86...just when you thought it couldn't get better.

Two words. Chicken parfait.

And what better way to celebrate all sorts of things (and to commiserate a return to work) than a dinner at 86? Chicken parfait, melt in your mouth salmon, and a chocolate ice-cream cake that tasted like a vienetta on crack. Perfect. And for the record, this place has now made two new fans. 

86 times a million

So, 86 could probably have its own label on this blog. And yes, you can all remind me about how much I was a hater the first time around. But honestly, once you understand how it works, and it just is - what is there not to love.

Last week Christine Mansfield was in the house making desserts. Don't tell anyone, but I like 86 desserts better.

Temporada

I want to like this place, I really do. The fit out is lovely. Great tiles, high ceilings, industrial look mixed with a kind of bistro feel. 

The food is good, actually it is better than good. But you know, the food needs to be pretty amazing to make up for the service. Drinks forgotten more than once, food we didn't order brought to the table two times - and then trying to place an order? Near impossible. 

What may even be more unforgivable? Bad cocktails. The first time I visited both drinks were pretty average. A nectarine drink which was way too sweet and my sherry cocktail just…well…passable. On the second visit, my drink was alright, but an entire cocktail was left on the table nearly untouched. How do you stuff up a bunch of liquor that is placed in a jam jar anyways?

I'll forgive haphazard service in a few places in Canberra, I'll even forgive bad cocktails in a place with a good wine list. But Temporada - I suspect I'm not going to get a third time lucky with so many other good places around. Give me a Scarlet Johansson and a night at 86 any day. 

Luke Chiswell - 86

86 - stopped counting

I sort of kept my word about not writing about 86 - I've been once and didn't tell you about it. Didn't post a photo either. But now they have a new menu and you really should know about. So by going back on my word I'm doing you a service. You're welcome.

So what's not to be missed? The egg ravioli which I'm missing a photo of. You can imagine how incredible it was - just right egg cased in perfect pasta. The fried chicken (Japan style) was also was a winner,as well the salmon with citrus and blue eyed cod amazing. 

It's got to be said that some are put off by the unusual service (yeah yeah - I was overwhelmed first visit too). Just so you know, today we were a table of 7 that spanned an age range of around 70 years and we were all looked after 100 per cent. The youngest thought it was the best restaurant ever and for someone still in primary school she has a pretty discerning pallet. We also got first dibs on writing in the bill book, and in her view unicorns are officially awesome as is 86. When we left, the staff said 'bye family'. Yep. Awesome.

Jamie's Italian

There is something Canberra does really well - and that is the average restaurant. It has consistently been the way since I've lived here and I've never understood it. The average restaurants are often not much cheaper than the excellent ones, so how does it work? You can eat at a hatted restaurant for the same price as eating somewhere which churns out food, has ordinary service and pretty much no idea. If you want a killer business - open up a good mid range restaurant in Canberra, because cheap and high end are covered.

Back to Jamie's. Look, it is an ok place to visit (once). The platters of antipasto looked great, but given you could knock that up at home they should look bloody pukka. My meal wasn't terrible but compared to price of recent outings to 86, the value was shameful. The company was lovely though and we did enjoy some very slushy cocktails and an alright starter of fried gnocchi, a smashed broad bean bruscetta and a crunchy salad. The crunchy salad was the highlight of the entire meal which is telling. Grated carrot and beetroot with mint -if they'd made a mess of that you'd be worried. The rest of the meal... my main was over seasoned vongole pasta and I season my own cooking heavily so for me to notice means this dish would have been inedible for some. And that was enough to decide not to risk dessert and made out way to Koko Black instead.

The service was well meaning. Lots of staff, but a tip. Don't ask the people dressed in black for help as they aren't allowed to take orders, but, they can go and tell the people who are allowed to take orders that you would like to order something….

I'll leave you with a photo of the toilet, which pretty much says it all. Jamie Oliver the Weird Al Yankovic of restauranteurs. It'll be interesting to see how this goes once (if) the novelty factor wears off. 

Third time a charm - 86

I will never* again talk about 86 on this blog because I just don't think it can get any better. If you go to this restaurant and the waiter asks if he should just feed you, smile nicely and say yes, drink wine and have the best Saturday boozy lunch. Canberra, you are doing it right...

*can't guarantee that.

Eightysix - take two

Some of you may remember I spoke of going to Eighty Six some time ago here It was a memorable post given the use of swear words, and I've been told, was read by a few people in Canberra town.

But anyways that was then and I thought I'd give Eightysix another go, but this time for lunch. Actually that isn't how it went at all. A friend saw Eightysix were doing a good food month special, and in case you needed an excuse for lunch, the opportunity for a glass of champagne and a rolling menu for $55 did it for me. Oh, that and the charming company of course!

And I have to say lunch was amazing. The pace so much nice than dinner, service friendly and a lot more refined. And the music! Hello playlist of Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash and all things sixties rockabilly. And the food. First up was ravioli with heirloom purple carrots, sage and hazelnuts were a bite size piece of heaven. The cheese crumble tasted like a buttery roux. I wanted to eat fifty of them.

The buttermilk chicken was a standout again - you need to order this if you go to Eightysix. Spicy, sticky outer chicken - tender, moist inner chicken. And who doesn't love coleslaw?!

Next was the ghetto beef with salsa verde. Perfectly cooked rare pieces of beef in a simple salad. I would order it again just to use the word ghetto. 

On to fish. I can't remember exactly what this was other than it was the best thing I ate all day. Salmon which had been cured in a bag with vodka and maybe beetroot? And pickles. Home made pickles. For me this summer is going to be the summer of the pickle. 

We then asked for this because it became apparent it was necessary. Manchego pudding (or something like that). Listen, it was good. Like really good. But it did taste a bit like ghetto cheese spread. And by ghetto, I mean just normal cheese spread. 

Here is a pretty drink made from lemon and liquor.

Then we had the gnocchi that we really didn't *need* to have. It was like eating clouds covered in bits of lamb ragu (and you wonder why I'm not a full time food critic).

I don't quite remember what happened next due to the sugar high of sampling four different desserts. Below is a dark chocolate and sour cherry terrine, a passionfruit eton mess and a caramel popcorn icecream sundae. Missing was a lemon curd with fresh raspberries on shortbread. Dreamy.

So in summary. Eightysix... when you strip back all the hipster too cool for school-ness, you have a solid and interesting menu, executed well and served in a fun and comfortable dining environment. Part of the current Canberra renaissance, where this little town city is coming of age.