Kale, coriander and chickens

I’ve eaten at Grazing, the restaurant settled in an 1865 pub in Gundaroo in the rolling tablelands outside Canberra, many times over several years. It’s always been very good – fresh, interesting local produce, often from their own extensive garden out the back, thoughtful food.

Today the air  was clear and sharp, a fine mid-winter day, a good day to eat and drink wine and to relax over a long lunch with friends you haven’t seen for a while. The food matched the day – I think it was the best I’ve ever had here.

I had three very different choices. Usually I’m pretty happy if two of three work out well but all three clicked. I started with roasted pumpkin, pine nut and goats cheese fritters with almond aioli, garden rocket salad and caramelised tomato chutney – simple but effective. I’m always a soft touch for a good chutney or pickle, a pie, dumplings or noodles – simple food made marvellous by good produce, better technique and, above all, good imagination.