A bite-sized recap of the biggest stories of the week, so you know where to go and what to order across Melbourne and Victoria. Check in each week so you can be the smartest person in your group chat.

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Sweet deal: Good Measure x T2 kissa pop-up

Inspired by Tokyo’s late-night listening bars, Carlton cafe Good Measure is hosting a special one-night-only kissa in collaboration with T2. This Friday, August 1, the Lygon Street space will be transformed into a moody bar with a focus on music and specialty matcha drinks. While Good Measure is known for pioneering the Mont Blanc coffee, the kissa is all about highlighting T2’s new matcha range with three bespoke “cocktails”: a triple strawberry matcha; white chocolate matcha; and a peach matcha spider. Japanese-inspired desserts are also on the menu, and local DJ LXY will be spinning a vinyl set. It kicks off at 7.30pm, but get in quick – the first 100 drinks are free.

The verdict on South Yarra’s Greek taverna Astoria

Melbourne’s dining scene has seen a flurry of new Greek restaurants opening as of late – Kafeneion, Taverna, Tzaki, Aegli and as of last spring, Astoria Bar Ke Grill. Found near the Como Centre on Toorak Road in South Yarra, the terracotta-paved terrace diner is set to be the spot of the summer with its menu of home-style bread, dips, pastries and Hellenic-skewed house cocktails. Read Good Food critic Dani Valent’s full review here.

Celebrated bartender Matt Whiley creates theatrical cocktail menu at Curious

Curious Matter, the underground cocktail bar at the W Hotel on Flinders Lane, has introduced a new cocktail menu that’s as theatrical as the Hachem Architecture-designed space itself. Renowned UK mixologist Matt Whiley (Re, Little Cooler), known for his no-waste approach to creative cocktails, has come on board to introduce a sensory and scientifically driven menu where all the states of matter – solids, liquids, gases and vapour – come into play. There’s a fluffy edible mojito “cloud” served on a spoon, or an earthy vodka concoction featuring native ingredients like lemon myrtle and strawberry gum soda served in a bowl of smoked leaves. The new menu is available from July 31.

Three nutritionist-approved soups to fight colds and flu

Soup is especially good for boosting immunity during winter, offering essential hydration, vitamins, and minerals in every spoonful. Nutritionist Sarah Pound shares three flavourful recipes designed to ward off colds and flu, including a classic chicken noodle soup with homemade bone broth, and a spiced vegetable and chickpea soup packed with immune-boosting ingredients like turmeric and garlic.

Hump day special: $15 burgers and trivia at The Rochey

Brace the midweek chill and head out to cosy Fitzroy pub The Rochey on Wednesdays for weekly pub trivia and hulking burgers for just $15. That includes a mammoth spicy fried chicken burger, a classic cheeseburger served with lashings of jalepeno jam, or a veggie burger for any plant-based friends. Bookings can be made here.

Coming soon: A new Japanese restaurant by the owner of a two-hatted fine diner

For the unfamiliar, oden is a hearty one-pot Japanese dish typically featuring ingredients like fish cakes, daikon, eggs and more, all simmered in broth. At restaurateur Melanie Zhang’s new restaurant of the same name, the soup will be its signature dish. Opening later this year, Oden comes eight years after the arrival of Zhang’s two-hatted kaiseki fine diner Ishizuka. Find out more here.

Recipe: Ruben’s Deli’s mac and cheese

Armadale deli and sandwich shop Ruben’s Deli might be known for its hefty New York-style sangers and filled bagels, but its baked mac and cheese has become a customer favourite on the winter menu. It’s made with four types of cheese and finished with a crunchy breadcrumb topping concealing the gooey, cheesy centre. Even better, you can now make the dish yourself at home – find the full recipe here and save it to your own recipe list on the Good Food app.

Australia’s oldest Chinese restaurant to close

Iconic Bendigo Chinese diner Toi Shan has announced it will be shutting its doors for the final time at the end of the month. Running for more than 70 years, it’s said to be one of the country’s oldest Chinese restaurants. Owners Sai Yoke Wong and Kok Hem Chee, both in their 70s, plan to retire – and without anyone to take over the Mitchell Street restaurant, it will instead reopen at a later date as an Indian restaurant. Find out what you need to know here.

The download: Friday, July 25

Hot ticket: Chocolate making masterclass with Alessandro Luppolo

Yet to organise plans for the weekend? Keen to learn a new skill? Chocolatier Alessandro Luppolo, of his eponymous Elsternwick chocolate shop, is hosting a limited series of bonbon making masterclasses, where you can get your hands dirty and craft your own hand-painted bonbon chocolates from scratch. Tickets are $99 and the sessions run for about three hours, inclusive of learning all about cacao and chocolate tempering, plus preparing and painting chocolates in flavours like salted caramel, almond praline, and espresso milk chocolate ganache. There are still spots available for July 31 and August 3. Book here.

Recipe: Buttery lemon shortbread biscuits

Dust off the biscuit tin and get baking this weekend with Blue Mountains food writer and photographer Tilly Pamment’s lemony shortbread biscuits. They’re delicately unassuming; short and buttery, perfect to enjoy alongside a hot cuppa on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The recipe is from her first cookbook, The Plain Cake Appreciation Society, which celebrates easy home-made bakes (like this one).

