FCT #24: turkish halal pide house

Yarralumla is one of Lulu's old haunts and now a favourite spot of mine. Nestled up against the lake in a hidden corner of the inner-south, it's more of a nature-bonanza than a suburb. Although it's a nature-bonanza of the Canberra-kind, with gentrified parklands that back onto the Governor General's Residence and encompass a nursery, sailing clubs and a mini train. (Because let's face it: every city needs a mini train.)

The parklands - and specifically Westbourne Woods - are beautiful and have a significant history which I'll explore some day soon. But today I'm here to talk to you about the Turkish Halal Pide House, which is surely as significant as a bunch of old trees. Or at least as delicious.

I'm not a food reviewer and I'm not going to waffle on. It's enough to say that this is an excellent Turkish takeaway joint. AZ and I had a pre-wander lunch of kabak kebabs, which boast zucchini fritters in place of felafel. The kebabs are kept simple, with fresh salads, good sauces and amazingly fresh bread. All the bread is made on site and is scrum-diddly-umptious. We also had a side serve of fasulye. I'm surprised that Lulu managed to keep the fasulye a secret, given that it very closely resembles one of her favourite Italian dishes. Green beans are stewed in olive oil, onion and tomato until they are soft, rich and scrumm-diddly-umptious.

We'd started scraping the plates before I could get the camera out, so you'll have to trust me when I tell you... it was scrum-diddly-umptious. 

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Turkish Halal Pide House
47 Novar Street, Yarralumla
T: 02 6281 1991
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FCT #22: canberra winter

 

It's taking me some time to warm up (haw haw) to the topic of the Canberra winter. It's quite simply NOT my Favourite Canberra Thing. And I've had a rough start to the season due to personal stuff that I'm determined not to jibba jabba on about here. I know, I know. I can barely believe my restraint either.

It's a challenge to find a positive focus for something so bone-bitingly cold... but many peeps manage it... or else they lie quite convincingly. There's talk of 'cozyness' and 'sunny winter days' and 'the opportunity to slow down'. I would prefer the opportunity to remain consistently warm. But I'm here and I have to make the most of it. (And yes, I do realise that we're not talking about Alaska or Siberia or Pluto.)

So how best to do that?

Clearly comfort food, Nana's bedsocks and some good quality teev are crucial. (AZ and I have been working our way through Game of Thrones, Archer, Episodes and Man Stroke Woman - all excellent.) However, as tempting as it is, bunkering down in bed with a season's supply of hot chocolate, hot chips and hotcakes isn't going to work as an ongoing survival strategy. Just imagine the crumbs between the sheets for a start. 

Broader options include...

--Time outside. Unlikely unless it's 8 degrees as a minimum, I'll admit, with at least a splash of sunshine.

--Time with friends. A challenge given that I still don't have many here but definitely something to aim for.

--Time escaping. I'm heading to Melbournio later this week and I CAN'T WAIT! There have been plenty of short escapes too. Day trips to Bungendore and Braidwood, a choir excursion to Wagga and Albury, and a few days at the coast the weekend before last. It all adds up to time somewhere slightly sunnier.

--Time creating. There's not a lot of creating going on. Let's be honest. But it does help when it happens.

--Time adequately attired. My winter wardrobe SUCKS! A couple of ratty jackets worn with 15 layers of t-shirts. Winter must be easier when one is clothed in a decent coat and a woolly jumper or two. Hopefully lazy-broke-me will get it together in time to test this theory next winter.

--Time with eyes open. Remembering that there is always something special out there to be noticed. Even if it's the long legs of frost on my windscreen in the morning.

Reviewing this list, I realise that it captures strategies to work on rather than strategies that are actually working well. It's good to have somewhere to start, right? Whaddaya reckon? Do you have any favourite winter warmers to share? What keeps you defrosted throughout the winter?

In other news: the king parrots came back to the bean tree this morning and put on a spectacular show. I wasn't fast enough with the camera to capture the 15+ of them, crimson bellies flashing and tails fanning. They reminded me that there is beauty everywhere - even in the grey - if we take the time to connect with it.

They reminded me that winter will be okay.

