2 February 2020

Pialligo Estate is ready to help you celebrate Christmas - easily!

| Maryann Mussared
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Pialligo Estate’s Christmas pop-up shop. Photo: Maryann Mussared.

Pialligo Estate seems to have thought of things some of us might have forgotten we will need these holidays! I definitely need ‘Christmas Glaze’ for my ham, and I can’t wait to try ‘BBQ Rub by Chef Mel’ for all the holiday season’s BBQs. Of course, there will be tears if I forget the Bacon Jam and everyone’s favourite, Shortcut Bacon from the Pialligo Smokehouse.

These wonderful goodies, and much more, are all ‘ready to go’ from the dinky one-stop Christmas Pop-up Shop that has just opened for business and is located adjacent to the Pialligo Estate main carpark. With flexible opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 11 am to 7 pm and Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm, there are all sorts of different ideas for your Christmas catering.

Pialligo Estate is ready for your visit to their wonderful Christmas pop-up shop. To the right of the sign, you can see where the Farmhouse used to be! Photo: Maryann Mussared.

I was lucky to have a sneak preview earlier in the week. After I recovered from seeing that the poor old fire-damaged Farmhouse had been demolished, I couldn’t wait to check out what was on offer. The Christmas Pop-up Shop gives visitors the opportunity to browse the wide range of must-have preserves, gift hampers and, at the time of writing, a full range of Smokehouse produce, as well as the Estate’s wonderful lemon and thyme flavoured olive oil. I stocked up on “Cherry Bomb”, a delicious ‘cordial’ made with Pialligo’s own cherries, which will be great to bomb everyone’s gin and vodka on Christmas Day.

Pialligo’s Christmas Glaze, Red Wine Vinegar with their garden herbs, BBQ Sauce, Olive Oil with Lemon and Thyme and more. Photo: Maryann Mussared.

The pop-up shop will be the pick-up point for everyone who has ordered their hams online. Despite brisk sales and some sizes of ham being sold out already, there are still plenty of choices that you can check out and order here. Knowing how popular Pialligo bacon is among a huge number of Canberrans, I think the hamper that will knock the socks off anyone has to be the Bacon and Beer hamper: perfect for watching the Boxing Day Test Cricket.

The Beer and Bacon Hamper contains Pialligo bacon, lardons, chorizo, Bacon Jam and four Bentspoke Brewery beers. Photo: Pialligo Estate.

The Garden Pavilions are busy and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner until Sunday 24 December. After closing for the Christmas break, the Estate will re-open for lunch and dinner on Saturday 6 January. Don’t forget to check opening days and hours, and you can book your table online anytime.

In early summer, the Pialligo Estate Garden Pavillions are surrounded by fragrant lavender beds and catch the cool breeze from the river corridor. Photo: Maryann Mussared.

Other things to look forward to in the New Year include a range of Academy Classes kicking off with a ‘French Kitchen’ class on Monday 5 February. During the year I have treated myself to a number of masterclasses: I have met some fabulous foodies as well as people who just wanted to share the experience of preparing food with one of Pialligo Estate’s Academy chefs. Don’t be put off by the word ‘masterclass’: you will certainly get that level of tuition but these classes are incredibly relaxed and friendly, and they do make the most wonderful gift for anyone who loves good food.

Master Chef Peter Young will host another taste sensation ‘Moroccan Kitchen’ Masterclass in February 2018. Photo: Maryann Mussared.

In January, there will be “Cellar Door Sessions” for all music lovers. You will be welcome to bring your own picnic blanket or find a seat on the lawn. There will be a full wine, beer and nibbles menu available. Keep up to date with the program on Pialligo Estate’s Instagram, Facebook, website, or register for their excellent regular newsletter to keep you up to date.

A wonderful vista across the vineyard to the Brindabellas. Photo: Maryann Mussared.

Pialligo Estate is located at 18 Kallaroo Road, Pialligo. It is close to the Canberra International Airport and a short ten-minute drive from the centre of Canberra.

This is a sponsored article, though all opinions are the author’s own. For more information on paid content, see our sponsored content policy.

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