Hot ticket: Shannon Bennett returns to Melbourne with BistroX pop-up

Celebrated chef Shannon Bennett, the original founder of three-hatted fine diner Vue De Monde, is returning to Melbourne after an eight-year stint away from the pans. Spots are now open for his limited pop-up at the ground floor kitchen of Fitzroy’s StandardX hotel, which will see the chef reunite with his former Vue De Monde team including Cory Campbell, Ryan Henley (Pescatore, Christchurch) and master sommelier Carlos Simoes Santos. The three-month BistroX residency will offer diners a hyper-seasonal, bistro-style menu with a French influence, while focusing on local produce – such as a weekly rotating steak sourced from Victorian suppliers. It runs from Wednesday, July 23 to Wednesday, October 15. Bookings can be made here.

25 RecipeTin Eats recipes to save for midweek dinners in a pinch

Love Nagi Maehashi? Stuck on dinner inspo for the week? We’ve got you. These 25 RecipeTin Eats dishes use just 12 budget-friendly ingredients (or less) and are sure to be a crowd-favourite among family, dinner guests, kids, and everyone in between. There’s a Thai chicken satay curry that’s ready in just 20 minutes, saucy Spanish meatballs, speedy chicken pot pies and more. You can also save your favourites for future meal planning on the Good Food app.

Hump day special: Parma and schnitty night at the North Port Hotel

Wednesday parma night? Say less. Local Port Melbourne pub the North Port Hotel offers diners bang for buck each Wednesday with $23 chicken parmas and schnitzels (usually $29). Both dishes come with chips and salad, while the schnitty is topped with a gooey fried egg and drenched in pepper sauce. The pub also does $27 steak nights on Tuesdays, and a rotating roast with all the trimmings on weekends.

Besha Rodell reviews Australia’s first Ministry of Crab

Earlier this year, Sri Lanka’s international seafood chain the Ministry of Crab arrived at Flinders Lane in Melbourne’s CBD – the restaurant’s first Australian outpost. The giant, glitzy space almost feels cringe-worthy in Melbourne in 2025, but is the food deserving of its price tag? Good Food critic Besha Rodell gives her verdict – and the score might surprise you.

Eat Streets: Where to dine in Footscray

On the verge of a renaissance, the inner-west suburb of Footscray is brimming with cuisines from across the globe. There’s deeply flavoured pho and steamed-to-order rice rolls inside the Footscray Market; handmade cannoli from an iconic 70-year-old Sicilian cafe; injera and Ethiopian stew in a homely space; hot pot that arrives on a train buffet, plus more. Read Dani Valent’s full guide to eating in Footscray here.

A coffee and knitting bundle to keep you cosy this winter

Cardigang knows how to spend a chilly afternoon. The DIY knit kit brand has teamed up with Veneziano Coffee Roasters to launch a limited edition Winter Warmer Bundle that will keep you cosy for the rest of the season. The bundle includes a scarf kit - complete with ultra soft merino wool, needles and pattern - plus a 250g bag of Veneziano’s Winter Warmer coffee blend, brimming with toasty marshmallow, milk chocolate and biscuit notes. $140 from cardigang.com.au.

The download: Friday, July 18

Recipe: A perfectly tender coq au vin with top tips from Adam Liaw

If Bastille Day on Monday has inspired some Gallic influence in your kitchen, don’t sleep on Adam Liaw’s coq au vin masterclass. And it’s not as tricky as you might think – once you’ve got the basics, you’ll have a perfectly classic French braise on your hands. Read Liaw’s top tips here and save the recipe for your weekend cooking on the Good Food app.

What to eat when you’ve got a cold, according to a dietitian

You already know you need to keep hydrated, but eating the right foods can also help snuff out a sniffle. If you’ve been exposed to a bug or feel a slight scratchiness in your throat, the first thing you should do is super-load vitamin C, says dietitian Susie Burrell, who recommends going hard on citrus fruit, kiwifruit, tomatoes and berries. She also suggests saturating yourself with bone broth to help support immune function and overall health. But what about when you finally start feeling sick? Find out here.

Review: A taste of Bangkok’s Chinatown in Melbourne

In the heart of Melbourne’s Chinatown, Yaowarat – named for Yaowarat Road in Bangkoks own Chinatown – has been dishing up punchy street-style food in a large, fast-casual dining space since February. It’s by Surachai “Ben” Kunchairattana of food hall Heng Thai, nearby Khao Soi (Thai-Japanese fusion) and barbecue place Aung Lo. Expect $1 congee, aromatic stir-fried pipis and more – you can read Good Food critic Dani Valent’s full verdict here.

Hump day special: Winter Night Market at the Queen Vic Market

The Queen Victoria Market’s annual Winter Night Market is back –and there’s still time to visit if you haven’t already. Running each Wednesday in July, the market has been transformed into an icy winter wonderland this year, complete with live ice sculpting, performers and other frost-friendly entertainment that makes for perfect wet-weather school holiday fun. As always, expect more than 50 stallholders serving drinks and dishes from cuisines across the globe, from warming laksa bowls to Sri Lankan street food, baklava soft serve and more.

Hot ticket: A progressive dinner (plus free-flowing drinks) on Chapel Street

Seven courses. Three venues. Bottomless cocktails. All for just $149 per person. Progressive dinners are back with Windsor’s second annual Fork and Walk festival, kicking off on July 17 and running through to August 10. Every week on Thursday nights and Sunday lunches, eat your way down Chapel Street at three favourite local venues: Mr Miyagi, Freddy’s Pizza, and Windsor Wine Room. Choose where you want to kick things off; each venue will serve two signature dishes (like Mr Miyagi’s famous salmon belly sushi taco) plus unlimited beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Bookings can be made here but are selling out fast – there are less than 100 tickets remaining so get in quickly.

