Get a quick rundown of the top news stories from this week, helping you decide where to head and what to grab around Melbourne and Victoria. Make sure to tune in weekly to stay ahead of the game in your group chats.
Keep abreast of the newest developments in food news, recipes, and critiques here. Good Food app , now accessible from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store now.
Dani Valent provides insights into Collingwood’s transition from daytime to nighttime dining establishment.
Craving boosted toasties for lunch? How about steak dinners with unlimited fries? Burgers, cocktails, and chicken-fried pancakes on Sundays? You can have it all and so much more here. JollyGood Diner , a full-service American-inspired restaurant with a Melbourne twist. Read Good Food critic Dani Valent ’s full review here .
Start with this comforting Italian-inspired soup featuring tomatoes, sausages, and lentils.
The evenings in Melbourne have turned slightly colder, indicating it's definitely the right moment to bring out the soup pot. For the start of the season, you might want to try Danielle Alvarez’s sausages with pork and tomato soup (Serve alongside crunchy garlic bread for the perfect comforting dish.) Alternatively, explore other soup recipes. here and bookmark your favorites in the Good Food app.
Etta plans to launch a new eatery at the location formerly occupied by Bar Romantica.
Hannah Green - the proprietor of the acclaimed Brunswick East eatery Etta —is extending her presence on Lygon Street with the opening of a new community-focused restaurant and bar, Daphne The location will concentrate on European-style shared plates prepared using a specially designed wooden fire grill and oven. Set to launch in September, Daphne will take over the premises that formerly housed Bar Romantica . Find out more here .
Weekend pick: Smart B with a twist
It may appear shocking to tamper with the much-loved Aussie savvier b, commonly referred to as sauvignon blanc; however, a fresh wine concoction has surfaced thanks to a trending video on TikTok: the spicy sauvignon blanc . Simply freeze jalapeno slices And incorporate them into your preferred serving method for a revitalizing beverage with a zesty kick. Looking for inspiration? Explore three whimsical white wine mixtures, featuring a Sauvignon Blanc blend. here .
Melbourne is set to welcome yet another exclusive private members' club.
67 Pall Mall The upscale private members' club based in London, which has locations throughout Singapore and Switzerland, is set to open in Melbourne next year. This $35 million establishment will cover four floors and encompass 2000 square meters at a prominent location over Parliament Station. Here’s what we currently understand about this development. here .
Quick curry fixes: fast food alternatives
Planning your meals for the upcoming week? Or perhaps you're running out of ideas and about to order takeaway? These 15 home-made curries offer delicious, budget-friendly options compared to delivery services – plus they're faster. You can even save your preferred recipes for future use within the Good Food app.
Great offer: Bar Brillo’s $20 hump day pasta special
Charming local bistro and drinking spot Bar Brillo In Aberfeldie, they're offering an irresistible mid-week special for hump day: $20 for bowls of freshly made, handcrafted pasta The pasta selection varies each week — one week might feature rigatoni served with a hearty tomato sauce, accompanied by fried eggplant and seasoned ricotta. In addition, Brillo’s standard menu is always accessible; here are some suggestions for dishes you should consider trying. here .
Ways to Extend Food Longevity (while minimizing environmental impact)
Hang onto your jam jars and count your vintage tea towels. Author and eco-educator Anna Matilda shares her eco-savvy hacks To extend the shelf life of your favorite foods, check out her top tips below. this edited extract from Everyday Permaculture .
The Tipo 00 team is launching its first restaurant outside of Italy.
The group responsible for one of Melbourne’s most recognizable Italian eateries, Tipo 00, is opening Harriot in late June Underneath a downtown commercial building near the heart of the city’s financial district, the new spot isn’t going to be purely Italian. Instead, it will take inspiration from various European wine bars and bistros, featuring dishes that pay homage to French, Spanish, Italian, and British cooking styles.
LoCo Love unveils special edition hot chocolate
A fresh addition has entered the realm of luxurious hot cocoa. This newcomer hails from Byron Bay and comes courtesy of a Fairtrade-championing chocolatier. Loco Love has released Chuncho Drinking Cacao – a golden-covered sun disk crafted from an ancestral Peruvian cocoa bean that melts into a luxuriously rich, somewhat bitter drink. Each disk costs $7.95, or you can buy six for $55.
