After my experience at the launch of the Pialligo Estate Garden Pavilions late last year, I was keen to go back to try out the newly introduced breakfast menu. Michelle of HerCanberra and I made a breakfast date last week to check it out.
We walked past and peeked into Pialligo Estate’s second kitchen in one of the pavilions.
Opposite the kitchen, you can buy Pialligo Estate’s award winning bacon and salmon gravlax.
Breakfast is provided as a 2 course menu for $32 with lots of dishes to choose from. That day’s menu is below but we were told the menu will change monthly.
Michelle and I decided to try different dishes so we could share all 4. We received complimentary peach bellinis using peaches straight from the Pialligo orchard to start with. This was a very sweet gesture but kind of wasted on us. Too bad neither of us drink alcohol. I ordered a soy mocha ($5) and Michelle ordered a hot chocolate (forgot the price).
Our first courses came out together. Michelle chose the selection of baked goods with butter and Pialligo Estate orchard jams. The baked goods included a slice of fig, apricot and raisin toast, a croissant, and half a Danish snail. I like raisin toast but not a huge fan of too much fruit in bread so the half slice of toast was more than enough for me. In saying that, the bread itself was thick and crunchy. I think fruit toast lovers will really like it. The croissant was flakey and buttery. My favourite was the Danish snail where the pastry was flakey, had a beautiful crunch when bit into and was filled with a delicious custard and a few raisins. The fresh peach jam tasted fresh and was great spread on the baked goods.
I chose the seasonal fruit salad with whipped goat’s curd, lime, mint, caramel popcorn and meringue. I loved how beautifully plated up this dish was! The fruit included mango, blackberries, blueberries, grapes and grapefruit. The whipped goat’s curd added a pleasant sourness to help round out the otherwise sweet fruit salad.The caramel popcorn was a nice touch but, for me, didn’t add much value to the dish.
We hadn’t quite finished the first course yet (90% through) when the second courses arrived. Below is a shot of the both of us trying to shoot the food. It’s so nice not being the only one taking photos!
Michelle chose the Pialligo smokehouse bacon (Australia’s number 1 bacon!), eggs the way you like it (we chose poached), roast tomato, sourdough and a choice of two sides. For the sides, we chose the roasted kipflers and the avocado and corn salsa. This was one huge plate of food. We could immediately smell the bacon and the roasted kipflers which had an incredibly crunchy skin. The thick cut bacon was plentiful and absolutely delicious. The eggs were perfectly poached and oozed out. I liked the side of corn salsa which was fresh and simple but done well. Maybe I should try making that at home..
Of course, I chose the sweet option of ricotta hotcakes with fresh peaches and plums from the Pialligo orchard, cinnamon mascarpone and maple syrup. The hotcakes were actually one fat single hotcake topped with fruit. We were both in awe at its fatness. The hotcake was soft and fluffy, though I did find it was a tad undercooked in one spot. I was glad that it wasn’t drowning in maple syrup making the dish not too sweet. I thought a perfect balance had been struck with this dish – a light drizzle of maple syrup, the naturally sweet fruit and the creamy mascarpone. I would have seriously struggled to finish this dish, even if it was only the one course. There was so much of it! There was still half left over after the both of us tackled it.
An inside shot of the hotcake – see how thick it is?!
It was an overcast day when we were there for breakfast, but the greenery is still gorgeous to look at. And it does feel like you’re not in Canberra anymore.
There were white peaches from the Pialligo orchard for sale at $10 a bag. Michelle and I received a complimentary bag, so I’m telling you first hand how juicy and yummy they were!
As always, service is fantastic and attentive. The surroundings are stunning. Pialligo Estate was number 1 on my Top 10 Eats of 2015, and I’m expecting it will do it again this year! Breakfast is only available on Sundays at $32 per person for 2 courses. As mentioned above, we’re told the menu will change monthly and according to what’s in the orchard and garden. Bookings are highly recommended. I’m already planning on going back – there were banana pancakes on the menu!
Foodgasm 9.5/10
Value for money 9/10
Service 8.5/10
FPJ score 27/30
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