SAILS by Hemingway’s reopens with exciting menu updates

BUSINESS FEATURE

Jamie Jansen

Journalist

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Explore Peruvian-inspired dishes like Leche de Tigre and 'Posa de Pulpo', alongside highlights such as duck liver parfait and jamon croquettes. Picture: Newsport

After a brief hiatus during the wet season, SAILS by Hemingway’s has reopened its doors, unveiling a tempting array of new tapas dishes to complement its already captivating menu. 

As Hemingway’s gears up for the busy season, fresh culinary creations grace the upstairs wine and cocktail bar and restaurant, all designed to accommodate the expected surge in patrons.

The menu has undergone refinement, now featuring a tapas section offering various small bites priced from $5 to $12, highlighting top-tier ingredients.

Roman Haslinger, Head of Hospitality, explained that these tapas selections, designed to complement the main dishes, are intended to enhance the dining experience, rather than serving as standalone meals.

The refined menu features a tapas section offering various small bites priced from $5 to $12. Picture: Newsport

“Previously, some of these dishes served as substantial meals, but now they've been transformed into single-bite wonders. This allows our Head Chef Karel Polo Solis to highlight the quality of our ingredients and culinary techniques.”

The recent main dish menu development at Hemingway’s is driven by a commitment to sous-vide-inspired flavours and ingredients. This culinary technique, commonly found in fine dining establishments, entails vacuum-sealing food and cooking it in a precisely regulated water bath.

According to Mr Haslinger, sous vide plays a crucial role at their establishment. “Our commitment to using top-quality ingredients means we handle meat with precision. We apply gentle heat methods to maintain the natural flavours and textures of premium cuts, such as fine fillet.”

Cultural delights

Mr Haslinger's vision for a unique dining experience led him to entrust Head Chef Karel, originally from Peru, with infusing their menu offerings with Peruvian cuisine. 

This resulted in a menu boasting a diverse selection of globally-inspired dishes, including Peruvian creations like Leche de Tigre. Originating as a sauce for ceviche, Leche de Tigre has evolved into a standalone amuse-bouche (mouth amuser). This exemplifies how numerous renowned dishes, like pizza and Shepherd’s Pie, to name a few, have their origins in leftovers and remnants of other dishes.

A unique addition is the Peruvian-inspired dish called “Causa de Pulpo”, featuring mashed potatoes accompanied by squid ink and olive-coconut reductions.

Other highlights include duck liver parfait served with brioche, bug tail accompanied by creamy crayfish bisque and celeriac, and Rollo de Pollo featuring a mild Peruvian sauce or charred chilli. 

The jamon serrano croquettes aren’t your typical potato-based ones; it’s a Hispanic variation with a creamy bechamel base infused with serrano ham, a common delicacy found in Barcelona, showcasing a Mediterranean influence.

Additionally, dishes like scallop tiradito and oysters, served with a lemon saffron ginger gel and sweet potato crisps are a standout. Every menu section also features at least one vegetarian dish, like the tomato tartare on the tapas menu, which may seem simple but incorporates black garlic and a unique dressing.

Combine this with the extensive wine list or beautiful cocktails like a Pineapple banana sour, Tommy’s Margarita, and French Connection for a delightful lunch or dining experience.

Mr Haslinger expressed his pride in the progress they’ve made since the opening of SAILS in November last year, stating, “I've been overseeing the kitchen at Hemingway’s Port Douglas for about two and a half years now, and I must say, it’s the strongest and most talented kitchen team we’ve had since I’ve been here. We’re well-prepared for the upcoming season.”

SAILS by Hemingway’s is open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday, wines and cocktails from 12pm to late. Find SAILS menu here. During Easter, Hemingway’s and SAILS will be closed on Good Friday but will resume regular hours on Saturday, Sunday, and Easter Monday

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