A new special on the menu at Red Chilli Cafe… “Lived Abalone”
Certainly good to know they were alive once.
[Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com ]

Help please in settling one of those over dinner memory lapse things.
What was the name if the bar on the corner, a couple of doors down from the Pot Belly? Late 1970s/early 80s.
Thanks

Hi Everyone,
I have a 3 month old baby and am after suggestions on nice restaurants that are pram friendly. I know there are children friendly places that have play rooms and so forth however I’m after restaurants that are ok with prams and have the space to bring a pram through (and wont act like [...]

Mrs C and I tried the Tuesday special 2 for 1 pizza deal at The Duxton at O’Connor Shops last night. She had an El Troppo on gluten free base and I had a Pepperoni on a regular base.
Both bases were very good (especially hard to find for gf) and were thin and crisp, just [...]

Territory and Municipal Services want you to know there’s a new option for Sunday lunch:
Canberra’s newest foodie experience has just opened amongst the picturesque and rural beauty of the Tidbinbilla Valley at Cafe Tidbinbilla, Manager of Operations, National Parks and Catchments, Brett McNamara, said today.
“The new cafe will feature quality cafe style food, locally produced [...]

Word in from the NSW Wine Awards that the Nick O’Leary 2012 Riesling (Canberra District) has won Best Young Riesling.
Congratulations to all concerned.

My husband and I are returning to Canberra after three years away and we’ll be renting in Harrison. I’ve never lived in Gungahlin before and I’m sort of familiar with the town centre but not the rest of the area.
I can’t see any Harrison shops on Google Earth but maybe it’s an old picture. Does [...]

So with the ACT going to the polls tomorrow, and me somehow managing to take an interest in the whole thing, I’m wondering if anyone knows of a venue that will be showing the election coverage and pouring beer?
If I can find a place and get some friends interested it might be a fun evening.

Just had this email forwarded to me from a local milko at Aussie Farmers Direct.  Didn’t know this!

“
“Canberra Milk Should Be Renamed Tokyo Milk”
I’ve talked to so many people who don’t realise the brand “Canberra Milk” is now part of the giant Kirin Corporation of Japan’s stable of brands (just like all [...]

Does anyone know why Oporto’s shutdown in Civic and Woden?
Their website is still up
I have heard rumors but nothing has been confirmed.
Looks like i’m going to have to get my chicken Burgers from the Fish Shack from now on.

Congratulations are in order for local vineyard Ravensworth who have taken out the top award the at 2012 Canberra International Riesling Challenge.
The winery, located in Murrumbateman, was awarded the Best Riesling from the Canberra District and the Best in Australia, and was also judged the Best Wine of the Challenge at an awards ceremony at [...]

The Canberra Whisky Club has recently started meeting for monthly tastings and dinners. Monday the 15th of October marks the second Canberra Whisky Club meeting. More information can be found at www.whiskyclubs.com.au, or by emailing info@whiskyclubs.com.au
What?
The Canberra Whisky Club is comprised of individuals who are keen to expand their understanding and exposure to different Whisky’s from around the world.
The [...]

Disaster today! ABC Online brings the news that one of my favorite restaurants, Dieci e Mezo in the ACTEW AGL building in civic has been placed into liquidation.
Dieci is under the umbrella of one of four companies owned by local restauranter Fiona Wright which has been placed into liquidation by ACT Supreme Court Acting Registrar [...]

NSW Wine has announced the Top 40 wines from their awards do.
And the locals making the cut was:
2012 Nick O’Leary Riesling (Canberra District) $25
Congratulations to all involved.

You’d think with the relationship between the Labor Clubs and Labor Party (throw in the CFMEU and the Tradies group for good measure) the clubs were adequately represented in our political system.
But the Liberals’ Brendan Smyth feels he’s got something to offer the pokie dens:
“The Canberra Liberals understand that the ACT clubs industry is [...]

The Australian Motorist Party has graced my inbox with two offerings tonight:
– Environment Policy:
The Motorist Party’s number one focus on energy supply in the ACT is that it be “cost sensible”. The Community can expect us to work with the ACT Government to address such issues as:
• Power generation through a number of sustainable energy [...]

Heading out further afield from Civic the $10 lunch review has come across Duxton’s $10 lunch menu.
The choices were Margherita Pizza, Chicken Schnitty, Chicken Club Sandwich, Hamburger, or 300g steak.
I went for the club sandwich, the pint of Coopers pictured was an extra $8.
Leaving aside the hamburger bun for a club sandwich it was thoroughly [...]