FCT #21: blossoms + blooms

Wowsers. It's been quite some time since words. Be kind.

It's a little odd to tell you about blossoms and blooms before officially introducing the Canberra winter (aka The Beast). Blossom seems an irrepressible sign of spring rather than this cold grey season that we are very firmly in. Perhaps that's why I can't stop myself from sharing their beauty, spotted en route to uni this week. They're so flamboyant and fragile and hopeful... all at the same time.

The Berra clearly loves its deciduous trees in autumn - with spectacular displays of red and yellow all around town. But the rewards of those exotic plantings are evident again in late winter and spring as the prunus sparks into bloom. It's a huge genus of about 430 species, incorporating stone fruit, almond, bird cherry and cherry laurel. (What did we do before Wikipedia?) Many are decorative rather than edible, and the example captured above will most likely go on to form small plum-like fruit that would not be fun to eat.

In a lovely show of synchronicity, a special delivery arrived the very afternoon of the prunus photography. Jane and Nikki sent me a birthday pressie of vintage buttons and a length of Japanese fabric from CIBI in, you guessed it, a blossom pattern.  

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The rich world of tenugui

The Japanese textile form of the tenugui has a rich and textured history that weaves together art and commercial uses. Still handcrafted by artisans in Tokyo shitamachi (old downtown), its versatility and affordability ensure it continues to evolve in exciting new ways even today.

Everyday art - versatile and practical. Tenugui are used for a multitude of purposes, from hand towel to headwear, bandage to business card, place mat to wall hanging. As every tenugui is handmade, each is unique. Their individual appeal grows with repeated use and washing, as the cloth softens and the dyes take on a well-used patina - natural qualities that we love here at CIBI.

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This beautiful surprise made me think of another example of birthday blossom. The tattoo design that Adi undertook for my 30th birthday. Five whole years ago. Eeeek. I never got up the guts for the inking, which is perhaps a blessing in disguise given the explosion of swallow designs into the design world in the years that followed. But I am still in love with welcome swallows, swallow symbolism and Adi's preliminary sketches.

FCT #6: the birds, the birds!

Beautiful little friends in next door's Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa bignonioides).

FCT #5: flint dining room + bar

Okay. So I am supposed to be writing an assignment right now... not writing about food... again. But I thought I'd capture another tick on the list before it fades from memory like a wisp of pink fairy floss.

On Sunday night I was lucky enough to be shouted dinner at Flint Dining Room & Bar in New Acton. It's a pretty sweet new restaurant on the Canberra scene. In fact, New Acton is a pretty sweet new locale on the Canberra scene. My suitor and I spent most of the night trying to pick what existed there before, which I do a lot nowadays. Hmmmm. I know that hasn't always been there. But what was there before? Oh, that's right, a dodgy demountable full of science nerds.

It turns out that what was there before was the Hotel Acton, which was built in 1927 and spent the next 80-odd years sliding slowly into disrepair before having the bejeezuz redeveloped out of it. Actually, from what we could see the redevelopment has been done sensitively - thank goodness. Fancy apartments have been built across the front and sides, but the horseshoe of original hotel buildings remains, along with some gorgeous old trees. It gives the central courtyard a secluded and intimate feel, and that's where the majority of the eateries and drinkeries are situated.

I wouldn't be surprised if the transformation of this part of the city has been more contentious than my 15 google-minutes suggest. There's some serious wank up on the NewActon website after all. I don't think 'bohemian nights' attract the kind of price tag that our night did. And exactly what 'languid antipastos' entail... ? Well, we may never know. But the place definitely has a laid-back vibe, and the central courtyard space is a lovely destination on a warm night.

Flint itself feels good. Live jazz, super-friendly waitstaff, relaxed punters. The food has a meaty focus with interesting bits n bobs such as garlic snails in pastry, pig trotter and sweetbread carpaccio, and 'duo of rabbit'. Needless to say, old wussbag here did not partake. My inner bogan was intent on the steak frites, which was naughty, tender and tasty. (Just like me - haw haw.) S went with the more sophisticated 'barramundi meuniere', which came with a rich butter, tomato and caper sauce and some good rustic chunks of potato. The veggie sides looked great but we were so overwhelmed by the variety of the menu that we didn't get there.

