• We asked some of New York (and Australia’s) best bartenders what you can do to get the most of your liquor cabinet.
• The folks at Witches in Britches could learn from those guys. They got caught earlier this week passing off homemade liquor as the genuine article.
• Souk just opened in the CBD – look out for the pink glow at the end of the lane.
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SIGN UP• The smoke is clearing after the World’s 50 Best Restaurants descended on and had its way with Melbourne. Catch up on what went down behind the scenes on Day One, Day Two, Day Three and the big one, Day Four.
• Speaking of World’s 50 Best, Brae, Dan Hunter’s Birregura restaurant, is now the 44th best in the world. Here’s why.
• Hunter also announced the launch of his first book, with a tasting event at the newly renovated Cutler & Co.
• Cutler & Co isn’t the only thing changing in Andrew McConnell’s culinary empire: it’s been confirmed that his Luxembourg Bistro in St Kilda is closing.
• But when one bistro shuts, another one opens. Meet Etta, the newest member of the Lygon Street family.
• Over at Crown, Long Chim Melbourne is hosting a feast to celebrate Thai New Year and you can win a table for you and nine friends.
• Neil Perry showcased Australian produce in his menu for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Award ceremony, where Ben Shewry’s Attica’s was named a place and is the world’s 32nd best restaurant.
• On the night, Shewry shared the story of an emotional letter from a childhood hero he received in Attica’s early days.
• Before the awards, Shewry was immortalised in typical Melbourne fashion, on a mural outside Chin Chin. He was joined on the wall (and in person) by world famous chefs Joan Roca, Massimo Bottura, Daniel Humm and Heston Blumenthal.
• Some of the world’s other top chefs hosted masterclasses for MFWF, and we picked up some tips that will step up your cooking game.
• A one-man operation, brewery and bar called The Mill is now open in Collingwood.
• Easter is coming, and Pidapipo and Baker D. Chirico, have made a special chocolate gelato hot cross bun for the occasion.
• In more breaking hot-cross bun collaborations, Piccolina Gelateria and LuxBite have made an Easter-themed Neapolitan gelato tub.
• Melbourne vegans – you now have a food delivery service devoted to you.
• Speaking of vegan, all the food at new Melbourne cafe The Alley is just that.
• Whisky fans who like their ryes with a side of analogue warmth will appreciate the Melbourne Whisky Room, now open in the city.
• George Calombaris’s restaurants have had to pay back more than $2.6 million in missed wages to former staff.