The food news has been coming in thick and fast in Melbourne, and to make sure that you're across all of the food and bev movements, we've wrapped up everything that you need to know in a handful of digestible servings. Keep up to date with all of Melbourne's food and drink news right here.
Lune Is Serving Up The Perfect Date This Valentine’s Day
Image: Lune | Pete Dillon
In need of a date this Valentine’s Day? Close Hinge and let us hook you up with Lune's latest creation: Cherry Coco, which is basically a Cherry Ripe in pastry form.
Like the date of your dreams Cherry Coco is tall, dark, handsome, and never leaves you on read... It's actually a pain au chocolat twice baked with cherry frangipane, chocolate ganache, maraschino cherry, and chocolate batons. The figurative icing on the cake is toasted coconut flakes, powdered chocolate, and freeze-dried cherry.
If Cherry Coco doesn’t tickle your fancy they're serving up a stack of other Valentine-inspired sweet treats like the Speculaas Babka, a marriage of a traditional Dutch cookie and Lune’s signature pastry. The Bienenstich is a Bee Sting lovingly inspired by the classic 15th century German cake (not those things we begrudgingly buy from a servo on a roadtrip).
Treat yourself to these sugary delicacies all of February at any Lune venue.
Messina Is Dropping A Loved Up Limited Edition Gelato Tub Just In Time For Valentine’s Day
Image credit: Gelato Messina | Supplied
It’s been a while since we had news of one of Gelato Messina’s epic gelato tubs to share, but with Valentine’s Day on the way, the dessert legends have just dropped their latest creation, and this one’s a doozy. Featuring decadent layers of salted caramel gelato with dark choc chips, baked cheesecake chunks, passionfruit curd, crème brûlée mousse and caramel swirls, The Love Tub comes topped with a red chocolate shell adorned in love hearts (of course). Who even needs a date when going solo means you could have this bad boy all to yourself? Pre-orders open on 28 January.
This Lune & Kariton Valentine Collab Is The Ultimate Nostalgic Treat
Image: Lune x Kariton | Pete Dillon
Love letters hit a little different at Lune, and this February they’re writing one seriously drool-worthy love letter to Melbourne cult-favourite Filipino ice creamery, Kariton.
Put simply, this tasty number is Lune’s famous pain au chocolat sliced open and filled with two delightful scoops of Kariton’s Pastillas De Leche ice cream.
The Pastillas De Leche ice cream is inspired by a milk candy in the Philippines. Made from a base of caramelised milk gelato swirled with housemade dulce de leche and a tantalising final touch of croissant crumbs.
If you’re anything like us, you can’t wait to wrap your hands around one.
Available all of February at Lune’s Armadale store.
Late Contender For 2025 Ins: The Lunchtime Sandwich Rave
Image: Marameo | Supplied
Everyone likes to spend their lunchbreak differently.
Some folks quietly weep in a toilet cubicle, others are out there smashing negronis and living their best lives—we’re the latter, thanks for asking.
The crew at Marameo? Well, they’re different again. They’re spending their lunch slingin’ those bangin’ sangas and raving.
On Friday, 31 January they’ll be converting their funky diner into a dirty disco for the launch of their third (to-be-legendary) sanga, The Monty. This tasty number will consist of crispy fried chicken on a seeded bagel hybrid roll, a herbaceous mayo, pickled onions and buttery Monterey Jack cheese.
Don your best business duds, rave goggles and get in early ‘cos the first 50 through the door get a free sanga. Pop your order in, then hit the terrace-cum-rave cave, slake your thirst with a free non-alc beer and boogie to beats by DJ Jesse Boyd. The best-dressed party-goer will also receive a year’s supply of Heaps Normal, along with a $500 Marameo dining voucher.
“People can go from desk to dancefloor and back again in under an hour. It’s the perfect way to break up your work day,” Marameo owner Michael Badr says.
And if the lunchtime rave sitch isn't your jam you can get along over lunch all February and grab The Monty for $15.
This latest sanga comes off the back of their viral Vodka Cotoletta Sandwich and their The Bear-inspired Italian Dip number.
Hooray! Wendy’s Is Coming To Australa… But Not To Melbourne Just Yet
Image: Wendy’s | Supplied
American burger legends Wendy’s are finally making it to Australia—there’s just one catch. It’s on the Gold Coast. It’s good news for the Melbourne contingent who are known to frequent Surfer’s Paradise (you know who you are and there’s no shame) to soak up the sights and sounds and beers of Cavill Avenue.
