Snack Bar: New Baker Bleu, Princess Cake Ice-Cream and More Local Food News This Week

What’s happening around town

• Filipino restaurant Askal and sibling bar Inuman have teamed up with Dutch Rules Distilling to release a Pinoy gin with notes including coconut, pandan, tamarind and lemongrass. To celebrate, on Sunday August 31 from 3pm to 9pm, Inuman is hosting a venue takeover with bartenders Nat Yao (ex- Bar Margaux ) and Tom Smith.

• Italian pop-up Nostra from former Embla and Etta chef Dane Hewson will take over Onlys in Northcote from Friday August 22 to Monday October 13. There’ll be $25 hand-made pasta specials and $10 Martinis on Thursday nights. On Sundays, Hewson will welcome a guest chef with a line-up that includes Joel Baylon of Love Shack in Castlemaine and Benjamin Wallace of Embla.

• Kori Ice-Cream is collaborating on two flavours with Raymond Tan ( Raya , Dua ) to celebrate its third anniversary. Raya’s Breakfast in a Cup sees the kaya (coconut jam) folded through coconut milk ice-cream topped with salted egg sauce, a coffee drizzle, white pepper and a mini piece of kaya toast. And Dua’s Princess Cake is pandan ice-cream with pandan chiffon cake, boysenberry jam folded through and topped with pandan marzipan, whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Both flavours are available at Kori’s Hawthorn and CBD stores until Tuesday September 2.

• Shane Delia’s Maha is hosting a one-night-only live music event on Wednesday August 27 with Calypso Reggae group Bustamento. Enjoy dinner and a show with a special menu for the night.

The Hot List

• One year of Scotch eggs and Sunday roasts at Reed House.

What we covered this week

• First look: Tom Sarafian’s Zareh is open.

• Coming soon: Baker Bleu to open its fourth Melbourne store – and there’ll be soft serve.

• First look: Glen Iris sensation Grazia opens a takeaway pizza and panini shop.

• Where chefs eat: Junda Khoo’s Melbourne Malaysian go-tos (that aren’t Ho Jiak).

• First look: get banh mi croissants at Cham in West Melbourne.

• First look: Matsu triples in size (and still only seats 12).

• First look: just two burgers have made Charrd a phenomenon.

• First look: rendang-filled subs land at Roti John’s in Cremorne.

• Three new bakeries putting creative spins on the classics.

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• 10 top bartenders predict the drink of summer.