• ‘Tis the season. These are Melbourne’s best hot cross buns, according to the city’s top chefs.

• Chris Lucas and Martin Benn are opening a two-level, charcoal-fired Japanese diner in the CBD. Huge.

• Glitzy north-side bistro Poodle is throwing a patio party. Go for live music, cocktail jugs and snacks from Mono-XO’s chef (prawn katsu sandos included).

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• Luxed-up $52 lasagne. Cacio e pepe like you’ve never had before. Fragrant, spicy duck curry. Adam D’Sylva’s new restaurant is here – and it’s excellent.

• It’s been a long time coming, but Hector’s Deli is opening a second. Expect all the classics, plus fresh Turkish-bread sangas and substantial salads.

• Nasi lemak, the Malaysian classic, is appearing at Papparich in burger form this week. (And the first 1000 ordered through Door Dash are $1.)

• Get breakfast pasta, porchetta rolls with crunchy crackling and free aperitivo snacks at Greta, a schmick new Eurocentric sandwich and wine bar.

• A festival of fizz is happening on The Emerson’s rooftop this Sunday.

• Lockdown success story Al Dente went from pasta-delivery service to fully fledged restaurant – but now it needs your help to stay afloat.

• Coles has transformed its Moonee Ponds store into a flagship “sustainability-focused” concept store. And a former Cumulus Inc head chef is involved.

• Try a rare $1000 whisky at this intimate dinner at Kisumé. To eat? Wagyu brisket with mushroom broth and onigiri.

• Coming soon: Andrew McConnell’s European-style Fitzroy grocer, Morning Market, is heading to the south side.

• East Melbourne’s Hemingway’s is doing a snazzy four-course seafood feast for Easter.

• Looking to have a more ethical Easter? Every ingredient used by this Aussie maker (for its cacao bean-shaped egg) is fully traceable.

• Ecologically responsible shopping centre Burwood Brickworks has a new dining precinct, Eat Street. There’s a Japanese izakaya, a patisserie by Acre, a microbrewery and more.

• Launching on March 26 is the Timothy Tamothy Slamothy, Moon Dog’s new chocolate-biscuit milk stout.