Set to open on January 15 this opening will open the doors for the first of many Wendy’s restaurants in Australia. If you’re not in the know, Wendy’s sling square-pattied burgers and their rockstar dishes are the Baconator—which for reasons yet to be revealed they’ve called the ‘BaconMATOR’ in Australia—and their Spicy Chicken Sandwich (which is also a burger, but you know, ‘Murica).
The showstopper for Wendy’s Down Under is going to be their hand-breaded chicken tenders, crafted especially for us—Wendy’s you shouldn’t have. Stay tuned for more updates a little closer to home.
Everyone’s Fave Natty Wine Bar Is Making Midweek Magic With A Vietnamese Classic
Image: An Huynh / Henry Sugar | Supplied
Rice bowls but make them bougie! The heroes at Henry Sugar are serving up their epicurean take on the Vietnamese classic xôi xéo every Wednesday and Thursday.
The traditional Northern Vietnamese dish made it to their menu after executive chef Mike Baker and his wife An Huynh’s trip to Hanoi.
“We were eating our fourth bowl of Xôi xéo in two days and I was like we gotta do our own take on this. It’s so nostalgic even though I’ve never had it before,” Baker says. “As soon as we got home we made it about twenty times to perfect (it) and said to each other we need to do a pop up."
For just a lobster and a clam—read: $22—you can get a bowl of that sticky rice cooked in turmeric, topped with three signature ingredients: caramel chicken, mung bean, chả quế—cinnamon spiced pork loaf. All bowls come with crispy garlic, shallots and pickled cucumber.
They’re also slinging their usual toothsome selection of tap beers and wines and if you need a sweet treat after get around a Vietnamese honeycomb cake, banh bo and or an iced coffee flan.
Burgers And Fro-Yo, Is This A Trap? YOMG's Ninth VIC Store Now Open At Doncaster
Image: YOMG | Supplied
Burger legends (and fro-yo legends too actually) YOMG are opening their epic ninth store in Doncaster and they’ll be slinging free burgers and free fro-yo to celebrate.
If you haven’t been to YOMG this is the perfect time to sample their handcrafted burgers, our fave is The Kingsway; a double patty, double cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup and tomato sauce.
After, wash down your treat with something from their massive yoghurt selection, we’re talking berry cheesecake, manga matcha and a vegan salted pistachio.
Their new store is at 991 Doncaster Road, Doncaster East but you can also find stores in Glen Waverly, Mornington, Fountain Gate, Mordi, Berwick, Pakenham, Rowville and Frankston.
Mi Scusi, Viral Sandwich Legends’ Cacio E Pepe Got Us Ready To Head Back To The Office
Image: Marameo | Kristoffer Paulsen
Lunchtime legends, saviours of that brief hour we all get to take a load off during the day, Marameo, who you might remember for viral chicken sanga, are back at it.
The crew are slinging their own iteration of cheffy fave cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper—possibly the two best things ever) every lunchtime until the end of January for a measly $15. How good is that.
Since these guns opened their doors they have served more than 26,849 bowls (at the time of writing) of its signature cacio e pepe, and they reckon they’re going to crack the 30k by the end of the month.
This is one situation where it’s not bad to be just a number. Head in to the restaurant on Russell Place in the CBD in from 12pm Monday to Saturday to take advantage of it.
Tableside Caviar Bumps And Vintage Cocktail Shots Are Making The Rounds At Beverly For Summer
Image credit: Beverly | Arianna Leggiero
It’s well known by now that The Beverly is one of the best rooftop destinations in Melbourne, offering LA-inspired, poolside chic vibes with DJs and Insta-worthy cocktails. After two years of sitting atop Goldfields House on Chapel Street, the go-to dining spot never slows down.
Kicking off on Friday 1 November and running all summer long, the famed Beverly Caviar Cart is doing the rounds with tableside bumps and vintage cocktail shots served in chilled chalice glasses, no less. The white sturgeon caviar is the good stuff from Ars Italica Caviar, and Don Julio is behind the smooth 1942 number. You can walk in or book ahead over here.
Ballin’ On A Budget? This Burger Joint Has Your Back With $5 Pints
Image credit: Benny's Burgers | Supplied
Beating cozzie livs with a stick (or, more accurately, a 570ml glass) this South Yarra based banger is celebrating all things beers and burgers with a $5 pint promo.
Whether you’re in need of a post-work pick me up or a big night out, Benny’s American Burgers has the Happy Hour special for you. Suck back a Carlton Dry or a Furphy Original and line the stomach with a stack of burgs including veg and vegan options.
Light up the group chat and head their way Mondays to Saturdays from 3pm ‘till close, or kick on Sunday with a sesh that won’t leave you with a financial hangover.
Image credit: Visit Victoria | Emily Godfree