Johnnie Walker Blue Label Mahjong Club

Overview

A bustling mahjong club with food from one of Sydney's best chefs is opening for one night in the middle of this year's Lunar New Year celebrations. Dan Hong (Mr Wong, Ms G's, MuMu) and actor Remy Hii (Crazy Rich Asians, Blaze) have teamed up to transform Merivale's CBD institution Est. into the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Mahjong Club on Saturday, February 17.

Arriving on level one of Establishment, the limited-time venue will have seatings from 1.30–9pm featuring fast-paced games of mahjong as well as a snack flight created by Hong. King crab and scallop dumplings, rock lobster bao and a next-level prawn toast made with otoro tuna belly and finger lime will all feature on the menu, alongside wagyu skewers, chilled truffled noodles paired with caviar, and warm Hong Kong-style egg tarts.

Merivale mixologist Jonathan Liu will be spotlighting Johnnie Walker Blue Label through a trio of bespoke cocktails. The Hi-Prosperity will infuse ginger, yuzu, and chrysanthemum; the Blue Wishes will be an apple and rose honey combo topped with champagne; and Peace and Peaches will pair the scotch with clarified coconut milk, peach and pandan.

"I have vivid memories of growing up watching my friend's mum play mahjong and spending Lunar New Year with my family, surrounded by food," says Hong.

"The menu I've created for the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Mahjong Club pays homage to those memories and traditions, and the ingredients that have important cultural symbolism around Lunar New Year, but each with a fresh new twist — a modern makeover and a few extra extravagant touches."

Spots are $170 with three packages available: advanced mahjong players, mahjong newcomers and spectators. These all include a four-dish meal and a cocktail. Plus, there's a $60 package for those who want to experience the pop-up with a cocktail and a complimentary snack.