What we covered in Melbourne food and drink this week

•After nearly eight years, Seddon’s Copper Pot has announced its closure at the end of the month. Get in before then for a menu that celebrates all of its greatest hits.

•In better restaurant news, acclaimed regional fine diner Brae is turning 10 in December. To celebrate, it’s throwing a picnic with dishes and drinks by some of Australia’s best chefs and winemakers.

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•More positivity: Collingwood icon The Tote has been rescued by a pair of live music lovers – after raising over $3 million from the public to help out.

•The Studley Park Boathouse, in Kew, is another icon with a fresh lease on life. It reopened last weekend after a $5.8 million dollar revamp – with a new restaurant, cafe and bar.

•Instead of closing in spring as planned, Kafeneion, the hit CBD pop-up serving home-style Greek food, will stay on Bourke Street till the end of the year, with a permanent home to follow.

•Elsewhere in the CBD, new Korea-meets-France bakery and cafe The Butter Room is open and already doing a roaring trade. Come for matcha-chocolate canelés, injeolmi buns and “lava” pandoros.

•Roslyn Thai Cafe, nearby in West Melbourne, has just opened too – it’s a cafe that spotlights Thai-style breakfast such as pork ball congee, green curry with fried chicken and coconut and pandan jam toast. It does excellent chiffon cakes and milk teas, too.

•Over on Chapel Street, Studio Amaro, the latest venue from the Commune Group, is open and ready for a good time. This two-storey Italian all-rounder is just as suited to a quiet weeknight dinner as it is a big old Saturday blowout. We’ll leave the decision to you.

•More Italian news: Pizzeria Magma has opened in Fitzroy North in the old Supermaxi space with fun wines and excellent Neapolitan pizzas.

•Even more Italian news: Maestro, by Adrian Richardson, is about to open in Geelong. Come for steak, pastas and views of the city centre.

•Ruben’s Deli is bringing a slice of New York to Armadale – stop by this good-looking modern deli for a customisable bagel bar, smoked fish or a ready-made meal by an Ex-Cutler & Co head chef.

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•Melbourne Food and Wine Festival has just announced the program for its upcoming regional edition, with tickets on sale now. Highlights include a weekend-long food festival, a three-course dinner underground in Ballarat, and two “World’s Longest Lunches” being held simultaneously.

•Josh Niland, arguably Australia’s most famous chef, is opening his first international restaurant – in Singapore. And the fish-loving chef is even putting meat on the menu.

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•This week on Broadsheet’s podcast Around Town, we talked about Footscray ice-cream shop Kariton Sorbetes, new Brunswick cafe Lunar by Hikari and covered two recently revamped retro pubs – the Courthouse North Melbourne, and the Healesville Hotel.

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•Now open in Prahran Market, Miss Amelie Gourmet brings award-winning pies to the south side, straight from its shed-turned-commercial-kitchen in Wodonga. Expect flavours such as lamb garlic and rosemary; Thai red duck curry; cauliflower and three cheese alongside the winner of the “best gourmet pie in Australia”, the Chinese barbeque pork belly.

•Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca is opening an upstairs bar this weekend, with a very spring-friendly outdoor patio. Vince’s Bar is open from 6pm till late every Friday and Saturday, with its own special drinks and snacks.

•Farmers’ Daughters Alejandro Saravia and Pt. Leo Estate culinary director Jose Espuga are joining up this Sunday for a special lunch celebrating Peru and its distinct regions. Bookings are still available. And on Saturday, in honour of renowned artist Jaume Plensa’s visit to the winery (and the namesake of the estate’s flagship restaurant, Laura), a special morning tea and a dinner is being held.

•Papirica in Collingwood is hosting a pop-up day dedicated to katsu don tomorrow. And there’ll be special cheesecake.