frequency of my attendance there. The service is woeful and don’t expect them to actually reserve you a table if you book one, but the food is the closest Canberra has to the dumpling splendour in bigger cities. I have a standard order which isn’t exactly menu based. In addition to the usual dumpling fare, I’d recommend the the fried vegetarian rice cakes (flat disc shaped Shanghai style noodles stir fried with veg) and the spicy eggplant.

Tilley’s deserves a mention almost purely on the basis of its iconic status in Canberra, but also because their Friday night happy hour (everything half price) has gotten me through countless number of work weeks in cosy surrounds.

And I don’t think you can really talk about food in Canberra without referencing Silo Bakery. Yes, it’s heinously crowded as a standard, and yes, the staff are often churlish at best, but it’s the best place for that good old Canberra sport of pollie spotting outside of Parliament, and it’s got the best damned tarts around, health scandal notwithstanding. For incredible pastry and macarons though go to Dream Cuisine.

And on the non-food trail (yes, it turns out I occasionally do things other than eat)….

In my many attempts to find a hairdresser in Canberra I have never had a better cut than with Cindy at Antics in Braddon. It’s pricier than many but it’s top quality stuff that lasts for a long time, and Cindy is super lovely.

Electric Shadows Bookshop is part books, part best dvd rental library in the southern hemisphere. The film collection, both to buy and sell, is unmatched in Canberra. The new ‘electric wall’ of art curated by Helen Maxwell really makes it shine and is a new era in the development of this Canberra stalwart which recently celebrated its 25th birthday.

The newly constructed wetlands in Lyneham and Dickson are my pick for a green space. Whether for a picnic or just a stroll, they are gorgeous neighbourhood spaces that really show Canberra at its best on a perfect sunny day.