Did we do dessert? Hell yeah. Lemon, berry and mascarpone millefeuille for me. House compressed watermelon for S. This is where the fairy floss comes in. It was the pinkest dessert I've ever clapped eyes on. Chunks of condensed watermelon, matched with a rose sorbet, Turkish delight and pashmak. A six year old fairy princess would have been delighted. Mouthfuls of yoghurt pannacotta and sesame and pistachio 'soil' provided a counterpoint to the pink. It was very pretty but soooooo sweeeeeet!

All in all, a great night. There was even unexpected entertainment in the form of a resident possum who has clearly hoed into the house bread one too many times and is as affectionate as your nana after a couple of sherries. S displayed some swift reflexes as he literally scooped our furry friend off the table. If only I'd remembered my camera!   

I won't be patronising Flint regularly on my student (non)income, but it would be fun to visit again for a pizza and movie night. Apparently outdoor movie screenings run throughout the year and one of the cute waiters promised he'd fill my hot water bottle for me. 

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Flint Dining Room & Bar
2/15 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra City
T: 02 6162 3350

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FCT #4: extra holidays

Tomorrow is Canberra Day and that lovely long weekend feeling is all around. As far as I can tell, Canberra Day has been bestowed upon Canberrans so that they can celebrate living in a town which has been bestowed upon with extra holidays. And hey, who's complaining? Definitely not me, now that I'm here to enjoy the bestowment.

And there's so much to enjoy...

Pasta and vino rosso with my new friend AZ on Friday night. I love the way different friendships open up different sides of ourselves. With AZ it's poetry, philosophy, spirituality, music. Stuff that doesn't often find its way into conversation. Special treat stuff.

Yesterday Slim and K and I dipped into You Are Here, a local arts festival that has just kicked off and is running for the next week or so. Slim's mate Rob has created a cool project called Art-Is-An Bread where punters swap stuff for bread. Delicious sourdough bread. Delicious sourdough bread which we slathered with other (edible) stuff and thoroughly enjoyed. But before eating bread we chucked some ideas at Sexy New Urban Design Team Canberra. Their fun, interactive concept sees the city centre - or at least its crafty likeness - reconfigured and reimagined by punters. Our dreams were turned into cardboard+pipecleaner reality right before our very eyes. My dream involved improved equity for the elephants at the zoo. I may dream some new dreams before the week is through... and I will definitely be back for more bread.

Yesternight a suitor and I double-dipped into You Are Here with a not-quite-successful experimental theatre piece and a delicious dinner at a fancy-pants restaurant. You know those dishes that look too pretty to eat? A swirl of puy lentils here, a gem of potatoey goodness there, a fan of baby artichoke, a dollop of something garlicky, a perfect lamb cutlet. Pretty yumminess. It was a good night filled with more special treat conversation. I've already met some smart people here and that makes me feel lucky!

In other news...

--I started learning to play the guitar last Monday. Smoke on the Water. Yeah.

--I earned me some brownie points by re-oiling ma's back deck. I had forgotten how satisfying DIY can be. No... not that kind of DIY. Gawd you have a dirty mind.

--A family of king parrots have taken up residence in the tree outside my bedroom window. They hang out for most of the day, chattering and cracking into seedpods. They make great company and they're beautiful!

--I broke my buying-da-music-ban for Alex Ebert's solo debut, Alexander. I've missed the whole Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros phenomenon but from what I can tell Ebert is the love-child of Dylan and Devendra Banhart. Y'all know how much I dig freak folk and I've definitely fallen in love with Ebert's single. How could I not? It's got whistling.

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the truth is that I haven't shook my shadow
and everyday it's tryin to trick me into doing battle
calling out 'faker' wanna get me rattled
wanna put me back behind the fence with the cattle
building your lenses digging your trenches
put me on the front line leave me with a dumb mind with no defences
but your defence is 'if you can't stand to feel the pain then you are senseless'
since this I've grown up some different kinda fighter
and when the darkness comes let it INSIDE YOU

and your darkness is shining
my darkness is shining
have faith in ourselves
TRUTH

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