Savour the evocative flavours of Southern Italy in South Brisbane as the new FIRMA restaurant brings a sun-drenched slice of the Mediterranean lifestyle to Emporium Hotel South Bank with authentic Italian cuisine paired with Australian-exclusive Italian wines in August 2024.
Transforming the Signature restaurant into an elevated Italian concept, FIRMA (“signature” in Italian) offers freshly sourced, flavourful local ingredients in appealing, authentic and inclusive Italian dishes that are big on comfort and taste and welcoming of dietary requirements.
Italian Chef Alba Rizzo helms the FIRMA kitchen, sharing her Italian background in Lombardy through genuine cuisine enhanced by the finest seafood and seasonal produce from Queensland providores.
With an emphasis on authenticity and quality, Rizzo has sourced a specialist rice grain for her silky, rich Lombard risottos and will utilise a European hot stone cooking method for perfect steaks.
“It’s simple, done well,” Rizzo said. “FIRMA offers simple cooking with delicious, rich flavours that reflect Lombard signatures, such as risotto Milanese, slow-cooked ossobuco, pork agnolotti and soft polenta, and celebrate seasonal ingredients and local culture.”
“The agnolotti and ossobuco are part of my heritage and I’m proud to share a piece of my homeland for diners to experience at FIRMA.”
Diners can also savour $60 and $120 set shared menus that demonstrate that FIRMA should be enjoyed often, not just for special occasions, plus a special Nonna’s Table setting in a private 12-seat dining room that is ideal for families and get-togethers.
Bringing flair to the fore, FIRMA will surprise and delight diners with a tiramisu dessert trolley recreating the delectable Italian dessert of coffee-soaked sponge, whipped mascarpone cream and shaved chocolate curls tableside for two ($30) plus a martini and negroni trolley along with a carefully curated selection of Italian wines not available anywhere else in Australia.
Sourced directly from the vineyards, guests can savour top Italian DOCG and DOC drops from Piedmont and Tuscany such as Cerbaia Brunello di Montalcino, Brandini Barolo and Giacosa Fratelli reds and Arneis and Vermentino whites, available by the glass or bottle.
Chef Rizzo believes Italian cuisine appeals to Australians as a universal comfort food due to the delicious flavours, variety of moreish dishes and cultural infusion.
“Success to me is when guests come into FIRMA Italian restaurant to dine and leave satisfied and happy,” she said.
“My hope is for Brisbane diners to experience a real, traditional style of Italian cuisine at FIRMA that transports their minds to Italy.”
Opening on 1st August 2024, FIRMA is a brand-new, inner-city Italian restaurant that invites Brisbanities to become part of the famiglia and a welcome addition to Emporium Hotel South Bank.
FIRMA Italian is open daily from 5pm. For more information, visit https://firmaitalian.com.au/
or emporiumhotels.com.au
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