EAT > Emerald City, Healesville

Almanak does not often write about the places we have not been able to visit yet but this is a place we are very excited about and as soon as we get the chance to update with a proper review we will do so. However in the meantime lets get into what we are excited about.

Emerald City is a FOUR person restaurant. It sits behind Cavanagh’s Whisky and Alehouse in the Yarra Valley town of Healesville. Its a bit over an hour out of the Melbourne CBD but in a beautiful town surrounded by vineyards. The restaurant is work of brilliant chef Joel Alderdice who was recently head chef at Tarra Warra Estate (which has one hat from the Age Good Food Guide).

It is a twelve to sixteen dish tasting menu that changes daily ensuring the freshest seasonal produce is used in creating the food wizardry. The name ‘Emerald City’ is a play on the Wizard of Oz who ultimately is behind the curtain, the tiny restaurant of the same name also sits behind a green velvet curtain but there is nothing tiny or understated about the food experience by all accounts.

A one person show, Alderdice is the chef, sommelier and waiter, the relationship with the four diners in the restaurant is obviously much more intimate.

Brendan (Cavanagh) and Joel have ensured that there is a meticulously crafted drink selection with whisky pairing, cocktails, beers or careful selection of wines. The drinks list is extended to the range carried by the near by Barrique Wine Store which acts an extended wine cellar.

Alderdice lifted the food at Tarra Warra making it a premium lunch destination for those visiting the valley, the food here is already getting people very excited. The tasting menu is $175 per person (bookings must be for two or four people) and there are two sittings Wednesday to Sunday evenings, they are also open Saturday and Sunday.

We will update you with scores as soon as we have had the chance to dine…