Tuckered out from all that silly season tucker? Well, make some space because New Years 2.0 (AKA Lunar New Year) is incoming with a bag full of bottomless brunches, limited edition dumplings and sour beer tap takeovers.
- The crowd wouldn’t stop gnocchin on Mamma’s Boy’s door for that hit of bottomless gnocchi, so they’ve brought it back for January at $30 per head. Bookings essential on this one.
- New Lunar New Year, new afternoon tea menu. The Hotel Windsor is doing afternoon tea a little differently from Monday 20 January to Sunday 9 February with a menu taking some heavy cues from Chinese cuisine. Mushroom XO tarts, anyone?
- The Good Fortune dumpling at Din Tai Fung is bringing exactly that to fans of those deliciously steamy pockets. The wagyu beef and truffle packed, gold-leaf topped bag of flavour is available from Sunday 23 January to Sunday 9 February at Din Tai Fung Emporium.
- Bodriggy Brewing Co. is playing host to Electric Kool-Aid, a three-day sour beer celebration. Ten brewers, twenty beers, live music, DJs and Sunday’s profits going to Zoos Victoria Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund and the CFA. Nice one.
- Royal Stacks is winding it back to the 90s from now until Tuesday. Take a nibble on nostalgia with 30c ice cream cones and the limited edition Prince Akeem burger while downing that triple choc milkshake from your childhood.
- Chef Matt Wilkinson’s been hard at work since saying goodbye to Pope Joan, and this week opens the doors to Crofter, an 80 seat dining room and bar with a menu that pulls some serious reference from his British heritage.
- Masterchef alumni Kha Nguyen has flicked the lights on at Tian38 smack bang in the middle of Flinders Lane, and there’s boozy bottomless yum cha every Saturday. Best round up the gang then.
- The Wine & Cheese Fest has announced its return on Sunday 8 March at South Melbourne's Timber Yard. Your ticket gets you wine and cheese tastings along with a few masterclasses—snap them up by this Monday and 25% of the sale will go to Wildlife Victoria and WIRES.
- Chef Charlie Carrington’s Atlas Dining is back for 2020, and the ever-changing menu is this time exploring Lebanese cuisine.
- Fried Chicken stalwart, Belles Hot Chicken, is doing $2 wings this Friday. Bring a few wingmen, because they’ll be donating 50% of sales to the Australian Red Cross, WIRES and Wildlife Victoria.
- Fitzroy North’s Lagotto has introduced an Italian-style porchetta sandwich inspired by the Pig’s Head Sanga over at their sister bar, Congress. There’s also an extended aperitivo menu and late-evening trading hours for the warmer months.
- Over on the south side, Abacus is inviting a host of local artists and makers to exhibit and sell their works this Monday evening. There'll be drinks, canapes and snacks on offer over the course of the evening, with all proceeds will be split between Wildlife Victoria and the First Nations Fire Relief Fund. Tickets here.
- There's a new small-batch gin on the market called BABY that's brewed right here in Victoria. It's very floral and very pink, even after tonic is added. The website has several recipes worth a look in, with the signature Partini looking primed for the weekend.
For everything else happening in food, check out our Food & Drink section.
Image credit: Annika Kafcaloudis