• Messmates, one of the most exciting restaurants to open this year, brings inner-city wine bar vibes to a former church in Gippsland. And there are two chefs with Michelin-star cred running the kitchen.

• The restaurants and market stalls Jamie Oliver visited while he was in Melbourne (and Sydney).

• A first look at Miyama, a new Melbourne Central cafe with Japanese curry, oishi teishoku breakfast and lunch sets, and cakes such as a delicately layered strawberry shortcake with a “cloud-like” cream.

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• After a forced closure last year, pioneering wild fermentation bar La Sirene opens a warehouse taproom in Reservoir.

• A first look at Italian restaurant Mister Bianco’s new glam Kew space.

• Itinerant Spirits, a handsome distillery and cocktail bar in a 160-year-old goods shed, opens in Ballarat.

• We talk to legendary chef Philippa Sibley about her new chef gig at Pinotta in Fitzroy North.

• Vue de Monde executive chef Hugh Allen’s knives are out (and about) thanks to a collab with Melbourne bag makers Crumpler.

• We take five minutes with Julie head chef Stephannie Liu. The superstar chef is one of the most exciting things to happen to the Melbourne food scene this year.

• Zoë Foster Blake’s Go-To and Four Pillars collaborate on a bespoke gin for the third year in a row.

You might have missed
• Aussie artisanal butter brand Pepe Saya partners with the Amish community as it expands into the United States.

Listen up
• This week on Broadsheet’s podcast Around Town, we hear from the founder of one of the city’s best bagel shops and break down some of the best dishes our editors have eaten this month.

More, please
• Have your Christmas lunch cooked by Tobie Puttock. The chef is offering ready-made dishes like cooked turkey breast made with meat from Hagen’s Organics, roasted duck fat potatoes, spiced salmon, braised green beans with tomatoes and more through his Made by Tobie sustainability-focused meal delivery company. Christmas dishes are meant to serve eight to 10, will be delivered on December 23rd and can be ordered on the Made by Tobie website.

• Foodbank has released a series of spatulas designed by notable figures including chefs Ben Shewry of Attica and Kirsten Tibballs of Savour Chocolate & Patisserie School. One hundred per cent of proceeds go to Foodbank and the money raised from each spatula sold provides 25 meals to people in need.

• Non-profit and social enterprise Welcome Merchant is hosting a three-course Persian dinner at Evie’s Disco Diner on Tuesday November 28 to raise funds for Djirra, a charity that supports Aboriginal women’s safety and wellbeing. Tickets can be purchased here.

• Dom Gattermayr and Rose Richards’s Rathdowne Street cafe Florian is hosting a holiday market this Sunday November 26. Drop in from 5pm to 9pm for a first look at the new Florian Home section and pick up gifts from local makers including Etota.

• Collingwood cafe Chiaki is now open for lunch on Sundays. Stop by for some of the city’s best coffee and ochazuke – a Japanese dish that sees a broth traditionally made with tea poured over a bowl of rice and toppings.

As seen on the web
• How the Humble Sheet Cake Became Top Tier (featuring Melbourne baker Jessamie Holmes) – via the New York Times.