Cult-favourite Carlton North bakery opens Northcote outpost

Calle, the Rathdowne Street bakery known for its queues of customers eager to get their hands on viral custard-filled croissant wheels, has (coincidentally) filled the gap for baked goods on Northcote’s High Street following the closures of popular bakeries All Are Welcome and Holy Sugar (the latter slated to close later this month). At Calle’s second outpost, expect monthly croissant wheel specials, plus cinnamon scrolls, Dubai chocolate croissants, filled baguettes and more. Find out everything you need to know here.

The download: Friday, July 11

Hot ticket: A decadent wagyu and whisky degustation at Society

Whisky and wagyu might just be the perfect match – particularly when paired over five courses at a two-hatted restaurant. For one night only, chefs Joachim Lim (Society) and Vincenzo Ursini (Grill Americano) are cooking an indulgent degustation that spotlights the collaboration between Society, Westholme Wagyu and Melbourne whisky distillery Starward.

Rich, marbled beef is found in every dish from the caramelle pasta ragu down to the wagyu fat creme caramel dessert soaked in bitter amaro. Each course highlights quality Australian ingredients including a range of cross and purebred wagyu cuts; the decadent, buttery flavours of the meat complemented by the smokiness of the whisky – whether in a simple nip of 100-proof Starward single-malt; or an umami-rich Old Fashioned made with wagyu fat-washed two-fold whisky and shitake vermouth. The dinner takes place on Thursday, July 31 and tickets are $225 per person, inclusive of the five courses and all drink pairings. Bookings can be made here.

Six spins on our favourite soup recipes

Keen soup markers will likely have a few tried-and-true favourites that resurface each winter. But even the classics can sometimes do with a little refresh. From miso paste to crunchy bacon and swirls of cheese, Good Food shares how we spice up (in some cases, literally) our best-loved soup recipes. If any catch your eye, you can also save the recipe for later in the Good Food app.

Carlton gains seafood-forward restaurant by the Don’s team

Prahran locals will likely be familiar with natural wine bar Don’s– known for its snacky menu including the signature $9 “pasta on a spoon”. Now, the team have ventured northside with Cordelia. The new Carlton restaurant features a more refined menu that changes daily and focuses on sustainably sourced seafood (though one mainstay is a hulking fish burger for fans of Don’s fried chicken sanger). Find out more about the new space, and what to expect, here.

Hump day special: Pie, pot and trivia at the Wesley Anne

Warm up this Wednesday evening at the Wesley Anne, a longstanding Northcote live music venue serving pub grub and craft beer in a converted church. It offers a range of weekly specials, including Wednesday night (free) trivia and a $24.99 pie and pot combo. The pie of the day rotates but there’s usually a vegetarian and meat option available. Plus, happy hour runs daily from 3-6pm. Trivia bookings can be made here.

Neil Perry’s best winter recipes of all time

Stuck for inspiration in the kitchen? We don’t blame you. With cooking motivation often as low as Melbourne’s overnight temperature in winter, it’s easy to let meal prep go by the wayside. Next time you’re planning your meals for the week, peruse Neil Perry’s 50 greatest all-time winter recipes and save your favourites for later on the Good Food app. There’s plenty to get you excited to cook again, from ma po tofu to fish pot pies, cacio e pepe and more.

MoVida’s Frank Camorra takes residency in Kyneton

One of Melbourne’s most notorious chefs, Frank Camorra (of hatted icon MoVida) is heading north of the city this month for a month-long pop-up at Kyneton’s Piper Street Wine Company – a European bistro, wine shop and bar in one. Dubbed Cocina Casera, the residency will see Camorra serve up a Spanish menu that leans more casual than the MoVida tapas offering. Instead, he will explore home-style cooking using local Macedon Ranges produce paired with seasonal wines that showcase Spain’s distinctive varietals. The Kyneton residency runs from July 10 to August 3. Bookings are essential and can be made here (visit on a Sunday to try Camorra’s signature paella).

Spicy small-batch pasta and sauce by Saturday Night Pasta

If your idea of the perfect Saturday night involves warm slippers and a big bowl of bolognese, then you’ll want to stock your pantry with Saturday Night Pasta. The small-batch pasta and sauce range is handmade and bottled by cookbook author and recipe developer, Elizabeth Hewson. The latest addition? Some Like It Hot — a bold, spicy sauce infused with Dorrigo pepper and preserved lemon, designed to pair with Tulipano, a cup-shaped pasta that clings to every drop. Some Like It Hot $11.90 for 500g, Tulipano $9.90 for 375g, saturdaynightpasta.com.au

The download: Friday, July 4

Melbourne’s best vanilla slice has been found

Stop your search: the best vanilla slice in town has officially been uncovered. Good Food reviewer Dani Valent’s quest for the perfect vanilla slice was concluded in Melbourne’s north-western suburbs. The secret to the dessert in question? A sweet South American twist. Find out more here.

