Luncheon in the Leaves celebrates the colours of autumn and the taste of the season

Truffles may be the crop of choice at Beltana Farm, but there’s plenty to enjoy at this Pialligo truffiere during any season of the year. A long lunch event among the golden leaves of the truffle farm aims to showcase the flavours of autumn.

James Souter from Beltana Farm Dining says he wants to run regular events to give more reasons for people to come out to the farm regularly.

“Autumn is my favourite season, and I think a lot of Canberrans agree,” he told Region.

“It’s such a beautiful spot, and you get those sunny afternoons without too much wind and you don’t have to be concerned about the summer sun. In six to eight weeks we’ll be running truffle hunts during those frosty cold mornings, but for now the truffles are growing right underneath your feet!”

This event, to be held on 5 April, will be called Luncheon in the Leaves and will feature a gorgeously styled long table among the trees in all their autumn glory. Truffles grow best under oak and hazelnut trees, which put on a fabulous display of colours as the weather turns.

The menu will follow the same pattern as Beltana Farm’s Unearthed tasting menu: shared starters and mains with individual desserts. The menu is yet to be finalised, but will feature seasonal produce cooked on barbecues.

“We’ll tweak and jazz up the Unearthed menu for the event, and there’s that element of live cooking with the barbecues as well. While it will be long table style, you’ll just be sharing food with your own group. Sometimes the pitfall of a shared lunch among strangers is a bit of awkward courtesy, so we’ll aim to avoid that, while still allowing for conversation.”

Guests can order their own beverages from Beltana Farm’s extensive bar, rather than being locked into a drinks package, so they can tailor the experience as they choose.

Beltana Farm’s menus have always emphasised the joy of sharing food among friends and family, and a Luncheon in the Leaves gives Canberrans a chance to do so in the surrounds of farmland just a stone’s throw from the city.

In the event of inclement weather, the party will be moved to the undercover terrace. But the team is keen to make the best use of their outdoor space, even during the colder months.

“Restaurants are all well and good, but there’s just something lovely about being outdoors, even in winter. Canberrans know how to dress for the weather – we still go to the footy or the markets in winter – so we’re going to encourage people outdoors and really take advantage of the farm.”

Later in the year the team will be launching events for truffle season, including twilight truffle hunts, more long lunches and some cooking demos from their team of chefs to show guests how to make the best use of truffle at home.

Beltana Farm is located at 14A Beltana Road, Pialligo. Book now for Luncheon under the Leaves, starting at 12 noon on 5 April, and follow Beltana Farm on Facebook or Instagram to hear about more events.

Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Riotact.