CarriageWorks: cultural hub, dining wasteland. Seeing a show at the converted railway workshop complex has hitherto involved rooting around in Newtown for snacks first. But now there’s this new canteen, smack bang in the middle of the action. It’s brought to you by A-grade caterers John and Peter. The whole heart of their business is quality ingredients, dealt with simply. Their catch cry is “simple, foam free, soil free, skid mark and spittle free”. And that’s what you’ll find at the canteen.
Start with a Campari and orange juice at one of the outdoor tables if it’s a nice afternoon and then move on to the broad beans on toast – a thick slice of toasted sourdough rubbed in thyme and covered in boiled broad beans. Legume haters are particularly vocal about these kidney-shaped green guys, given they require double-peeling when they're being prepared, but we think you can really taste that extra effort. Your waitperson might tell you that the first half of the menu is entrée sized and to treat it as such, but dishes like the knoblet of buffalo mozzarella with roast onion is better off shared with a few fingers of rosemary foccacia.
The great thing about the menu at John and Peter Canteen is there’s plenty of vegetarian gear on offer. Here, we’re talking a bowl of creamy polenta topped with sugo for a main course, and we're going back for the globe artichoke soup with lemon mayo. A dish of pork neck cooked in milk with curds and mash is a hefty undertaking. If we were to repeat offend on that count, we'd order a side of bitter greens with garlic and anchovy to break up the creaminess.
Sadly, our dessert order of a panettone pudding got lost somewhere. But not to worry: we’re given a bag of sweet treats to take with us as an apology. Don’t just say it with chocolate, say it with a gooey Valrhona chocolate brownie.
There’s a short wine and beers list, offering everything from bottles of Pol Roger to cloudy apple juice with elderflower cordial. There’s also a rosé on there that’d be well worth a nudge if you’re in for a long lunch.
The word on the street is this is to be a three-month pop-up with views to make it more permanent if all goes well. Lend ‘em your support, pick up a fork and stick it where it counts.
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We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46
We just had to go back - the pasta was so divine. Tonight we had the chicken - easily one of the most awesome meals we have had in Sydney - to top it off - the service was perfect - almost invisible for the most part but immediately there whenever you needed them - thank you for a perfect evening
Posted on Fri 18 May 2012 12:37:46