In the Conservatory

Janet Jeffs has embraced the current obsession with grilling, bringing in a Japanese robata charcoal grill as the menu centrepiece at her new restaurant, the Conservatory at the National Arboretum.

Jeffs, whose Ginger Catering also has the contract at Old Parliament House, plans to experiment with the flavours of different woods, given the location and the high-end Japanese white binchotan charcoal. She has also employed a chef from Korea – a grill master and sushi master – she says. And she will continue her commitment to local produce – organic vegetables from Allsun, eggs from Mulloon Creek, bacon from her own pigs and Boxgum Grazing beef.

She will be the chef, hands-on in the kitchen, because, she says: ‘‘I want to get it right, I want it to be in the style that I want it to be.’’ She has been talking to Clonakilla’s Tim Kirk about the wine list, which will focus on local wines.

The Conservatory, in the visitors centre (pictured), will open seven days for lunch from late February and for breakfast on weekends. Dinner will be reserved for functions.

Jeffs is also running a cafe on the site – Sprout started on the weekend and is open 9am-4pm seven days a week. It serves salads, sandwiches, tortillas, sushi, soups and the like – also offering food you can buy and take into the arboretum for a picnic.

Jeffs has had the Old Parliament House contract for a decade. It is up for renewal in 2014 and she wants to continue there, as well as at the arboretum, where she has a five-year contract.