Anyone else obsessed with Italian food? Well we decided to use the Italian Film Festival as an excuse to spend the day indulging like an Italian.
Coffee: you may not think to venture to Fyshwick for coffee, but Cosmorex Coffee was the first to bring roasting to Canberra! Here you’ll find the Sciannimanica family’s coffee roasting mastery and the finest coffee beans from the four corners of the world. Sip a hypnotic caffè latte or caffè macchiatto, or even purchase the latest cutting-edge coffee machine to take home so you’ll be drinking Italian grade coffee from here on in.
Sweets: we can’t call it a ‘great Italian blowout’ without indulging in tube-shaped pastries filled with a sweet creamy custard and dusted with icing sugar. We of course are talking about cannoli’s – a staple food in Italy – from the Italian Continental Bakery in Mawson, another family-run gem in the Capital.
Aperitivo: grab a pre-dinner drink and snack meant to open the palate and give you a chance to socialise and relax of an afternoon at Joe’s Bar, East Hotel. This venue combines touches of authentic central Italy from more local Italians Dan and Dion Bisa who’s family history is told with decor and food. Ask about their wine on tap or extensive grappa collection while enjoying an authentic antipasto.
Pasta: want an authentic pasta in Canberra? We have three top picks around town. If you’re in the city head to Mezzalira for the suckling lamb ragu. La Dolce Vita in Kingston’s ravioli aurora is ricotta & spinach filled ravioli with napoli and basil sauce which tastes just like nonnas! If your’e after a spaghetti head to Bicicletta in Acton for their Ai Frutti Di Mare – king prawns, clams, scallops, baby squid and cherry tomatoes sautéed in garlic and chilli.
Pizza: Italians know their pizza. If you like a thin, crisp, crust, quality sauce and simple toppings, Trecento in Manuka, Pizza Gusto in Braddon and Mama Dough in Ainslie will have you touring the Amalfi Coast in your pizza coma dreams.
Night cap: do you like it sweet or sour? Head to Locale in Deakin for late night affogato or Bacaro Wine Bar in Braddon for a cheeky limoncello.
Entertainment: The Lavazza Italian Film Festival is running until 18 October at Palace Electric Cinemas. Have a laugh the Italian way with films like ‘Put Nonna in the freezer,’ ‘Nonnas on the run,’ & ‘My big gay Italian wedding.’
