Mavi Gelati’s at the Hellenic Club serves mastika gelato. Photos: Michelle Kroll.
Next time you’re yearning for a European holiday but can’t afford the airfares, why not take a trip around Canberra’s cultural clubs?
As waves of refugees and migrants arrived in Australia from Europe, many settled in Canberra and quickly developed clubs to celebrate their culture and establish communities in their new home.
These days, the clubs are open to all and provide meeting places, fundraise for charities and serve delicious foods. Here’s a few of our favourites.
Hellenic Club, Woden
The is undoubtedly the largest of Canberra’s cultural clubs. With multiple dining options, bars and function rooms there’s a lot of diversity that goes well beyond the Greek origins of the club to include the whole community.
Ginseng Chinese restaurant has been a long-time favourite and there are bistro options for classic club dining. Elevated Greek restaurant Kivotos moved in last year serving beautiful dishes like Athenian prawn saganaki, paidakia (oregano-basted lamb chop) and loukamades doughnuts. Ela cafe also serves Greek sweets during the day.
Another newcomer to the Hellenic Club is Mavi Gelato Bar which serves uniquely Greek flavours like Mastika and baklava gelati.
Polish Club president Eva Buchaniec shows off some Polish delicacies. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
White Eagle Polish Club, Turner
Since the previous restaurant operators left in 2022, the Polish Club committee has stepped up to fill the void and keep the pierogies rolling. The result is a little less bistro, a little more Grandma’s kitchen, but there’s no denying the authenticity. Choose between meat, cabbage and mushroom, or cheesy potato pierogies or go for something heartier like the Polish Goulash: spicy beef with gnocchi.
If you’re lucky there will be some pillowy soft jam paczki doughnuts left to finish your meal. The club imports an impressive range of Central and Eastern European beers as well as a range of fine vodkas.
The club is also a popular live music venue with Live at the Polo running gigs multiple times a week featuring Canberra bands and touring acts. The club has been proudly pokies-free since 2007 and its building – Nicholas Copernicus House – was designed by world-renowned architect Dr Enrico Taglietti (one for the architecture buffs).
The club hosts a fortnightly market which sells Polish-style small goods and smoked meats, deli products and freshly baked treats.
The famous pork knuckle of Knuckles Restaurant. Photo: Ben Appleton, Photox.
Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah
Knuckles Restaurant at the Harmonie German Club is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
The menu has remained largely unchanged, with German classics like pork knuckle, schnitzels, sausage plates and spaetzle (a German pasta dish).
Its Oktoberfest has become a hugely popular annual festival and the club is well loved for its range of imported German bier and schnapps. Think malty Dunkel beers, wheaty Hefeweizen pints, and everything from traditional apple to tropical mango schnapps.
The schnitzel at ‘The Iro’ is legit – best paired with a night of trivia. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Irish Club, Weston Creek
I hate to perpetuate a stereotype but Molly Bloom’s Bistro at the Irish Club makes great potatoes. A serve of wedges could feed an army, the mash (a la Irish bangers and mash) is creamy, fluffy and without lumps and the chippies are top notch too.
But beyond that, the menu features classics like beef and Guinness pie (served with peas, of course) and McDonnell’s Irish Lamb Curry – lamb and chunky root vegetables in creamy Irish curry sauce served with a garlic buttered baguette.
However, the bistro classics like schnitzel or fish and chips are also worth ordering – it’s bistro food done right! It’s also somewhere you can guarantee the Guinness will be poured properly and you can finish your meal with a proper Irish coffee.
The club’s trivia night is popular and it also hosts Irish music sessions on the last Sunday of the month
Chinese dishes are among the most popular offerings in the Star Buffet. Photo: Michelle Rowe.
Burns Club, Kambah
I’m told the star buffet at the Burns Club is one of the hottest tickets in town and half of Kambah turns out for a feed.
I must admit that I haven’t visited the club yet but its popular meat tray raffles and Scottish events like Burns night and Hogmanay dinners (complete with whisky tastings) are all a good reason to make the trip. I’ve always wanted to see someone read Address to a Haggis at a Burns night dinner!
Not to mention the fact that the Burns Club – run by Canberra Highland Society – is Canberra’s first and longest serving club. Established in 1924, the club moved into its current Kambah premises in 1991.
The Australian Croatian Club occasionally cooks spit roasted pork for special occasions and festivals. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Croatian Clubs, Deakin and Turner
Canberra boasts two Croatian clubs: the Croatia Deakin Soccer Club and Australian Croatian Club in Turner. Both have bistros offering Croatian classics like Cevapi (skinless sausages), Raznjici (pork skewers) and barbecued seafood.
The Australian Croatian Club also has several food trucks outside its venue serving Korean fried chicken, Italian pizza and Mexican taquitos (crispy rolled tacos) so there’s a real opportunity for a feast around the world.
The Spanish Club runs occasional events serving paella and the Alliance Francaise in Turner also runs events and markets.
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.
