Snack Bar: Florentino’s Next Chapter, a New Tokyo Ramen Shop and More Local Food News This Week

What’s happening around town

•  Punch Lane restaurant Saadi has just started hosting fermentation workshops. From 11am to 2.30pm on Sunday February 28, join chefs Saavni Krishnan and Sriram Aditya as they teach you oil-based pickling and slow fruit preservation techniques. The workshop is $110 per person and includes a set menu lunch.

• Chef Aitor Jeronimo Orive, formerly head chef at Michelin-starred restaurant Basque Kitchen in Singapore, has taken over the kitchen at South Yarra’s Nobody’s Baby for a pop-up. Named Basque Txoko, the pop-up will run until the end of April. It showcases dishes from the Basque region such as Gildas, confit piquillo peppers from Lodosa, and burnt Basque cheesecake.

• This weekend, Frankie’s Tortas & Tacos will celebrate the Johnston St Fiesta with a pop-up next-door at 28 Johnston Street, Fitzroy. There’ll be cocktails from Joe Jones (Romeo Lane) including a Margarita and a watermelon spritz; non-alcs including a hibiscus and coconut cold brew; and Horchata choc-tops from Billy Van Creamy.   

What we covered this week

• First look: the King & Godfree building reawakens with Garfield Pizzeria.

• Rebecca Yazbek ushers in a new era at Florentino.

• First look: Kuru is a tiny new Japanese restaurant from the Roslyn Thai team.

• 14 dishes and treats to enjoy in Melbourne this Lunar New Year.

• The Florian team opens a takeaway shop on Rathdowne Street.

• First look: take a seat and enjoy a glass at Blackhearts & Sparrows’ new Fitzroy store.

• Dine out to cash in: save on your next meal at restaurants including Ho Jiak and Marmelo.

• First look: Tokyo’s Ginza Kagari flies its chicken ramen to the CBD.

• Queen Victoria Market is hosting a Ramadan Night Market for the first time in its 147-year history.

You might have missed

• Chef Danielle Alvarez ranks supermarket spaghetti.

• Australian cocktail bars have Japanese flair.

• Supper Partying: how to host an izakaya party for $50 or less.