A roaring fire and a pint of beer at the OCI is a perfect way to enjoy Canberra’s colder weather. Photo: Old Canberra Inn Instagram.
Ask just about any restauranteur in Canberra about the toughest time of year and they’ll tell you winter in Canberra is hard. Public servants are saving their pennies (and their flex hours) for a holiday somewhere sunny, and the rest of us are filling the cracks in our leaky old houses and getting out the electric blanket.
While it’s tempting to spend the cooler months huddled under the doona, I’d encourage you to pull on your long johns and shake out your best winter coat because Canberra dining (already exceptional) gets even better in the colder months, and it’s worth getting out of the house and experiencing the culinary delights of this cool climate region.
Autumn leaves form a lovely backdrop for a trip to Canberra wineries. Photo: Brindabella Hills Winery Instagram.
Autumn is the time when the wineries around us start releasing their new vintage wines. The previous year’s harvest has been carefully aging in barrels and is ready to be bottled and sold. Thanks to our thriving local wine region, there are plenty of opportunities to taste your way through these new releases. And because many of our winemakers run boutique operations, there are limited opportunities to get your hands on some of their best wines. Local vineyards are also at their most photogenic during the autumn flush of colour – perfect for a cheeky cellar door road trip out to Hall, Murrumbatemen, Lake George, Collector or the Hilltops region.
Thanks to the climate of our region (which closely mirrors that of Europe) Canberra is in a position to grow an amazing range of cool climate produce.
Brassicas, winter greens and root vegetables become sweeter after exposure to frosts, which also ripen that exquisite delicacy – truffles! We’re so fortunate to have truffles growing right on our doorstep in Canberra, with a growing number of trufferies popping up around the region.
Plenty of Canberra restaurants show off truffles with special menus, and events like the Winter Truffle Festival are a great way to celebrate this unique black fungi.
The winter solstice is the traditional launch for truffle season. Photo: Truffle Festival.
Overcoming the mental barrier of leaving the house on a cold night can be a challenge, but the rewards are so heart (and body) warming. Canberra does cosy very well indeed; just imagine yourself sinking into the couch with a pint next to a roaring fireplace at the Old Canberra Inn, The George Harcourt or Rose Cottage.
And the bold shiraz our region is so well known for makes the perfect pair to a hearty winter dish – take your pick of Canberra’s finest Italian restaurants for a rich ragu or pumpkin risotto.
Winter vegetables can sometimes be misunderstood – swedes, turnips, broccoli and kale don’t always inspire the home cook. But chefs are masters of turning an unloved vegetable into a culinary revelation. Just think of the humble Brussels sprout, for many years overcooked and bitter but now a go-to side dish with bacon and breadcrumbs. What other inspirations await you on menus around the region?
Restaurants in Canberra are struggling. I talk to people in the industry every week who tell me that there are simply fewer people dining out, and it’s harder than ever to do business. So instead of huddling by your heater at home wishing for spring, head out for a meal, enjoy the gifts of winter and help a local business stay in business for another season.
What’s your favourite Canberra venue during winter?
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.