I haven’t visited this place for a long time, but according to my friend, it already closed down. any particular and solid reason?
I know they have been fined for a couple of times, but this is one of the only few places you can get night time eat-all-you-can yum cha.

One can only imagine the internal debates in the greens as they came up with a food policy which doesn’t call non-vegans murderers.
It seems local food is an end unto itself:
“Canberrans love their fresh, local food. We can see that every weekend here at the Farmers’ Market,” said Caroline Le Couteur, ACT Greens food security [...]

The Liberals have announced their plans to make life easier for liquor licensees that aren’t the Labor Club:
A Canberra Liberals Government will:
– Immediately abolish the requirement for establishments that operate solely as restaurants and cafes to complete and submit a Risk Assessment Management Plan.
– Review the requirement for Risk Assessment Management Plans for accommodation providers [...]

[ 26 September, 2012; 6:30 pm; ]

This is from the charming and beautiful staff at the ANU Food Co-Op who obviously don’t follow enough links on this site:

So, you said i should send you a press release and of course I have no idea what that means, but Acoustic Soup is on this week at the Food Co-op.

Wednesday 26th from [...]

[ 25 September, 2012; 6:00 pm; ] Students at Majura Primary school are swapping their pencils for spatulas and their school uniforms for aprons as they prepare to take over Joey’s Kitchen at Watson Shops on Tuesday 25 September.

This is the second year of the schools’ community partnership with Joey’s Kitchen. Deputy Principal Sarah Reece says the partnership has been a [...]

A few people have been remarking how incongruous it is that Katy Gallagher’s spent a large chunk of the election haranguing the public about their fat kids and then Andrew Barr went and officially opened a Maccas at the gates of the city yesterday:
This morning I joined franchisee Hani Sidaros to officially open the Gungahlin [...]

I love breakfast and am desperate to find a great breakfast spot in Canberra but everywhere is terrible and overpriced.
I went to Beess & Co in Yarralumla on the weekend and it was appalling…even the toast was bad (and how can you mess that up??). A few weeks ago had Urban Food and nearly $60 [...]

Enough of Rail, Rates and Rubbish. A more pressing issue is at hand.
Any sane, intelligent, attractive person knows that the Burmese Curry Place’s 7+4 is the very epitome of culinary perfection.
And yet they persist if selling another 7 menu options. So some mad fools are obviously buying them.
What’s your Burmese combo and why?

I would like to buy a good pavlova.  However, every shop I contact has either closed down or doesn’t sell them.  Suggestions please but not if you last went there a year ago as it has probably gone.
No I can’t cook it:
(a) I would probably burn it and
(b) competition for the stove. 
If [...]

Northbourne Avenue stalwart Bar 32 have announced on Facebook that they’re closing the doors after seven years:
Well after 7 fabulously fun years the time has come……..Bar32 is closing its doors!! So to help celebrate the end of the lease it would be great if you could come by and say farewell.
We are open on our [...]

ACT Policing is calling for witnesses to an altercation that occurred outside the Hostage Lounge Bar & Tapas in Dickson on Sunday September 9.
Around 1.50am, a group of young males were sitting outside the bar on Challis Street when they were approached by a man described as of Mediterranean appearance. A physical altercation ensued resulting [...]

Its a silly question I know but Im stumped.  I have a little man who wants to go out for a hotdog for his birthday.  I cant think of where to take him.  Other than a bowling alley or an ice cream/frozen yogurt shop (I know, weird huh!) I cant think of anywhere that serves [...]

Chief Minister Gallagher is playing the obesity card again (everyone else’s obesity is terrible can someone else do something about it) and promising to make tuck shops less competitive but notionally healthier.
If re-elected in 2012 ACT Labor will invest $1 million to make sure public school students have access to the highest quality canteen options.
By [...]

Andrew Barr has been at the 2012 ActewAGL Canberra Regional Wine Show and has sent in the names of the winners:
• Champion Wine of Show – 2010 Half Moon Riesling, Half Moon Wines;
• President’s Award (Most Successful Winery) – Mount Majura Vineyard;
• Most Successful Exhibitor of Show – Barwang Estate;
• Best Dry White of Show [...]

Labor’s recent tactic of announcing very little to tackle very big problems has taken a new turn:
A re-elected, ACT Labor will take more action on smoking by increasing the number of smoke-free public places and provide $800,000 in funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking cessation programs.
New services will be provided for people affected [...]