Kitchen tips and tricks from top chefs and cooks

When it comes to home cooking, it’s often those extra little steps that take a dish from great to memorable – something dinner party guests will still be thinking about in the days following. Maybe a perfectly al dente pasta, or mastering the art of seasoning. If you’re looking to elevate your cooking, we’ve rounded up the best tricks of the trade from beloved chefs and cooks, from Poh Ling Yeow to Donna Hay, Maggie Beer and more.

Hump day special: Pipis at Anchovy

Revived Vietnamese favourite Anchovy is brightening up Melbourne’s gloomy Wednesday evenings this winter with Pippi Hut – a bold, saucy hump day special available for both dine in and takeaway. For $35, you’ll get a snack-sized 250-gram serve of Goolwa pipis wok-tossed with Anchovy’s XO sauce, packed with dried scallops and prawns, bacon, chilli and anchovies. Add Chinese doughnuts or crispy egg noodles to mop up the sauce for $8 each.

A Japanese coffee festival is coming to Melbourne

Last week, Aussie coffee label Single O opened its fourth store in Tokyo since last April. It’s not the only Australian roaster in Japan, either, with cafes like Why Not in Osaka also fuelling the country’s caffeine needs. Meanwhile, Japan’s own unique coffee culture is also making its way Down Under as part of a mega festival this July involving more than two-dozen Japanese coffee roasters. Find out everything you need to know about the festival and Japan’s Aussie coffee craze here.

A cheap and cheerful chicken coconut curry

As a single mother of three, Tasmanian-based recipe writer Chelsea Goodwin understands the importance of feeding a family on a tight budget. Her new cookbook, Money-Saving Meal Plans with Chelsea, contains eight weeks of meal plans to feed a family of four, averaging about $3 a serve. She’s shared three of those recipes with Good Food, including a chicken coconut curry made with chicken drumsticks and everyday pantry ingredients. Get the recipe here.

Put some pep in your scent with this daring fragrance

Not content with lifting your pantry’s pepper game, single-origin pepper makers Pep are now coming for your daily fragrance. Pepfume, out now, delivers crisp alpine forest topnotes and a warm undertone thanks to its blend of Pep essential oil, Calabrian bergamot and Virginian cedarwood. It may even remind you of the first grind of black pepper on a halved avocado. Created in collaboration with florist and perfumer Briony Wright, the fragrance comes in a handy roll-on bottle for easy application on-the-go or while travelling. Get the all-Melbourne creation at Pep’s online shop. eatpep.com, $42 (10ml)

The Tipo 00 crew’s first non-Italian restaurant is officially open

The team behind one of Melbourne’s most iconic Italian restaurants, Tipo 00, has officially unveiled Harriot, its new destination European diner at the base of an office block at the business end of town. But the venue isn’t strictly Italian; instead it draws from European wine bars and bistros with a menu that nods to French, Spanish, Italian and British cuisine. Find out everything you need to know here.

14 warming vegie recipes that aren’t soup

We’re only a month into winter, but if you’ve already reached your soup limit, try these nourishing, budget-friendly recipes instead. They’re hearty, packed with nutritious ingredients (but your kids won’t know it) and completely vegetarian. See the full list here and save your favourites on the Good Food app for meal planning. Your future self will thank you.

The download: Friday, June 27

The verdict on Molli 2.0

Contemporary Abbotsford restaurant Molli, from the group behind Hazel, Lilac and Square One, was rebooted within 12 months of first opening its doors in mid-2024. While the original fine dining approach didn’t quite work for the neighbourhood, Molli is now back with a more approachable menu and New York-born chef Caitlin Koether at the kitchen’s helm. But does it hit the mark? Read Besha Rodell’s full review here.

Sweet deal: $15 lunch bowls at Maha

One of Melbourne’s best winter lunchtime deals is back at the flagship for Shane Delia’s hatted Middle Eastern stalwart Maha in the CBD. From 10 June right through until the end of August, you can grab a hearty lunch bowl for just $15 every day between 12pm and 3pm (yes, including weekends). The special changes weekly – this week it’s a Jimbaran grilled chicken served with fragrant rice, spicy dabu-dabu sambal and crackers; while next week expect a tomato and green olive orzo pasta with grilled adana (lamb kebab) and a fresh oregano, rosemary, parsley and red onion salad. The winter special is available for both dine-in and takeaway – book or order online here. Looking for more $15 deals to hit up on your lunch break? Find four additional options here.

The perfect recipe for creamy Basque cheesecake

A soft, molten centre and bitter caramelised top, all without the hassle of a fiddly biscuit base. It’s no wonder the Basque cheesecake has taken the world by storm. If you’ve attempted the popular dessert in the past only to be met with dry, grainy results, Emelia Jackson’s perfectly creamy, wobbly Basque recipe is for you (it’s easier than you might think).

Hump day special: $1 wings and $10 cocktails at Bluestone American BBQ

Looking for a cheap midweek drink and a snack? Every Wednesday and Thursday, Coburg’s southern-meets-South-American barbecue joint, Bluestone, dishes up its signature barbecue chicken wings – plus other variations including garlic parmesan and maple habanero wings – for just $1 a pop. Plus, cocktails are only $10. The deal runs every week from 5-9pm.

Japanese kaiseki restaurant in CBD laneway gains two hats

Down a CBD laneway and behind the doors of an old corner warehouse, Japanese fine diner Tomo-An is Melbourne’s very own portal to Japan. Here, chef Tomotaka Ishizuka’s Aussie-fied kaiseki menu – a formal progression of Japanese courses – is only served to six guests at a time, including Good Food critic Dani Valent whose recent review earned the restaurant two hats. Read the full verdict here.

