If you’re anything like me and feel like winter is starting to turn into an unwanted blackhead, you’ll appreciate that The Emerson is re-creating an Asian wonderland on its infamous rooftop until the end of winter. (Sorry Qantas, maybe next year).
For six weeks, The Emerson’s enclosed (read: enclosed, warm, very Vietnam-like) rooftop will be Extreme Makeovered with beautiful cherry blossom, paper lanterns, Asian fans and floral arrangements, where you can lose yourself in the illusion of an overseas holiday, drinking rainbow-coloured cocktails, Japanese whiskies and sake.
In addition, the entertainment complex in South Yarra (yes, where all the beautiful people go and you feel like a bonsai if you stand at anything less than seven feet) is collaborating with Windsor foodie institution Susie Wong to offer a menu that stars all of our favourite Asian faces (dumplings, bahn mi, rice paper rolls, if they require spelling out).
The South-East Asian and Japanese-inspired menu includes small grazing plates (i.e. prawn, sweet corn and spring onion spring rolls with green chilli nuoc cham dressing; and scallop, prawn and goji berry siu mai dumplings with black vinegar dressing), large grazing plates (crispy chicken wings, tempura selection, etc), teppanyaki skewers and mains (five spice pork belly, slow braised beef cheek, etc). Then to top it off, there are some sweet, sweet Asian-inspired desserts, including coconut pudding and vanilla panna cotta. Everything is nothing short of DELICIOUS!
Image credit: APL Photography
Image credit: APL Photography
Image credit: APL Photography
Image credit: APL Photography
Image credit: APL Photography
Image credit: APL Photography
If you need another reason to eat a truckload of dumplings, each Thursday you can participate in the ‘Dump DV Challenge’, paying $25 to attempt to eat 20 dumplings in two minutes. If victorious, you’ll go in the draw to win a trip to Japan, with all proceeds going towards Jimmy Bartel’s ‘Face up to Domestic Violence Appeal’.
And if you park your dumpling-shaped bum in front of the portable heaters you might even be able to fool yourself into thinking you’re on the beach in Seminyak.
‘Winter in Asia’ at The Emerson is running until Sunday 28 August 2016.
The Emerson | 145 Commercial Road, South Yarra, Victoria
theemerson.com.au
