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Politicians open Parliament House dining room to public

Scott Bolles
Scott Bolles

The Christmas in July menu at Parliament House in Sydney.
The Christmas in July menu at Parliament House in Sydney.Alana Dimou

Since the 1800s our pollies have run a closed shop with their restaurants at Parliament House on Macquarie Street, leaving the rest of us to eat cake. But that's about to change.

While politicians take their winter break next month, Parliament House is opening its Strangers' Dining Room & Lounge to the proletariat for lunch.

Did it require an act of Parliament to make them open the doors for three weeks? "The Department of Parliamentary Services and Parliamentary Catering worked together on it," says Parliament House spokeswoman Samantha Brown in what sounds a little like the makings of an episode of Yes Minister.

Coconut bombe Alaska on the Christmas in July menu at Parliament House.
Coconut bombe Alaska on the Christmas in July menu at Parliament House.Alana Dimou
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Once the exclusive domain of MPs, dignitaries and invited guests, the restaurant has dabbled with public events and high teas and if the July lunch pop-up works they'll look to extend it, Brown says..

The pricing is similar to what the pollies pay, and $45 for two courses sounds reasonable. The Parli-style Christmas in July menu will include gruyere and ashed goat's cheese souffle, roast wagyu cap au poivre with red onion escabeche, and a coconut bombe alaska they're calling White Christmas. It's a long way from the turkey and ham with green peas the Duke of Gloucester tucked into at Parliament House during a visit in 1947.

Bookings at dps.catering@parliament.nsw.gov.au or by calling 02 9230 3709.

Open Mon-Fri lunch, noon-3pm, July 3-28.

6 Macquarie Street, Sydney, parliamentarycatering.com.au/menu/christmas-in-july

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Scott BollesScott Bolles writes the weekly Short Black column in Good Food.

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