19 April 2016

Five to try: Spice up your work Christmas party

| Bec Cuzzillo
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It’s that time of year again and I know what you’re thinking – how is it almost Christmas already? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had that conversation with people in the last few weeks. In fact, I feel like I’ve been having that same conversation all year.

Yet here we are at the start of December, counting down the days until Christmas break and wondering where the first 11 months of the year went. But instead of lamenting how quickly time has flown, why not suggest something a little left field for this year’s work Christmas party?

This week, I’ve got five foodie experiences that you might not have considered for your end of year work celebrations before.

5. Gumboot Tour and Wine Tasting at Mount Majura Vineyard

Photo credit: @megan_sparke

Photo credit: @megan_sparke

Pull your gumboots on and get down and dirty in the fanciest way possible at Mount Majura Vineyard. Open from Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5pm, the cellar door at Mount Majura is award-winning for good reason.

Their self-guided gumboot tours take you on a nature trail through the vineyard that sits on the eastern slopes of Mount Majura. Their wines are exclusively made with grapes grown on site, making them unique and pretty damn good. At this time of year, I’d recommend the rosè – dry, crisp and refreshing on a hot summer afternoon.

4. Cocktail Classes at The Highball Express

Photo credit: @highball_express

Photo credit: @highball_express

With the weather warming up and holiday season upon us, cocktails seem an appropriate response. Why not throw a bit of team building into the mix and take a cocktail class at the new Cuban-themed bar, The Highball Express.

For $60 per head, you get to step behind the bar and learn the art of mixing the perfect cocktail – actually, you’ll get to mix three to be exact.

3. Dine in the Garden Pavilions at Pialligo Estate

The new Garden Pavilions at Pialligo Estate have opened just in time for the silly season. Set amongst the Estate’s vineyard and olive grove, with views out to Parliament House and Black Mountain Tower, the Garden Pavilions offer a lunch or dinner experience that is uniquely Canberran.

This is one for the office that wants to up their Christmas party game and really celebrate the end of the year in style. Pialligo Estate can cater for smaller groups of up to 20 in one pavilion, or larger cocktail parties for up to 300, incorporating all four pavilions and their beautiful gardens.

2. Whiskey Tasting at Hippo Co

Photo credit:

Photo credit: @hippoco_cbr

Trust me when I say that this one is not just for the whiskey connoisseurs among your team. Whether you’re a seasoned whiskey enthusiast or a first time drinker, the friendly whiskey experts at Hippo Co will guide you the whole way.

For $60 per person, you’ll get to taste 6 different whiskeys and learn all you need to know about whiskey, from it’s production right through to the correct tasting techniques – and with over 200 whiskeys on their back bar, these guys really know their stuff.

1. High Tea at Ricardo’s

Photo credit:

Photo credit: @josayeeee

With their modern take on the traditional high tea, Ricardo’s in Jamison is the perfect Christmas destination for the office full of sweet-toothed employees. If you’re not familiar with Ricardo’s inventive creations, think peanut butter and jelly mousse cakes covered in gold dusted peanuts and you’ll start to get a bit of an idea.

For $35 per person, Ricardo’s will have you gobbling up a mountain of delicious cakes and pastries before you’ve realised the sugar rush has set in.

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