The hottest restaurants of 2025 (so far)

Chicken tea served within an art gallery. A hatted restaurant inside a casino. “Scandinasian” pastries; an aptly named tiny bar with only 15 seats; and a market favourite bagelry that now has a bricks-and-mortar home. These are just a handful of Melbourne’s most exciting venue openings of the year thus far. Yet to tick any off your hit list? See the full collection here and save your must-visits in your very own restaurant saved list on the Good Food app.

Midweek winter recipe: Lamb meatballs and creamy braised beans

Stuck on what to make for dinner this week? You probably already have most of the ingredients for Jessica Brook’s cosy lamb meatballs with creamy braised beans in your pantry. Creamy, zesty chickpeas and white beans bring the warming winter vibes, while flavourful lamb meatballs add some oomph. Serve it all with a generous helping of grated parmesan and a chunk of crusty bread to swipe through the sauce.

The download: Friday, June 20

Hurtle down the Eastern Freeway for one of the best yum cha in town

If there are two things that will get Melburnians out of the house in winter, it’s footy and yum cha. And according to Good Food reviewer Larissa Dubecki, Templestowe’s Golden Dragon Palace produces an atmosphere on weekends that’s akin to the MCG on game day – despite being 20km out from the CBD. Read the full verdict on this 200-seat icon here.

Three ways with chickpeas (including a meat-free marry me chickpea recipe)

Marry me chicken may be having a moment again, but to what benefit of our plant-based friends? Thankfully, saying “I don’t” to meat does not mean you can’t say “I do” to Katrina Meynink’s saucy, garlicky marry me chickpea recipe. Meynink has also whipped up recipes for chickpea puttanesca and a spicy harissa and Persian feta chickpea stew, perfect for dipping and scooping with warm flatbread. See all three recipes here and save your favourites for later on the Good Food app.

Five in one: A mega Japanese food hall opens in the CBD

Melbourne diners have a longstanding love affair with Japanese food. Now, they can get all of their favourites under one roof at Omi 380, a new mega dining destination with five distinct offerings. Think sushi, gyoza, fried chicken, a dedicated matcha bar, plus more. Find out everything you need to know here.

Hump day special: Four-course dining for under $50 at Love Letter

Mid-week dining just got even better. At cosy Bridge Road restaurant Love Letter, the team will feed you a four-course menu on Wednesday evenings for just $49 per person. The menu rotates but may include unusual spins on nostalgic favourites – perhaps cheesy yorkshire puds drizzled with chilli oil; beef cheek mac ‘n’ cheese; or scallops with a buttery Keen’s Curry Powder sauce. Bookings can be made online.

A warming sausage stew recipe from a longstanding Greek diner

There’s nothing like a cosy stew in winter and this classic Greek spetsofai starring loukaniko sausages, tomato and capsicum is sure to impress the entire family. Patrons of Yarraville’s longstanding Greek diner Eleni’s Kitchen & Bar will be familiar with the hearty dish, served at the restaurant with crusty, house-made bread. The recipe was handed down to owner Eleftheria Armanatidis from her grandfather – you can also save it for later on the Good Food app.

Junda Khoo brings Ho Jiak to Melbourne

Sydney chef Junda Khoo has made quite the name for himself for his Malaysian diner Ho Jiak, of which there are four outposts across the Harbour City including the hatted Town Hall restaurant. After much anticipation, Ho Jiak – Junda’s Playground has now arrived in Melbourne within a three-level, three-in-one venue serviced by one kitchen on Rainbow Alley in the CBD. Expect both Sydney signatures and fiery new additions to the menu.

Three new martinis to try this winter

In celebration of martini month this July, iconic vodka label Grey Goose has teamed up with Fitzroy North’s Latin American diner Cinder and its sibling venue Pincho Disco to create two unique martini menus with food pairings to match the Latin-inspired offering. At Pincho, expect concoctions like a Mexican-leaning martini featuring a hint of chilli oil, or a smoked dirty martini, while Cinder will have its own variations on the classic cocktail like a zesty Mediterranean-leaning martini and a briny, umami-rich martini. Bookings can be made here.

Australian Royal Mint releases AWW birthday cake coins

If you never got the Candy Castle cake as a kid, you can at least collect the coin. To mark the 45th anniversary of the Australian Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake Book, the Royal Australian Mint has released a limited-edition coin collection celebrating 12 of the book’s most iconic creations – including Dolly Varden, Rubber Ducky, Humpty Dumpty and the beloved Pool Cake. Eleven cakes feature on $1 coins, while the Hickory Dickory Dock watch cake stars on the $2 coin. Don’t bother checking your wallet — these coins won’t be released into circulation. Collector’s editions are available to purchase for $15 each (for the $1 coins), or $39 for a set of ten, from The Mint Shop in Canberra and select newsXpress outlets.

The download: Friday, June 13

10 Sunday roasts to try across Melbourne this winter

Nothing says winter in Melbourne like cosying up beside an open fireplace at the pub on a Sunday, pint of Guinness in hand while tucking into a classic roast with all the trimmings. In case you missed it, we rounded up the best British-style (and one Cantonese-style) Sunday roasts to try across the city this winter, from neighbourhood pubs like Prahran’s Mount Erica Hotel and Seddon’s Mona Castle Hotel, to hatted CBD restaurant Reed House.

