Best places to eat and drink in Melbourne and Victoria this weekend
Holy cheesus! It’s the pizza that holds the record for the world’s cheesiest, topped with 154 types of cheese, and here’s where you can get your hands on it this weekend.
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Whether it’s a mod Middle Eastern feast, an afternoon of gin or a yum cha banquet with bubbles, here are Dan Stock’s top picks for where to eat and drink this weekend.
FOR A GIN FLING
This weekend, head to Collingwood’s The Craft and Co for the annual Spring Gin Market. Meet the makers from a dozen local distilleries including Melbourne Gin Company, Alchemy, Little Lon Distilling and the Bathtub Gin Co. There will be three two-hour sessions across the weekend where $10 gets you access to tastings and a $5 voucher to spend on gin.
The Craft & Co, 390 Smith St, Collingwood.
Tickets: thecraftandco.com.au
FOR CHEESE DREAMS
Melbourne’s Mr Pizza Johnny Di Francesco is ready to melt pizza-lovers’ hearts.
Not one to string along his fans, the 400 Gradi founder has again reprised the world’s cheesiest pizza this week, a way cool creation featuring gorgonzola and grana Padano, goat cheddar and buffalo blue as well as the 150 other cheeses on top.
But you’d better get a moo-ve on if you want to get your hands on this World Record-holding creation, which is only on the menu at Gradi restaurants until Sunday.
FOR A MOD MIDDLE EASTERN FEAST
Maha East is billed as the casual neighbourhood sister restaurant to the Shane Delia’s much-loved CBD fine diner in the space that used to be Delia’s kebab shop on Chapel St.
And it’s been packed since opening a couple of months ago.
They’re coming for Middle Eastern-ish meze that uses such ingredients as kombu and taramasalata among the expected harissa, sumac and za’atar on a menu that includes gnocchi and French fries alongside the Maha signature slow-roasted lamb.
Lovely little beef-filled Turkish dumplings known as manti come tossed through spinach and served with yoghurt that tempers a good hit of heat, while textural octopus comes with charred chard stalks and chickpeas in a harissa-spiked sauce. Spiced lamb borek is an easy pleasing win, while every table seems to get — and demolish — a plate of those tarama-filled fried buns.
The $65 three-course set menu filled with all the hits — from hummus with flatbread through Maha’s famous Turkish delight doughnuts — is a great way to tackle the menu, while little uns can choose from such dishes as grilled steak or rockling or gnocchi with poached chicken, all cooked with Delia’s trademark flair.
Maha East is open from 11.30am Sat-and Sun and from 5pm weeknights at 36 Chapel St, Windsor. mahaeast.com.au
READ MORE:
THE $7 BAR SNACK THAT’S PERFECT WITH BEER
WOULD YOU DRINK A BACON AND EGG MARTINI?
THE MEXICAN BITES YOU WON’T WANT TO SHARE
FOR SUNDAY YUM CHA
Did someone say dumplings?
Every Sunday this month, Spice Temple at Crown is throwing a yum cha banquet that comes with added bubbles.
Along with an expansive procession of buns, bites, dumplings and delicious fried dishes there’ll be free-flowing Chandon to go with the salt and pepper silken tofu and white cut chicken and the famous pork and garlic chive steamed buns.
The 90-minute seatings are $99 a head inclusive.
Bookings: spicetemple.com.au
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