As every good city should, Canberra is hosting their own instalment this year of the Night Noodle Markets.
And it’s looking delish.
They’ve released the sizzling menus of this year’s event, with a feast of signature dishes and creative tastes from Canberra and Australia-wide favourites. Returning to Reconciliation Place for an extended stint of eleven nights due to popular demand, from 28 February until 9 March, the air will be filled with spicy, salty and sweet aromas as Reconciliation Place is transformed into a bustling Asian street food festival.
And we spoke to chef Matt Blackwell of Monster Kitchen & Bar about why he’s doing this year’s fest and what we can expect!
Describe food in a sentence.
Food for me is something that brings people together, weather its eating a bowl of Larb in a local street market in Bangkok, or with your close friends and family at home.
Why have you dedicated your life to it?
Cooking allows me to be creative and constantly gain new experiences and meet really cool new people. It has allowed me to constantly travel and keep finding new things.
Why should Canberra want to eat what you make?
I am trying to bring some of what we do over at GOMA so people can get a taste of it in Canberra. Most of the ingredients and dishes I am bringing with me are really unique to Queensland, and I think it will be really cool for people in another state to get to try them in the way I’m using them.
Is it a big deal to be a part of this year’s Good Food Month?
Yes definitely, being part of Brisbane GFM last year was awesome, so I’m really looking forward to doing it again in a different city and working with the guys at Monster Kitchen.
Tell us what we should look out for.
Well for me, the black cherries from the Granite Belt are super cool, I’m serving them with roasted white chocolate and Sake Lees, which is really unique tasting. It’s all the left overs from the production of Sake, its a really different but familiar flavour. Also, keep an eye out for my roasted chicken fat fudge, it’s pretty full on, but an awesome way to finish a meal.
Matt will appear at the ticketed events:
- Matt Blackwell at Monster Kitchen and Bar | 7pm, Thursday 5 March | Tickets $180
- Louis Tikaram at Lanterne Rooms | 7pm, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March | Tickets $175
- Young Chefs Dinner presented by Citi | Aubergine | 7pm, Monday 16 March | Tickets $150
- Alanna Sapwell at Rebel Rebel Dining | 7pm, Wednesday 18 March | Tickets $190
Find all these at the Canberra Noodle Market website.
