What not to miss at Canberra Good Food Month

Posted on 14 January, 2019

When Canberra is still picking up its pace from the Christmas period, it’s easy to forget that March is just around the corner.

But Canberra’s biggest month when it comes to food, entertainment and art will be here before we know it and now we’ve been given a taste of what to expect in 2019, with the line up for Canberra Good Food Month just announced.

A collaboration between esteemed Australia chefs and Canberra’s most unique dining venues, Good Food Month brings truly world-class events to Canberra.

“This year’s program celebrates some of the incredible influences that have made the Australia culinary landscape what it is today and continue to inspire its evolution, from cooking with fire to Cantonese classics,” says Venessa Cowell, Director of Food Events, Fairfax Events and Entertainment. “We are also incredibly proud to shine a light on the young rising talent fuelling our nation’s capital and shaping its exciting culinary future.”

This year, Canberra foodies’ can expect big names in Australian fine dining, atmospheric experiences and, as always, delicious noodles.

The program will kick off with the ever-popular Night Noodle Markets at Reconciliation Place on 1 March which will coincide with Enlighten 2019.

Forward planners are even able to sneak a peek at some of the vendors already locked in, with Hoy Pinoy, Chur Burger, Churken, Shallot Thai, Mr Bao, Bangkok Street Food, What the Pho, Bao Brothers, May’s Malaysian Hawker, Twistto, Flying Noodles, Little Kyoto, Waffleland, Wok Master, Satay Brothers and Donburi Station all making an appearance. Keep an eye out for further details and announcements in February.

So what else should you pop into the diary? Here are three not to miss.

Adam Liaw’s Chinese-Australian Food Odyssey

Much like in his role hosting Destination Flavour, Adam Liaw will take food-lovers on an edible history through the past, present and future of Chinese food in Australia with Kwok Keung Tung, head chef at Michelin-starred restaurant, Chairman Hong Kong.

Chairman was recently awarded the ‘Highest Climber Award’ and is now sitting at number 22 in Asia’s Best Restaurants of 2018. Together, Liaw and Tung will explore Chinese cuisine through six-courses with matched wines at 20-year old Canberra institution, Chairman & Yip, that reimagine classic dishes such as Billy Kee Chicken and fried ice-cream, as well as discovering bold new directions for modern Chinese Australian food.

Chairman & Yip | Friday 15 March, 6.30-10.30pm | Tickets $190, includes a six-course dinner with matched wines

Fire at Dusk with Lennox Hastie and James Viles

James Viles

Dynamic duo Lennox Hastie (Firedoor) and James Viles (Biota Dining) will turn up the heat for a sizzling four-course menu cooked over fire at Pialligo Estate.

Hastie honed his wood-fired grilling craft over the asado open fire-pit at the Asador Etxebarri (number six on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants), before opening Australia’s only fully-wood fuelled restaurant.

Lennox Hastie

Viles’ award-winning two-hatted Biota Dining restaurant is currently ranked 46 in Australia’s Top Restaurants.

Pialligo Estate | Saturday 9 March from 6.30 pm-10 pm | Tickets $160, includes a four-course dinner with matched wines, served with an arrival canape and cocktail

Young Chefs Lunch presented by Citi

Three of the hottest rising chefs from Canberra’s top restaurants will take over the kitchen at Aubergine under the guidance of head chef and owner, Ben Willis.

Lending his expertise to the latest alumni of talented chefs, the four talented young chefs will plate up their very best culinary creations for an impressive four-course lunch with matched wines in the stunning surrounds of the two-hatted Aubergine restaurant.

Aubergine | Sunday 17 March from 12.30 pm-3 pm | Tickets $150, includes a four-course lunch with matched wines

2019 will also welcome the return of Friends of Good Food Month (1-31 March across Canberra), which sees Canberra’s friends of culinary excellence curate their own special and truly memorable occasions, and Let’s Do Lunch, with Good Food Guide hatted Canberra restaurants offering a unique fine dining experience for just $45. Registrations for restaurants keen to take part are open until 29 January, with the full list of participating restaurants announced in February.

Tickets on sale now from www.goodfoodmonth.com.