• It’s gonna be a scorcher this weekend. Bookmark our guide to where Melbourne chefs eat gelato and ice-cream and get yourself a scoop (or two). We’ve got picks from Beatrix’s Nat Paull, Bluebonnet’s Chris Terlikar, Chae’s Jung Eun Chae and Al Dente’s Andrea Vignali.
• Fried-chicken eggs Benny or banana-Milo waffles? That is the question at Hamlet in Mount Waverley. The south-east has scored a new cork-clad corner cafe in an old milk bar, by hospo heavyweight Julien Moussi.
• Stellar Victorian fine diner Underbar has a new home – inside a 19th-century Ballarat mansion, which has been transformed into beautiful boutique hotel Vera. Time to plan a trip?
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SIGN UP• Coming soon: Attica’s ex-head pastry chef is opening a nostalgic bakery dedicated to madeleines. Expect unexpected flavours like Ferrero Rocher, lamington, and the Asian-inspired pandan and kaya jam.
• Formerly online-only, retailer Cornelius Cheesemongers – known for its annual Cheese Club subscription – has opened a warehouse cheese shop in Brunswick. Go for local and imported cheese cut directly from the wheel. It reopens next month after a summer break.
• First Look: A trip to Verona inspired Bugiardo, a new Italian espresso bar and osteria for Camberwell.
• The Victorian Pride Centre, Australia’s first purpose-built LGBTQI+ community hub is now home to a new social enterprise cafe by The Little Social. A pay-it-forward initiative lets you buy a coffee or meal for someone experiencing homelessness.
• All the Australian Open action kicks off next week, and two frontrunning restaurants will be popping up at Melbourne Park for the first time. Here’s your First Look at the offerings from Supernormal and Nomad.
• These are Melbourne’s best fish’n’chip shops, according to top chefs. (Plus, we’ve got a tip from Attica’s Ben Shewry that will help you eat more sustainable fish.)
• First Look: Richmond favourite Bissel B brings its New York-inspired bagels to Elsternwick. There’s classic lox and big brekkie bagels, as well as less traditional takes (like a saucy meatball number).
• Now open: karaage wings and sake Mojitos at a tiny new Japanese bar by Izakaya Den. It’s lo-fi, laid-back and here for a limited time only.
• Lune has turned a nostalgic Aussie bickie into a pretty-in-pink cruffin just for January, so get in quick.