Vietnamese-inspired chicken salad recipe plus other quick weeknight favorites
Feeling unsure about dinner tonight? As the weather cools down, Melbourne’s mild sunshine means you can stick with light meals like salads for a simple weeknight meal option. Adam Liaw ’s juicy Vietnamese chicken salad is fast and simple to put together, and you can discover more simple dinner recipes here .
Lune Lab’s $90 croissant degustation menu
Fans of croissants can enjoy Lune from start to finish with their new $90 degustation menu, available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lune Lab In Fitzroy. However, is it worth the price? The Age’s lead restaurant critic. Besha Rodell gives us the low-down in her latest review.
The download: Friday, May 9th
Four to sample: The top charcoal chickens in Melbourne
A fresh batch of Melbourne eateries are giving an innovative twist to a takeout staple deeply ingrained in Australia’s culinary scene: the classic rotisserie chicken. Check out a spot that closely mirrors Chick-fil-A for a taste. Chook in Cremorne , plus more.
The main food reviewer from The Age reveals her anonymity.
Following two decades as an unnamed restaurant reviewer—one of the globe’s final such critics— Besha Rodell is finally showing herself. Discover why she has abandoned her identity and what this signifies for her critiques. here .
Great offer: Endless hummus at Maha North
To mark International Hummus Day on Tuesday, acclaimed Middle Eastern eatery Maha ’s Collingwood outpost Maha North is offering $30 unlimited hummus daily from May 13 to 18. Three different varieties will be available, accompanied by homemade flatbread, lavosh, and fried bread. Reservations can be made. here .
Piccolina’s tiramisu ice-cream sandwich
In partnership with Yarraville Deli Rocco’s , Melbourne ice-cream favourite Piccolina Has created an indulgent, rich tiramisu gelato sandwich with coffee- and Marsala-infused Savoiardi biscuits, Marsala ganache, mascarpone gelato, and Belgian dark chocolate. This treat is currently available at all eight Piccolina locations for $22.
Adam Liaw’s least appreciated and highly regarded dishes
Where does kingfish carpaccio, hot dogs, caviar, and burgers feature in a column from Good Food? Adam Liaw His rating system goes from amazing to 'nah, mate.' But not in the way you'd think. Discover what he thinks about some of this nation's favorite dishes. here .
The update: Friday, May 2
Our reviewer went back to Attica.
Attica’s Ben Shewry notably stated that he does not agree with reviewing his top-tier restaurant in Ripponlea. The esteemed chief restaurant critic of Good Food, Besha Rodell, revisited the iconic dining establishment in Melbourne. some way to write a review of how it stands up in 2025.
A Sunday gravy that'll fill your home with the aroma of comfort.
Elevate your Sunday meal preparation this week with Katrina Meynink’s meaty , slow-cooked pasta sauce recipe It slowly cooks for five hours, allowing you to tackle your Sunday tasks as your home fills with the aroma of Nonna’s cooking.
Hot ticket: Sunda has returned with a Saadi pop-up
Hatted Punch Lane restaurant Sunda has returned – well, kind of. The contemporary South-East Asian restaurant is reopening its doors soon. Saadi at Sunda , a pop-up featuring Chef Couple Saavni Krishnan And Aditya "Adi" Suresh. This event lasts throughout the whole month and features an $80 set dinner menu (or a more affordable $40 set lunch menu) with Indian-inspired cuisine.
The top-rated recipes for April
Adam Liaw This one-pan chicken and potato dish could very well be the ideal weeknight meal. Fewer than six ingredients? Check. Big hit with the crowd? Check. Easy on your wallet? Double check. Discover this recipe along with additional dinner ideas in our collection. summary of the best recipes from April.
Store your preferred recipes and eateries within the Good Food application.
Stop folding corners of pages in your cookbooks for future reference. The Good Food app now offers a convenient saving feature. Just tap the bookmark symbol to store your preferred dishes, and check them out later under the Saved section within the navigation menu. This application features over 10,000 recipes crafted by renowned Australian chefs. Nagi Maehashi , Adam Liaw , Helen Goh , Neil Perry , Karen Martini , Emelia Jackson and more.
