Are you ready to rediscover the magic of dessert? The Eucalyptus Room has arrived in Fortitude Valley and is about to redefine your sweetest cravings. Hidden amongst the buzzing bars and restaurants, this culinary adventure promises a nostalgic journey.
This intimate ten-seater venue, helmed by former Queensland Parliament House executive chef Andrew McCrea, offers a seven-course degustation that reimagines classic sweet treats with a playful and emotional twist.
A Feast for the Senses
When guests sit, an unexpectedly large grey rock greets them. Soon, it reveals itself as the unconventional serving dish for the first course—a delicate bread sphere encasing sorbet butter, nashi pear, and pickled walnut. This sets the tone for an evening of surprises and culinary innovation.
McCrea, the mastermind behind The Eucalyptus Room, aims to challenge expectations and evoke a sense of childlike wonder in his guests. He believes that desserts uniquely unlock emotions, transporting diners back to the carefree days of childhood.
Childhood Memories Reimagined
McCrea’s childhood memories form the heart and soul of The Eucalyptus Room’s menu. His grandmother’s sweet shop in New Zealand, with its legendary coconut lamingtons and coconut rough, inspired the “sandwich” course. This bite-sized Lamington ice cream sandwich is both familiar and refreshingly new.
Even the final course, simply named “Chocolate,” is infused with nostalgia. It evokes the feeling of early spring at McCrea’s childhood home, where melting snow created a unique textural landscape. The dish features a medley of textures and temperatures, with melt-in-the-mouth white chocolate pumice, fizzy honeycomb, chocolate soil, “chocolate air,” and spearmint bubbles.
A Visceral Experience
As a legally blind chef with only six per cent vision, McCrea brings a unique perspective to his creations. While visually appealing, his desserts are designed to be experienced on a deeper level, engaging all the senses and creating a truly immersive dining experience.
One particularly heartwarming dish is the doughnut, inspired by cherished memories with his mother. On rainy days, McCrea shares chocolate-dipped, peanut-encrusted doughnuts with his mum in their yellow Ford Corolla. This translates into a pumpkin and mandarin doughnut filled with yuzu curd, dipped in chocolate butter, and topped with toasted macadamias—a burst of flavours and textures in every bite.
A Shared Passion
The Eucalyptus Room shares its space and team with Perspective Dining, McCrea’s acclaimed nine-course tasting menu restaurant just steps away. Both venues showcase McCrea’s meticulous attention to detail and his team’s dedication to culinary excellence.
From hand-crafting celeriac truffles to smoking potatoes in their native soil, McCrea and his team employ innovative techniques and source the finest ingredients to create unforgettable dining experiences.
A Sweet Escape
The Eucalyptus Room offers a unique escape from the ordinary, inviting guests to indulge their sweet tooth and rediscover the joy of dessert. With its intimate setting, innovative menu, and heartfelt inspiration, it’s sure to become a favourite destination for those seeking an extraordinary culinary adventure in the heart of Fortitude Valley.
The Eucalyptus Room is open Wednesday through Saturday for two evening sittings and Friday and Saturday for lunch. Perspective Dining is open Thursday through Saturday for two lunch sittings and Tuesday for a single dinner sitting.
Published Date 17-October-2024