Brighton fine diner Baix officially opens for service

At the end of April, Ian Curley (French Saloon, Kirk’s)’s long-awaited, 200-seat venue opened in Brighton beneath luxury apartment building The International. It encompasses wine bar 81 Bay, open since last month, in addition to fine diner Baix Dining which officially opened its doors on June 13. The restaurant serves a three-course set menu that differs weekly, and is only open from Thursday to Saturday between 5 and 10pm. Bookings can be made here.

Recipe: The Builders Arms beef, Guinness and marrow pie

Did you hear? The Builders Arms’ hearty beef, Guinness and marrow pie has returned to its menu for the colder months. But if you’d prefer to stay in this weekend, you can also make it at home. Block out the afternoon and impress the whole family with head chef Leon Smith’s indulgent take on the classic British pie. See the full recipe here.

Slurp down steamy bowls of ramen at these Melbourne hot spots

Diners partial to a piping hot bowl of ramen in Melbourne’s winter are spoilt for choice across the city. But among the plethora of contemporary and traditional Japanese venues serving up variations of the famed noodle soup lie a handful of new wave restaurants focusing on ramen that’s a little more nuanced – think one specific broth, sauce base and noodles from a particular region of Japan. Discover three must-try ramens here or find more Japanese eateries on the Good Food app and create your own hit list.

Rosheen Kaul’s collagen-rich bone broth

It’s no secret bone broth is the superfood of the moment, praised for its health benefits thanks to a richness in protein and collagen. You can drink it by itself, or use it as a flavourful base for soups – plus it’s affordable, easy to make, and perfect for freezing. Sold yet? Try Rosheen Kaul’s foolproof homemade bone broth recipe here or use it to make a comforting hot pot.

The download: Friday, June 6

Good Food’s Essential Melbourne Cafes & Bakeries guide

It’s safe to say Melbourne’s cafe scene has changed quite drastically since the last time Good Food ran a comprehensive cafe guide in 2014. Back then, a good cafe meant top notch coffee and a sit-down brekkie, but now the definition has expanded considerably to include expertly-made pastries and sandwiches, matcha and Mont Blancs and a diversity of culturally rich and delicious breakfast foods. Good Food’s Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries of 2025, presented by T2, includes more than 100 venues reviewed anonymously across 10 categories including icons, those best for food, tea, coffee and matcha, and where to get the city’s best sweets, sandwiches and baked goods. View the full list here.

Inner southeast wine bar unveils new chef and menu

Prahran wine bar The Alps, run by the team behind hatted Richmond hotspot Clover, has undergone a major revamp. It welcomes a new head chef this week – Miller “Mimmo” Cowie (Freddy’s, Zita’s) – who has introduced a hot new menu revolving around Italian-centric comfort food. Think crispy Romana pizza, fried meatballs, and a 400-strong wine list.

Two dreamy hot chocolates to try this winter

Cult Melbourne bakery Baker Bleu has just introduced two rich, chocolatey additions to its new Cremorne store’s menu. In collaboration with nearby chocolate factory Hunted + Gathered, the hot choccy flavours include a decadent 70 per cent dark couverture chocolate served with a housemade vanilla marshmallow, plus a hot version of its summer classic, the tiramisu iced latte, involving hot cocoa, espresso and whipped cream. The new drinks are available from Friday June 6 for a limited time only.

Nonno in the Kitchen + a simple crocche’ di patate recipe

Everybody loves nonna’s cooking, but mother-of-three Jessica Timpano is uncovering the culinary secrets of Australia’s Italian grandfathers – including those of her own dad, Bart Nicoliello. Read more about Timpano’s passion project Nonno in the Kitchen and get Nonno Bart’s easy crocche’ di patate (potato croquettes) recipe here.

Hump day special: $50 date night at Marameo

The midweek dining specials just keep on coming, and Italian CBD eatery Marameo’s Wednesday date night is a doozy. For just $50 per person, you’ll get a half-litre carafe of Italian white or red wine, a serve of fluffy, house-made rosemary focaccia paired with salami, prosciutto and mortadella, plus the star of the show – Marameo’s cavatappi bolognese ragu baked with a cheesy pecorino bechamel. Dessert is deep-fried zeppoli served with chocolate sauce. Book here.

A new southside bar serves Sydney Road’s favourite falafels

South Yarra might be brimming with wine and cocktail bars, but there’s a key point of difference at Nobody’s Baby, a new addition to Toorak Road – it’s serving falafels of Brunswick’s Very Good Falafel fame. Find out Good Food critic Dani Valent’s verdict on the southside bar here.

Emma Breheny reviews craft beer hangout Benchwarmer

You know the katsu is worth trying when Good Food restaurant editor Emma Breheny crowns it “one of the juiciest pieces of crumbed chicken” she’s ever had. This was the case at Benchwarmer, a local West Melbourne haunt for Japanese-leaning snacks and craft beer. Read the full verdict here.

A new Euro bistro and wine bar arrives in Middle Park

Following months of anticipation from Middle Park locals, restaurateur Matteo Bruno (Tartine, Ned’s Bake) has finally opened the doors to Middle Park European, an elevated diner and bar offering an Italian-leaning menu with French flourishes. Find out what you need to know about the new addition to Armstrong Street here.

