Snack Bar: Baker Bleu’s New Olive Oil Soft-Serve and More Melbourne Food News

Published every Thursday, Snack Bar is a bite-sized guide to everything happening in Melbourne food and drink, including new menus, events, pop-ups and special offers. Plus, we round up every new restaurant, bar and cafe we covered over the previous seven days.

What’s on around town

• In the wake of the devastating August floods, North Melbourne stalwart Bobbie Peels is holding a Nepal recovery relief fundraiser. There will be momos, a raffle, merch giveaways, and an auction of old and rare wines, with the aim of raising $10,000 to go directly to the country’s official Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. “Nepalese workers are such a huge part of what makes Melbourne hospitality what it is,” a statement from the pub reads, “we want to use our platform to do something about it.” From midday to 5pm, September 19.

• This weekend marks Maltese Independence Day, and Maha is celebrating with another one of its annual sellout lunches. Head in for a share-style menu inspired by Shane Delia’s family recipes, as well as the chef’s recent trip to Malta. The five-course lunch is $135 per person, and includes the Delia family’s take on stuffat tal-fenek – a slow-cooked rabbit stew, Malta’s national dish; aljotta, a traditional, garlicky fish stew served with dill rice; plus starters like sfineg (doughnuts) with prosciutto and mozzarella. Seats are in short supply, so check the bookings page and keep an eye out for cancellations. 12pm and 2.30pm, September 19 and 20.

• Kayla Saito – reigning Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year and Mulberry Group bar manager – takes over the Hot Listed Daphne’s for its next Monday night Martini Club. Expect extra-cold (-4 degrees Celsius) Ketel One vodka Martinis starting at just $15, including a couple of “mystery box” numbers, plus a smoked olive Dirty Martini from Daphne’s own Sam Peasnell. It’s a great opportunity to catch Saito in action before she heads to Edinburgh as the first woman representing Australia at Diageo’s global bartender titles. From 4pm, September 21.

• One of Perth’s best little bakeries is travelling east for a pop up at Florian Home next Friday. Expect Teeter baker Natasha Brownfield’s superb sausage rolls and seasonal danishes, exceptionally light yuzu chiffon and almond sponge cakes, and more. From 9am until sold out, September 25.

• Baker Bleu South Yarra has a new soft-serve special, just in time for spring. The beloved sourdough specialist has teamed up with Mount Zero Olives on a vanilla and honey soft serve with caramelised croissant crumb, drizzled in Mount Zero’s new Organic in Conversion Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. You can try the oil on Baker Bleu bread at any of the bakery’s Melbourne locations. Available now.

• Longstanding North Fitzroy restaurant Horn Please is offering a weekly two-day special. Every Monday and Tuesday, diners can get anything on the menu for just $18 – from the chef’s special goat curry to the “unauthentic” butter chicken. From September 21.

• Co-working B Corp The Commons is doing unlimited fries at its public bar on Collins Street. Get them free with any cocktail order. They come with some next-level house seasonings and sauces, including chilli lime, salt’n’vinegar, and chicken-and-tarragon salts, plus pineapple barbeque, truffle or black garlic aioli, and caper-and-tarragon tartare sauces. From 4pm every Thursday and Friday.

• For those who celebrate, National Cheeseburger Day is coming, and Abbotsford bar Lulie Tavern is ready. It has 1000 burgers set to hit the grill – and they’re going for just $2 a pop. From 4pm–7pm or until sold out, September 18 at Lulie Tavern, Abbotsford.

• The same day, Carlisle Street Latin American restaurant Rufio hosts its second Brazilian Grill: a night of open-flame, entirely gluten-free cooking for $80 a head. Dishes include blue swimmer crab with tapioca crisp and coconut, and smoked duck with black beans, plantain and sweet-sour fennel – plus, get the restaurant’s take on the Caipirinha, a fresh, zesty cocktail made with cachaça (a fermented sugarcane spirit), sugar and fresh lime, for $15 all night. From 5pm, September 18 at Rufio, St Kilda.

• Broadsheet is putting on Making Moves Market, a one-day community event at Abbotsford Convent spotlighting local makers from across the country. There’ll be fashion, homewares, pet brands, skincare, crafts and ceramics, plus DJs, coffee, kids’ activities and food trucks from A1 Bakery and Toasta. Food retailers include Miou Matcha, plant-based mayo brand Umei, Daylesford brand The Fermentary, pickle specialist Acide and family-run olive oil label Golden Groves. 9am–4pm, September 20 at Abbotsford Convent. Entry is free.

New openings we covered this week

• When Abbotsford Convent favourite Cam’s Kiosk closed in June, two staff members stepped in with their own idea. Bar Familiar opens today.

• Six new Melbourne cafes for cold-foam coffee, shio pan, Greek-inspired brunch, and more.

• The historic Hotel Sorrento has a breezy new dining room.

• This might be Melbourne’s year of the taco. Here are five new Mexican spots to try.

Other food and drink news

• Clifton Hill’s iconic Royal Hotel has sat empty for the best part of a decade. It’s about to enter a new chapter.

• Something new is coming to the former Matilda site on Domain Road – and it will be open 18 hours a day.