Snack Bar: -85-Degree Coffee, The Kent Hotel Reopens and More Local Food News This Week

What’s happening around town

• Morning Market and Pidapipo are collaborating on Magnum-style ice-creams. The Pop Sticks, available at all Pidapipo stores and Morning Market Fitzroy, come in three flavours: almond, honeycomb and boysenberry.

• Toorak Cellars is hosting a summer barbeque series every Sunday from February 1 to March 15. Each Sunday, a different duo drawn from the city’s top culinary talent will take over the barbeque. Kicking things off on February 1 are Troy Wheeler of Meatsmith and Harley & Rose co-founder Rory Cowcher. Other pairings include the Royal Oak’s Scotty Stevenson with Pipis Kiosk’s Jordan Clay on February 22, and Audrey Shaw of Carnation Canteen with George McCullough of Gum Wines on March 8.

• Tickets are now available for the Prosecco Festival at Abbotsford Convent on Saturday February 28. There’ll be 50 proseccos from Italy and Australia, as well as Italian food. VIP tickets also include a masterclass with the festival’s founder, self-proclaimed prosecco queen Melissa Brauer. 

• Nama, the pop-up run by former Yard Bird chef Geoff Marett, is teaming up with Brunswick East robatayaki restaurant Kura for a one-night-only dinner on Thursday January 29. The $85 six-course set menu includes ebi toast, smoked kingfish and Tokyo-inspired banoffee pie. Bookings recommended.

• The pool deck at Melbourne’s W hotel is screening the Australian Open throughout the tournament. Purchase a food and drink pack that includes sliders and tostadas for $45, or go for the deluxe option for $85 and get lobster rolls, a fruit plate and more. Both come with access to the sauna, pool and pool deck from 11am to 5pm or 5.30pm to end of play, plus a Lemon Ace cocktail.

What we covered this week

• First look: Regulars sells 600 cups of -85-degree coffee a day.

• First look: Carlton North’s Kent Hotel feels like a pub again.

•  Lygon Street butcher Donati’s Fine Meats will live on in Carlton.

• How food serves the Australian Open.

• Where chefs eat: the suburban Turkish restaurant Tulum’s Coşkun Uysal loves.

• First look: what’s the deal with Fitzroy North bar Champagne Video?• First look: get spicy Himalayan rice balls at Apa’s Canteen in the CBD.

• Moon Mart’s making fried chicken now.

• New hire: Yang Thai’s pastry chef brings fine-dining training to the charcoal chicken shop.

You might have missed

• The Papa Salt team just wanted a drink. Now they have a suite of industry-leading products.

• Need a non-alc drop for your next dinner party? Crack a bottle of this.