Truffle aroma is musky, oaky, almost gamey – perhaps best described as the fragrance of extravagance. The deeply complex flavour combines with the alluring scent in a wave of gentle umami that is irresistible to most. And somehow truffles taste even better when shaved, slivered and sliced in elegant surrounds. Fittingly, then Emporium Hotel’s Signature restaurant is serving up everything truffle every Sunday until August 27.
Signature’s Executive Chef Luca Spagnola has collaborated with Lady Truffle – Debs Oliver to craft a Truffles Sundays menu that celebrates the Australian black truffles all too short season.
Truffle Sundays
Truffle Sundays showcases the luxurious truffle in a 4-course menu that highlights the versatility of the tantalising tuber that makes tastebuds tingle. The truffle extravaganza is topped and tailed with amuse bouche and petit four and can be paired with a specially selected list of wines by the glass.
Ascend the sweeping staircase from the glitzy Emporium Hotel foyer below to get your first glimpse of Signature. It’s a mixed group of diners – couples celebrating birthdays or just a chance to live it up and groups catching up over some fine food and wine.
Firstly, a perfectly shaped quenelle of truffle butter arrives with just-baked foccacia. And then a glass of perfectly chilled Penfolds Cellar Reserve Chardonnay 2018 from Emporium’s Reserve Cellar.
Our amuse bouche of delicate truffle-scented croquettes makes way for Celeriac Tagliatelle served over a 64° egg, hazelnut, truffle pecorino and finely-shaved truffle.
Deceptively simple it pairs beautifully with the fruit in the robust Tasmanian Chardonnay.
Next up, the indulgence amps quite a few notches with Champagne Lobster Risotto. Yes, Lobster sits happily aloft a celery and stracciatella cheese Champagne infused risotto liberally incorporating black truffle then topped with…You guessed it more truffle. It’s just as well I’m sitting because this is a knee-weakening dish.
A Christian Moreau Vallon 1er Cru 2016 (Chablis) was made to pair with this extraordinary perfectly al dente risotto.
Steak has never looked prettier than sliced and glazed Black Angus Tenderloin with a sweet as roasted parsnip sprouting kale and flower buds with a little pancetta-topped Paris Mash. The finishing touch – a generous shaving of gloriously-perfumed black truffle.
A glass of smoky and intense Syrah from the Victorian Alps – Savaterre Shiraz 2012 delivers the goods standing up well to the amply flavoured beef and delicious fungi.
Ahh…dessert
Palates cleansed with a little icy confection it’s time for dessert. Chocolate + Caramel Sphere never lets up with every texture of chocolate teamed with salt flower caramel. A chocolate shell encases a chocolate sponge, truffle-infused syrup and ice cream quenelle that combines with Bahibe chocolate cream to make a spectacular finish.
It takes all our willpower not to lick the last smears off the dynamic ceramic. A complex Tertre du Lys D’or Sauternes 2017 provides a perfect sendoff.
A vegetarian truffle degustation menu is also available.
Gnarly or smooth the black truffle is a thing of rare beauty and this marvellous menu allows diners to dive deep and mine every delicious moment.
Signature Truffle Sundays – a limited-edition dining experience is available every Sunday at lunchtime (11:30 am-2:00 pm) until August 27, 2023.
Disclaimer: TML were guests of Signature restaurant.
