Weekend romance Italian style Canberra | A capital idea!
Let’s face it, who wouldn’t love a weekend getaway in Italy. Well what if you could be sipping a vino, overlooking rolling vineyards while enjoying authentic freshly made pasta in less than one hour from Sydney?
We know it’s not officially Italy however you’re tastebuds will certainly feel like they are there.
What began as a bar in Northern Italy is now the Italian heart beat on Canberra, serving a seasonal menu of authentic cuisine under the Executive Chef Francesco Balestrieri.
Agostinis was born in homage to its namesake Marisa, owners Dion and Dan’s mother, whose love of cooking and celebrating with family filled their childhood kitchen with warmth and laughter. It was not until after Agostinis restaurant in Canberra had been named that she thought to mention that this was not the first Agostinis in the family. Before her family immigrated to Australia when she was 7 they had owned a bar, also called Agostinis, in Northern Italy. One trip back to Italy and a family legacy later, the original bar is now featured on the menus and restaurant mural.
An Agostini’s classic and rightly so, their lightly fried calamari served with roasted lemon and mint aioli was deliciously tender and paired perfectly with the Radicchio, fennel and orange salad.
Be sure to try the “Frico”, a classic dish from the Friuli region of Italy. Thin layers of Montasio cheese and potato, oven-roasted to form a heavenly, crunchy, chewy pancake. Trust me it’s even better than it sounds.
I was fortunate enough to visit during Canberra’s truffle season so I couldn’t resist indulging in the Mushroom Risotto with Vannella buffalo ricotta and a generous amount of shaved Blue Frog truffles adorned on top accompanied by a glass of Italian vino, of course.
Dessert is my Achilles’ heel - I love the sound of everything, making it near impossible to make a choice. I decided you can’t say no to a Tiramisu when dining at an Italian restaurant, it was the best I’ve ever had! Even better than those I’ve had in Italy.
I also order the Cannoli filled with Vanella buffalo ricotta and pistachio to takeaway because I knew it was going to be just as good and I’d regret it if I didn’t try it.
Some partnerships are a perfect combination. After all, how does one have a plate of fresh pasta without a glass of wine?
Lark Hill Winery is only a 30-minute drive from the heart of Canberra making it the perfect destination for a lazy long lunch in the vines with a stunning view that will transport you to the heart of Tuscany.
I recommend pairing the slow-cooked lamb with a glass of Lark Hill’s ‘Dark Horse Vineyard’ Shiraz Viognier and celebrate a plate of fresh vegetables layered in-between silky lasagne sheets alongside a bottle of Lark Hill’s Grüner Veltliner.
Il Camino, the fireplace, is the latest addition to Agostinis. Celebrating high Italian design thanks to Kelly Ross. Ross who is responsible for the restaurant’s vibrant design as well as Joe’s Bar and the refurbished lobby of East Hotel, was given the brief to make Il Camino a destination point in its own right with distinctive decor which sets it apart from the bustling and family-friendly vibe of the eatery.
In the warmer months the large glass windows open up to welcome the Summer air, as the temperature drops II Camino becomes the ultimate retreat to sip a negroni by the fireplace.
Il Camino can be hired exclusively or partially for private functions. There are two main sections of the space – the long dining tables to the right and the smaller, intimate tables to the left closest to the fireplace. Perfect for pre-dinner cocktails and then dinner, followed post dinner digestivo!
STAY
East Hotel - a family affair with Italian roots and home to Agostinis.
As much as I enjoy dinning out some days you just need room service and you can’t go past a traditional Italian pizza freshly made in Agostinis state-of-the-art Marana Forni pizza oven, delivered to your room pipping hot in a pizza box - bellissimo!
As I sat on the plane looking out the window enjoying my takeaway Cannoli my tastebuds still dancing to a brief Italian getaway as we took to the Canberra skies.