The download: Friday, May 30

Thi Le’s crispy banh xeo recipe

Banh xeo (crispy, savoury crepe) is ubiquitous in Vietnam. It’s typically used as a vehicle to wrap fresh veggies before dunking in a dipping sauce that may vary by region. But despite its seeming simplicity, it can be difficult to authentically recreate the dish at home. Until now. See Anchovy chef and co-owner Thi Le’s foolproof banh xeo recipe here.

Fine dining chef opens day-to-night diner with a globetrotting menu

Indian-born chef Nishant Arora (ex-Society, Cutler & Co) has brought his global fine-dining experience to a new neighbourhood restaurant in Caulfield North. Banksia is the latest addition to Hawthorn Road with an approachable menu that spans cuisines across Europe, Asia, Australia and beyond. Find out what you need to know here.

Hump day special: $45 date night at Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca

Each Wednesday, Fitzroy’s favourite Italian trattoria Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca puts on a date night special with serious bang for buck. Dine from 5pm to 9pm to enjoy one of Rocco’s famous meatball subs and a house pasta to share, plus a half-litre wine carafe and a soft serve of the day for dessert. The best part? You’ll get all of that for just $45 per person.

Neil Perry’s cosy braised lamb recipe

Perfect for either a make-ahead midweek dish or your next dinner party, Neil Perry’s slow-cooked lamb neck braise is the ultimate comfort dish to help you defrost this winter. It’s rich, garlicky and best served atop soft polenta with a fresh green salad. You can also save the recipe for a rainy day (literally) on the Good Food app.

Dani Valent reviews bayside cafe with a secret matcha menu

It’s no secret that the matcha craze has taken over Melbourne. At Cheltenham’s new Asian-inspired cafe Sana, there’s an entire menu filled with variations of the green tea beverage – you just have to ask. Foodwise, find fusion brunch dishes like udon carbonara, wagyu katsu sandos and more. See Good Food critic Dani Valent’s full review here.

Eat streets: We ate our way through Melbourne’s Koreatown

CBD laneway Healeys Lane has long been known as Melbourne’s unofficial Koreatown – until last September, when the cobblestoned street became an official City of Melbourne designation. With more than 20 Korean businesses occupying the street and its surrounds, Good Food joined Doju chef Mika Chae to hit up a handful of the best hot spots for Korean food in the city.

The download: Friday, May 23

Meal prep: Five ways with beef bowls

Planning Sunday’s meal prep? Take the hassle out of midweek lunches or dinners with Katrina Meynink’s recipe for bulk beef mince that can easily be added to different variations of beef bowls – from a TikTok viral dish to an Asian-inspired gochujang-honey iteration, a healthy harissa and tahini mix, plus more. See all the recipes here.

Must-order Melbourne sandwiches

In the latest edition of Sandwich Watch, Good Food’s column dedicated to the essential Melbourne sangers, rolls, subs and jaffles you need to know about, Tomas Telegramma and Dani Valent divulge the hottest sandwiches to try at three venues across the city (including a herby, Greek-inspired spanakopita toastie).

Malvern East gains a new bakery

The owners of South Melbourne fine diner Lucia have set up shop in Malvern East with Breadcetera, a new bakery, grocery store and sandwich shop dubbed “the milkbar for 2025″. On the baked front, expect loaves, bagels, focaccia, pastries and more. Read our verdict and everything you need to know here.

Hump day special: Steak night at Lilac

Need a little hump-day pick-me-up? Every Wednesday from 4pm, Cremorne wine bar Lilac is firing up the grill with a steak special, perfect for when your midweek cooking motivation is waning. It includes a 250g dry-aged rump, potato gratin, salad by Common Ground Project, plus sauce, all for just $28. Talk about a bargain.

Viral Turkish pasta recipe

Remember when everyone on TikTok was making Turkish pasta? If you didn’t jump on board the trend, you can now with this quick and easy lamb pasta recipe, inspired by flavours of manti (Turkish dumplings). It’s tangy, garlicky, and sure to impress the entire family.

Laneige launches limited edition bubble tea lip masks

Cult beauty brand Laneige is combining the popularity of bubble tea, matcha and its viral lip masks into two scrumptious limited-edition lip treatment flavours: taro bubble tea and matcha bubble tea. The new products include a lip sleeping mask ($30) and a glowy lip balm ($28), available at Sephora while stocks last. sephora.com.au

Dani Valent reviews Collingwood’s day-to-night diner

Amped up toasties for lunch? Steak nights with free fry refills? Smash burgers, cocktails, and Sunday morning pancakes with fried chicken? Get all of the above and more at JollyGood Diner, an all-day American-style eatery with a Melburnian touch. Read Good Food critic Dani Valent’s full review here.

Warm up with this cosy Italian-style tomato, sausage and lentil soup

Evenings have become a little frostier in Melbourne, meaning it’s well and truly time to dust off the soup pot. To kick off the season, try Danielle Alvarez’s pork sausage and tomato soup (serve with crusty garlic bread for the ultimate comfort meal). Or, find other soup recipes here and save your favourites on the Good Food app.

The download: Friday, May 16

Etta to open new restaurant in former Bar Romantica site

Hannah Green – owner of hatted Brunswick East restaurant Etta – is expanding her footprint on Lygon Street with the launch of new neighbourhood restaurant and bar, Daphne. The venue will focus on Euro-centric share plates cooked in a custom-built woodfire grill and oven. Slated to open in September, Daphne will occupy the space previously home to Bar Romantica. Find out more here.

