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Food and drink matching at the 2017 National Multicultural Festival, Canberra

Jil Hogan
Jil Hogan

The sights, sounds and smells of the annual National Multicultural Festival will again fill the middle of Civic this weekend, but we all know, it's really all about the food.

We've had a trawl through what's on the menu this year, and matched up some dishes with complementary beverages, so you can step up your Multicultural Festival culinary journey.

Traditional turkish pastry: Lokma Loukoumades generic Greek donuts doughnuts
Traditional turkish pastry: Lokma Loukoumades generic Greek donuts doughnutsoykuozgu

Eat: Loukoumades

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Where to find it: Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra stall.

Festival-goers hardly need encouragement to seek out this Greek dessert - the crispy honey puffs are balls of deep fried dough, dipped in honey and sprinkled with crushed walnuts and cinnamon.

Wash it down with: Espresso shot

Where to find it: Australia Colombia Friendship Association stall.

Coffee and doughnut pairing is common for good reason. Columbian coffees are known for their full-bodied and rich taste, so this is the perfect shot to cut through the sugary goodness of Loukoumades.

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Eat: Chicken wings

Where to find it: Australia Mon Association stall.

Based on a south Burmese recipes, these chicken wings are marinated overnight in a sticky, spicy, gingery sauce, and then deep fried to perfection.

Wash it down with: Malaysian iced tea

Where to find it: Indonesian Embassy stall.

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A cold, sweet, milky drink, perfect to wash down this or any of the other spicy delicacies on offer.

Portion of Gyros pita, traditional Greek fast food. Gyros Yiros pita generic?Stock image iStock
Portion of Gyros pita, traditional Greek fast food. Gyros Yiros pita generic?Stock image iStockDejan Kolar

Eat: Gyros

​Where to find it: Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra stall.

The traditional Greek fast food - also known as souvlaki - has juicy meat, cooked up on hot coals, plus salad, tzatziki and chips served up on a fluffy pita.

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Wash it down with: Malty Cultural beer

​Where to find it: BentSpoke Brewery stall.

Brewed just up the road from the festival in their Braddon brewery, the special Multicultural Festival beer is a collaboration between BentSpoke and the Canberra Brewers Club, with nearly 100 members participating. The easy drinking and sessionable ale features malted barley, malted wheat, malted rye and rolled oats.

Sulina, Romania - August 10 2011: Heineken branded grass of beer Generic?Heineken beer
Sulina, Romania - August 10 2011: Heineken branded grass of beer Generic?Heineken beervamapaull

Eat: Chips on a stick

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Where to find it: Chips on a Stick stall.

The good ol' spiralised potato is controversial for some, a must for others. But it's hard to deny, they're pretty moreish. This year they've added a new special salt mix to the menu.

Wash it down with: Heineken

Where to find it: King O'Malleys.

The pale lager is perfect for pairing with salty snacks. King O'Malleys not only have it on tap, their bartenders are trained to pour the perfect glass of Heineken. You could also take your tastebuds across the Atlantic for an Irish tipple with both Kilkenny and Guinness also on tap.

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Malaysian chicken satay with delicious peanut sauce; one of famous local dishes. Satay for Morsels April 13
Malaysian chicken satay with delicious peanut sauce; one of famous local dishes. Satay for Morsels April 13Supplied

Eat: Satay sticks

Where to find it: Association of Malaysian Muslim Families stall.

It's not the National Multicultural Festival without meat on sticks, and you can't go wrong with Malaysian satay sticks.

Wash it down with: Löwenbräu

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Where to find it: Harmonie German Club stall.

The Harmonie German Club is bringing German beer to the festival, with the easy drinking Löwenbräu available on tap. While you're there you can also grab their traditional German sausages, schnitzels or pretzels. Prost.​

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Jil HoganJil Hogan is an food and lifestyle reporter at The Canberra Times.

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