Snack Bar: Cola Wars, A1 Jibbitz, $5 Fazeek and More Melbourne Food News This Week

What’s happening around town

• Wear your love for A1 Bakery on your shoes. The Hot-Listed venue has released its own Jibbitz – Crocs shoe charms.

• Chef James Kelly (formerly of Embla and Lyle’s in London) will take over the kitchen at Northcote wine bar Samuel Pepys this Saturday March 15 from 1pm until sold out. Kelly’s à la carte menu will include ricotta agnolotti (stuffed pasta), cured sea bream with tomato and horseradish, and a strawberry granita with baked cream.

• Melbourne brand Tommy’s Booze, known for its three fruity liqueurs – limoncello, mandarino and lampone – now has three canned spritzes, each using one of the liqueurs. The canned spritzes are only available from the Tommy’s Booze website.

• Homewares brand Fazeek is hosting a warehouse sale with items from $5, and up to 75 per cent off its glassware, ceramics and more. The sale is at 7/177 Beavers Road, Northcote, and runs from Thursday March 20 to Saturday March 22.

This week in food and drink news

• This yakitori pop-up is now permanent thanks to Rednote.

• Coming soon: get pastas, drinks and snacks from $6 at Lygon Street’s latest.

• Coming soon: a couple with experience at The Everleigh, Apollo Inn and The Black Pearl are opening a new bar.

• A group of ex-Swillhouse staff will pop up at The Lincoln to help fund legal action against their former employer.

• Where chefs eat: Navi chef Julian Hills’s west-side go-tos.

• Three to try: new Japanese delis and convenience stores.

• One-off and signature treats to try at the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival’s Baker’s Dozen Fed Square pop-up.

• New hire: food TV and Lucky Peach inspired Sunhands head chef Phil Tran.

The Hot List

• This week’s update: Slowpoke is on the fast track to rooftop royalty.

You might’ve missed

• Let the Aussie cola wars begin.

• How an Aussie winery launched a label with one of the world’s biggest techno festivals.

• Daniel Ricciardo has a rosé now.