Nestled in the heart of the Anthony John Group‘s glamorous Emporium Hotel on Grey Street sits its flagship restaurant space. This plush and opulent dining room, which boasts an eye-catching burnt orange and blush pink colour scheme, cream-coloured banquette seating, polished gold detailing and high ceilings, has long been home to the hotel’s flagship restaurant, Signature. It still is, in a sense, but on Thursday August 1 the restaurant was given a new identity and a menu to match.

FIRMA – Italian for signature – officially launched to the public today, with a new head chef at the helm spinning her childhood inspirations into a culinary offering that blends tradition with modernity. Signature’s former sous chef Alba Rizzo has stepped into the lead role at FIRMA, giving diners a glimpse at her upbringing in Lombardy through a selection of flavour- and comfort-driven dishes.

“It’s simple, done well,” says Alba of FIRMA’s fare. “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.”

A broad range of seafood and seasonal produce from Queensland providores has been incorporated into FIRMA’s a la carte and set menus. Spuntini like Sicilian olives filled with veal and pork, whipped salt cod with salmon roe and crostini, and gnocco fritto with slow-cured pork leg lead into antipasti plates of spiced Brisbane Valley quail and Hervey Bay scallop gratin with prosciutto di Parma.

FIRMA’s mains include buttery agnolotti filled with pork and mortadella, squid-ink spaghetti with South Australian pipis and mussels, and green risotto made with stracciatella, rapini, candied lemon, anchovies and a specialty rice grain. Large-format plates of Queensland reef fish with braised borlotti and pancetta, roast Gooralie pork belly with celeriac puree, and the signature slow-cooked veal shin ossobuco with wilted greens and gremolata are stand-out items.

Those with a sweet tooth will be jazzed to know that FIRMA boasts its own tiramisu dessert trolley, which dispenses the iconic Italian dessert made with coffee-soaked sponge, whipped mascarpone cream and shaved chocolate curls table side.

For cocktail lovers, a martini and negroni trolley also trundles around the space, but oenophiles will no doubt have their attentions affixed to FIRMA’s custom-built display cellar, which houses a number of premium drops from the hotel’s 6000-strong main cellar. FIRMA’s wine list is filled with Italian wines – available by the glass or bottle – that you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else in Australia. We’re talking top Italian DOCG and DOC vino from Piedmont and Tuscany, like Cerbaia Brunello di Montalcino, Brandini Barolo and Giacosa Fratelli
reds, and Arneis and Vermentino whites.

FIRMA is now open to the public – head to the Stumble Guide for booking details, menu info and operating hours.