Kingsleys

Address: North Quarter, Canberra Centre Bunda St, Civic ACT

Tel: 1300 546 475 (1300 Kingsleys)

A premium steakhouse with outlets across Australia.

I’ve always been a steak skeptic, this didn’t fail too dismally but I do feel they are still overpriced without offering much in terms of a foodgasm.

Bread is offered complimentary.

Entrée:

Singapore Chilli Prawns (pictured below) – had a very strong ginger & garlic taste, but perhaps that is how they are served ‘Singaporean’ style.

Salt & Pepper Squid – a cajun spice kick, tinge of coconut flavour, served with dipping sauce. Quite liked this one on its own without the dipping sauce which was overpowering on the subtle natural flavours.

Main:

Minute Wagyu Steak – flattened (almost mince) steak with the signature ‘marbled’ consistency that is wagyu, served with garlic butter. Probably one of the more adventurous dishes on the Kingsley’s menu which worked quite well. Pictured below with soft shell crab.

Drink: Verjuice – non-alcoholic ‘red wine’. Had a slight spice to it, very refreshing fruity drink with a sophisticated modesty. Would definitely return for this.

Kushi North & South Indian Restaurant

Address: Style Arcade (Upstairs), Franklin St, Manuka ACT 2603
Tel: (02) 6295 7122

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday, Lunch 12pm - 2pm, Dinner 6pm - 10pm

Entree:

Masala Dosai (pictured below) - Rice and lentil crepe stuffed with spiced potaoes

Tandoori fish (pictured below) – soggy, fishy tasting (fish might not have been all that fresh) serving too large

Chicken Tikka Masala - Tandoori chicken pieces cooked in tasty thick gravy & Tossed with diced onions, tomatoes (pictured below)

It was a very typical Indian meal, hearty & heavy and literally put you to sleep afterwards. A bit disappointed in the tandoori fish, but understandably its something very easy to muck up. Everything else was fine though - just aim for the fully cooked dishes.

Pie Face

Address: Various locations throughout Australia

Website: www.pieface.com.au

Just a brief one about Pie Face – they have plenty of outlets around but they are quite useful for a quick hunger fix, especially their mini pies if you want to sample more than one flavour.

On this occasion I had the chunky beef, chicken & mushroom, thai chicken curry flavours – can always rely on Pie Face to deliver a gourmet pie, nothing too fancy but nothing anything near as seedy as those servo meat pies.

All Things Chocolate

Address: Shop 19 Cusack Centre, Eyre St, Kingston ACT 2604
Tel: (02) 6162 0881

Website: www.allthingschocolate.biz

This is a carefully tucked-away little café in the old-world part of Kingston. The atmosphere is friendly, warm & homely.

Being sat down & greeted with water is always a comforting motion in a Chocolate Café. It is a warning that whatever happens next, it will be ok because you have this glass of water to wash it down with so you will not get chocolate poisoning.

Highly recommended is the hot chocolate drink here – creamy, fluffy, heavenly sweet (but not as sweet as Max Brennar) and very reminiscent of being safe & warm in the midst of the cold winter’s day. (Pictured above - milk hot chocolate, pictured below white hot chocolate).

I also ordered the Gluten Free Chocolate cake (pictured below) which is a smoother, lighter version of mud cake. Served with a thick raspberry coulis & cream – this is the cake I’ve been mistaking in my mind for the overrated one eaten at Jaz Bar.

Also recommended is the chocolate brownie which is also served with raspberry coulis.

A great escape from over-priced & over-commercialisation.

Tutta Bella (Wood fired Pizza)

Address: 74 Bridge St, Benalla VIC
Tel: (03) 5762 5777

Recommended: Proscuitto Pizza - interesting texture & combination of flavours - salty, bitter and savoury.

Au Lac Gourmet Vegetarian Restaurant (Vietnamese)

Address: Shop 4/39 Woolley St, Dickson ACT 2602
Tel: (02) 6262 89922

Open 7 days: Lunch - Tue to Sun 11:30am-2:30pm, Dinner - Mon to Sun 5:30pm-10:30pm

A mix of Entrée & Main:

BBQ soy meat – able to emulate the toughness of meat, served here with satay sauce

Soy chicken drumstick – an aromatic wad of fake meat served on a stick of lemongrass (the ‘bone’ of the drumstick), sweet chilli brings out soy sweetness

Fried soy fish with spicy salt & chilli – salty, with a layer of seaweed (kind of looks like deep fried eggplant from afar) with a fishy taste. This was actually my favourite – it is very different, savoury dish with interesting flavours.

Crab meat pate – crab flavour & aroma present, also emulates an egg-like texture (not quite a spread)

Roast soy duck – crispy skin with a smokier flavour than the real deal served with a sweet plum sauce

Wonton soup – tastes like pork, but I didn’t personally enjoy the extremity of the chives they used in the dumpling.

It was a nice meal – evidently don’t get too carried away with ordering like I clearly did, but the entrees are quite small. I would come back here for novelty’s sake, or just if I want to eat lots without feeling like a carnivorous barbarian.

Also check out the vegetarian pate they import from Europe – great on crackers, and I actually prefer it to the real stuff!