Snack Bar: Two New Burger Shops, Japanese-Inspired Doughnuts and More Local Food News This Week

What’s happening around town

• Carnation Canteen chef Audrey Shaw is cooking with George McCullough of Gum Wine at Toorak Cellars this Sunday March 8 from 1pm to 5pm as part of the Armadale Wine Bar’s summer barbeque series. Walk in and enjoy a $150 set menu designed to be shared by two, or an à la carte offering that includes roast peppers with pork and fennel sausages, and grilled flatbread with bottarga butter.

• Sad Girl Matcha and Monforte have teamed up on a rhubarb and matcha cream-filled laminated pastry, available from Monforte Viennoiserie in Carlton North.

• Pendant and Frankie’s Tortas & Tacos are teaming up for a day party on Labour Day this Monday March 9. Frankie’s will serve oysters, snapper aguachile and Tex-Mex nachos from Pendant’s front window, while Pendant will have three Mexican-inspired drink specials including a frozen Mezcal Colada. 

• Jackalope on the Mornington Peninsula has brought back its outdoor cinema for March. Every night in March, guests can enjoy drinks from the hotel’s winery Rare Hare and food from the cinema dining menu while watching films such as Babylon, Skyfall and Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

What we covered this week

• Three to try: new and revamped pubs for chicken parma and steak nights.

• First look: it’s McMuffin-style rolls and double cheeseburgers at Nouns Hamburgers in South Yarra.

• First look: Tiny new Japanese spot Matsuyama is inspired by Midnight Diner.

• First look: at Bernie’s Bar in Fitzroy North, Liv Flanagan created the queer space she was missing.

• First look: Get chilli crisp Margaritas at Abbotsford bar Mikey’s.

• Where chefs eat: the ramen chain that “nails it” every time, according to Alt’s Mino Han.

• Bourke Street staple Thai Tide is closing next week.

• Two new doughnut shops inspired by Japanese and Korean chains are now baking.

• 105 baked goods to try at the MFWF Baker’s Dozen Fed Square pop-up.

• A one-night-only standing bar takes over Yugen Dining.

• Munchies brings its late-night burgers and peri-peri wings to Brunswick.

• The Angel of Malvern to reopen after three years.

• The Grampians Grape Escape returns in May. Here’s what’s happening at the three-day festival. 

You might have missed

• Recipe: truly, Elizabeth Hewson’s zozzona rigatoni is a delicious “dirty mess”.

• How to store leftover rice (and reheat it five ways).