Mekong Baby Celebrates Its 1st Birthday with a New Summer Menu

On Wednesday 12 November Concrete Playground were lucky enough to be invited to a long lunch at one of our favourite haunts in Ponsonby – Mekong Baby. This baby is now one year old, and she celebrated in style by treating a full house of friends to 12 courses of her new summer menu, with matching wines poured by master sommelier Cameron Douglas.

The menu featured the best of the authentic yet modern Indo-Chinese cuisine Mekong Baby’s quickly developed a stellar reputation for; with some light, fresh summery twists. There was a big focus on seafood, with the pulled crab wrapped in peppery betel leaves and kingfish sashimi – drizzled in coconut milk – standing out for their simple, vibrant flavours and beautiful presentation.

Other highlights included a pork cheek and clam salad with salty, crisp curls of pig’s ear and a papaya salad seasoned with roasted chilli and lime. Dessert was coconut sago pudding with vanilla bean ice cream and crunchy puffed black rice, and a creamy chocolate mousse garnished with candied ginger and kaffir lime.

As always, the service was well-informed and warm, and the understated tropical fit-out and buzz of the dining room made it feel like you were eating on an island holiday (despite the rain pelting the windows). If you’ve never experienced Mekong Baby, the new summer menu is a great excuse to go (or re-visit).

Happy birthday Mekong!