Weekend pour: Savvy b with a twist

It might seem heinous to mess with the crowd-favourite sauvignon blanc – or savvy b as it’s affectionately known among Aussies – but the latest trend on TikTok has seen a new vino recipe emerge: the spicy sauvignon blanc. Simply freeze jalapeno slices and add them to your favourite pour for a refreshing drink with a spicy twist. Need inspo? Discover three playful white wine blends, including a sav blanc blend, here.

Melbourne is getting another private members’ club

67 Pall Mall, the London-based private members’ club with branches across Singapore and Switzerland, is coming to Melbourne next year. The $35 million venue will span four levels and 2000 square metres in a landmark site above Parliament Station. Find out what we know so far here.

Curry in a hurry: speedy takeaway swaps

Meal planning for next week? Or stuck for inspiration and reaching for the takeout menu? These 15 home-made curries are tasty, affordable alternatives to ordering in – and quicker too. You can also save your favourites for later on the Good Food app.

Sweet deal: Bar Brillo’s $20 Wednesday pasta night

Cosy neighbourhood wine bar and eatery Bar Brillo in Aberfeldie is serving up an irresistible hump day special: $20 bowls of fresh, handmade pasta. The pasta changes weekly – it could be a rigatoni with rich tomato sugo, fried eggplant and salted ricotta. Brillo’s regular menu is available too; see our recommendations on what to order here.

How to make food last longer (without harming the planet)

Hold on to your jam jars and take stock of old tea towels. Writer and sustainability educator Anna Matilda shares her eco-savvy hacks to help stretch the storage life of your favourite foods. See her top tips inthis edited extract from Everyday Permaculture.

Loco Love launch specialty hot chocolate

There’s a new entry in the world of posh hot chocolate. Byron Bay-based Fairtrade chocolatier Loco Love has released Chuncho Drinking Cacao – a gold-wrapped sun disc made from an heirloom Peruvian cacao bean that dissolves into a deliciously rich, slightly bitter brew. Each disc is priced at $7.95, or get six for $55.

Vietnamese chicken salad recipe + other easy midweek favourites

Stuck on what to cook tonight? The weather might be getting cooler, but it’s still (just) sunny enough in Melbourne to warrant salads for an easy midweek fix. Adam Liaw’s juicy Vietnamese chicken salad is quick and easy to throw together, and you can find more simple dinner recipes here.

Lune Lab’s $90 croissant tasting menu

Croissant enthusiasts can now get Lune for entree, main and dessert with the iconic croissanterie’s $90 tasting menu at Lune Lab in Fitzroy. But is it worth the cost? The Age’s chief restaurant critic Besha Rodell gives us the low-down in her latest review.

The download: Friday, May 9

Four to try: Melbourne’s best charcoal chicken

A new wave of Melbourne venues are putting a fresh spin on a takeaway dish long rooted in the Australian food landscape: the humble rotisserie chook. Try a close Chick-fil-A dupe at Chook in Cremorne, plus more.

The Age’s chief restaurant critic unveils her identity

After 20 years as an anonymous restaurant critic – one of the world’s last – Besha Rodell is finally revealing her face. Find out why she’s given up her identity and what it means for her reviews here.

Piccolina’s tiramisu ice-cream sandwich

In collaboration with Yarraville deli Rocco’s, Melbourne ice-cream favourite Piccolina has made a decadent, creamy tiramisu gelato sandwich featuring coffee- and marsala-soaked savoiardi sponge, marsala ganache, mascarpone gelato and Belgian dark chocolate. It’s available now across all eight Piccolina stores for $22.

Adam Liaw’s most underrated and overrated foods

Where do kingfish carpaccio, hot dogs, caviar, and burgers sit on Good Food columnist Adam Liaw’s scale of great to yeah, nah mate? Not where you might expect. Find out his thoughts on some of the country’s most popular foods here.

The download: Friday, May 2

Our critic returned to Attica

Attica’s Ben Shewry famously declared that he does “not consent” to reviews of his world-class Ripponlea restaurant.Good Food’s chief restaurant critic Besha Rodell returned to the Melbourne dining institution anyway to pen a review of how it holds up in 2025.

A Sunday sauce that will make your house smell like a home

Level up your Sunday meal prep this week with Katrina Meynink’s meaty, slow-cooked pasta sauce recipe. It simmers for five hours so you can get your Sunday chores done while your house smells like Nonna’s.

Hot ticket: Sunda is back with Saadi pop-up

Hatted Punch Lane restaurant Sunda is back – well, sort of. The modern South-east Asian diner is re-opening its doors for Saadi at Sunda, a pop-up by chef couple Saavni Krishnan and Aditya “Adi” Suresh. It runs from June 12 to July 26 and includes an $80 set dinner menu (or a smaller, $40 set lunch menu) of Indian-ish dishes.

Save your favourite recipes and restaurants on the Good Food app

No more dog-earing your recipe books. The Good Food app has launched a new saved function, which allows you to compile all your favourite recipes in one easy place. Simply click the bookmark icon to save, then head to the Saved page on the navigation panel to view. The Good Food app is home to more than 10,000 recipes from Australia’s top cooks, including Nagi Maehashi, Adam Liaw, Helen Goh, Neil Perry, Karen Martini, Emelia Jackson and more.