I’ve never been to Australia, but I have a lot of love for their food culture through many years of obsession with Masterchef Australia on TV. I’m sure fellow fans will appreciate how excited I am to come face to face with a finger lime and some bush tomatoes in the Outback garden at House of Oz.
House of Oz is an Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue and part of the UK/Australia Season of Culture. Taking over a community church building on South Clerk St, there is a host of shows for adults and kids in the indoor space, but the food and drinks offerings in the Outback garden are not to be missed. Chef David Lee from Sydney has brought native Aussie ingredients focused on sustainable, ethical, and organic produce. The prawns being cooked over the barbecue flames and dressed with finger lime and olive oil are plump and smoky. If you visit try anything that has the bush tomato chutney on it; it’s a real flavour burst.
The menu has heaps of Aussie tucker; kangaroo burgers, lamb kofta pizza, cheese and vegemite jaffles (toasties), and David’s pavlova smash with passionfruit curd and beautiful Davidson plums. There are plenty of veggie and vegan options, and a bar stocked with Australian drinks are sure to bring a little bit of home to any Southern Hemisphere visitors. I’m loving the Vegemite Bloody Mary; it’s got quite a kick.
As well as this completely charming all-day bar, David is presenting Monday evening Taste Australia dinners, each one hosted by an acclaimed Australian artist. The unique events will feature food highlighting different national food traditions whilst incorporating native Australian ingredients.
The next dates are:
Monday 15 August: Reuben Kaye (Russian-Jewish)
Monday 22 August: Michaela Burger (Greek)
Full price: £75 / Carer: £35
Tickets include a welcome cocktail and degustation menu. Wine flight and bar available at additional cost. Tickets are available from: https://tickets.edfringe.com/venues/house-of-oz
OUTBACK GARDEN KITCHEN AND BAR
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 am-10 pm. Sunday, 12:30pm-10pm
Last food orders: 9:30 pm
House of Oz - King’s Hall, 41a South Clerk Street, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9NZ
