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ACT, Australia, canberra, Chifley Bar & Grill, dinner with colleagues and friends, Kurrajong Hotel
Taking a visiting Canadian colleague out to dinner
Across the road from where I work is the Kurrajong Hotel. Its restaurant Chifley’s Bar & Grill is named after its long-time hotel resident, former Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley. I have been to this restaurant several times for lunch so I decided this was a good option for dinner as our international visitor was actually staying there.The guest rooms have been refurbished and am told are quite lovely; overlooking the garden terrace and some with balconies.
We sat in the foyer area and enjoyed a glass of wine before my boss arrived and we went into the restaurant for an early dinner.I ordered the wild mushroom risotto with roasted hazlenuts but unfortunately I did not enjoy as it had a funny taste so I only ate a couple of mouthfuls – thinking back I think it might have had chicken or beef stock and I forgot to ask prior to ordering. My fault!!My friend Jane came along as she wanted to speak to our international visitor about a project she is working on and ordered the confit duck maryland which came with braised apple red cabbage and a madeira glaze…she told us that this was the best duck dish she has EVER eaten….my photo doesn’t look that great though!My boss ordered the twice cooked pork belly with cider apple compote and a side dish of herb roasted pumpkin and sweet potato.
Our visitor asked for some recommendations and wanted to eat something ‘Australian’ so Jane and my boss chose the lamb dish for her which she thoroughly enjoyed. The dish came as a Guinness braised lamb shoulder with faro and a mint salad. A Google search allowed us to find out that farro is comprised of grains and wheat and dried – looked very much like couscous.
We had a really nice evening even though I didn’t love my meal…I must say I have had the same dish before for lunch and it was delicious so not sure what happened on this occasion but it won’t stop me returning.
sileas said:
Hmm too bad you didn’t enjoy it this time but I think it’s great that you’re not put off by that one experience! I wonder whether you could have returned that dish in exchange for a different one? I think that would’ve been a nice gesture from the restaurant…
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kasiawrites said:
I also like a mushroom risotto. It’s crappy when it tastes bad. 😏
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JohnRH said:
I love duck. It looks yummy to me!
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reocochran said:
The atmosphere looks gorgeous, Sue. Too bad about your meal. I have to say, hazelnuts do taste bitter once moisture is allowed in storage container. I have also had moldy almonds due to moisture. Not that this was the cause. . . Just my unofficial two cents worth. 😊
The braised lamb looks scrumptious! You’re a great hostess to your guest.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Julia I think I should of done just that but silly me I didn’t want to make a fuss. My fault!!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Agree. Thanks for stopping by.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks John.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you so much for your comments. So lovely to read.
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Vivienne Shui said:
Oh the confit duck and twice cooked pork belly are probably two of my favourite dishes!! Yummy~
Vivienne X
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks so much Vivienne.
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joliesattic said:
The duck looks amazing. I can almost taste it.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks for stopping by. Very kind.
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Amy said:
Duck would be my choice. Looks so delicious!
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vinneve said:
Foods looks yummy!
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Sophie said:
The pumpkin and sweet potato side dish looks yummy – and I can tell it’s attractive because I am usually not so fond of pumpkin. Too bad for your risotto, I can imagine how disappointed you must have been.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Yeah…it’s awful when you expect a nice meal and it does not turn out that way.
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Alex Olander said:
All photos are beautiful! It’s look delicious, thanks for sharing :))
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you very much for your lovely comment.
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