The trend of at-the-bar dining continues to run through Canberra, with the opening of Temporada on Moore Street on the west side of the city.
Temporada will feature the culinary stylings of Ben Willis (Aubergine) and his sous chef Chris Darragh who, as a partner in the venture, will be taking charge of the new restaurant while Ben continues to oversee the Griffith favourite.
Lurking under the eaves of its Moore Street tenancy, Temporada feels somewhat sheltered. That all changes once you enter the restaurant as, once inside, the space opens to reveal a ceiling that soars far above the elegantly simple dining space below. Designed by Sydney’s Chris Wilkes, the walls feel aged and worn without being overdone or heavy.
Counter dining, a relatively new addition to Canberra restaurants is front-and-centre here. Those used to a view of pans, chopping boards and circulators will be offered a different vista. The large, crisp, white island bar provides customers with a more social engagement around the drinks preparation and coffee space. It works a treat – with the staff more focused on entertaining those seated around the action like spectators at a Spanish bull-fight. For those in larger groups, there are plenty of tables available.
The Spanish-inspired menu is fresh and focused and reinforcing the restaurant’s name through the use of seasonal ingredients. Particularly delicious are the melt-in-your-mouth Beef Short Rib Rolls, however the Zucchini Flowers with Ricotta Gnudi (a version of gnocchi) and Salsa Verde are proving particularly popular.
The wines list is an adventure in itself, covering local exclusives and international delights along with a strong presence of French and Spanish. The presence of a limited Eden Road Shiraz from Gundagai will get the local wine buffs excited.
Meanwhile, you’d be excused for thinking the recent belt-tightening of the Federal Government was having zero effect in the local economy with the continuing onslaught of new venues across the city. With a fabulous little speakeasy, Molly, also making its debut today there’s plenty of fun to be had in Canberra’s food and wine scene. Click here to see OutInCanberra’s preview.
