Dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON continues her series of takeaway meals.

ONE thing I’ve learned during lockdown is how important takeaway packaging is for food presentation when delivery hits home. Quality packaging ensures food is kept hot (or cold) and looks as best as it can on arrival. 

Lamshed, in Yarralumla, has nailed this with its lockdown menu. It’s inspiring because there’s nothing worse than food smushed into containers and arriving looking like slop (such a turnoff). Lamshed takes its food far, far too seriously for that and we thank them for it.

Our Lamshed, four-course, takeaway meal began with a pretty-in-the-package ocean trout crudo. The packaging had sufficient height to protect the look of the colourful dish. The perfectly sliced ocean trout was simply gorgeous with little cubes of bright beetroot, crispy apple and micro herbs carefully placed here and there. The high-quality trout was mouth watering.

The magical chicken tagine also travelled well and was packed with exotic flavours. The couscous was fluffy and the addition of preserved lemon and apricot added a welcoming sweetness to the tender, moist chicken. It was an incredibly generous serve (leftovers for lunch!) and the dish memorable. 

We loved the innovative chargrilled zucchini dish, which looked as delightful as it tasted. It featured hazelnut and was topped with thin, big shavings of parmesan and rocket leaves. This demonstrates how a few carefully selected, quality ingredients is all that is needed for a special dish.

The pomegranate cheesecake was also packaged with tender loving care. It was soft, creamy and light. The mulled-wine, poached pear perked matters up perfectly. 

Pomegranate cheesecake… soft, creamy and light. Photo: Wendy Johnson

Fattoush salad… lovely and fresh. Photo: Wendy Johnson

Pretty-in-the-package ocean trout crudo… perfectly sliced with little cubes of bright beetroot, crispy apple and micro herbs. Photo: Wendy Johnson

Chargrilled zucchini… featured hazelnut and was topped with thin, big shavings of parmesan and rocket leaves. Photo: Wendy Johnson

Chicken tagine… the couscous was fluffy and the addition of preserved lemon and apricot added a welcoming sweetness to the tender, moist chicken. Photo: Wendy Johnson

You can order extras from Lamshed’s to up the ante if desired – for an additional cost – and we did. The garlic mashed potato was divine ($12) and the fattoush salad was lovely and fresh ($12). Also on the menu are Pambula oysters ($4 each or $4.50 with pickled grape and shallot) and minestrone soup (no doubt packed with goodness) for $10.

Lamshed has a great relationship with neighbouring Cork and Glass. To further support local, we popped in to organise for takeaway olives, a selection of scrumptious cheeses and a couple of bottles of wine, including a 2020 Coriole Fiano from McLaren Vale and a 2019 Domaine Christian Salmon, Clos des Criots, Pouilly-Fume from France.

The menu at Lamshed is $50 a person for four courses (pick up or delivery), very reasonable in our books. You can also buy wine, which is discounted during lockdown by 20 per cent.

Lamshed’s lockdown menu is available for lunch Wednesday to Sunday and dinner Tuesday to Sunday. Dishes change weekly during lockdown.