This week in food and drink news

• Vale Greg Malouf, Australia’s “master of modern Middle Eastern cooking”, who passed away last week. Food writer Michael Harden pays tribute to one of our culinary titans, who paved the way for Middle Eastern food in Australia.

• First look: nothing is over $18 at Victor Liong’s fast-casual CBD canteen, Silk Spoon.

• Coming soon: the Askal team is opening a Filipino rooftop bar.

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• What to eat at Il Mercato Centrale – from pizza bowl gnocchi to lobster rolls.

• Our guide to what’s open on Friday’s Grand Final public holiday.

• Four classic cookbooks that changed Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s life.

• Ishizuka’s new executive chef brings French training and Michelin-cred to Japanese kaiseki.

• Piccolina’s guest chef gelato series is back with Philippa Sibley, Jacqui Challinor and more.

• Am I wrong for loving Melbourne’s new pop-up Hello Kitty Cafe? Broadsheet’s James Williams visits the themed cafe.

• Social enterprise Welcome Merchant is teaming up with chef Sebastian Pasinetti for a one-off fundraising dinner this Sunday September 29.

• My Melbourne: Triple R’s Cam Smith on where he goes for beautiful food and excellent coffee.

• Don’t miss Attica’s Ben Shewry on tour for his new memoir Uses for Obsession: A Chef’s Memoir.

• Natalie Paull of Beatrix, John Rivera of Askal and Raymond Tan of Raya are holding a bake sale for Foodbank Victoria.

• Where chefs eat: the Aoi Tsuki duo on chilli spanner crab and the best food to pair with sake.

• First look: Yarra River pop-up bar Afloat is back with Italian beach club energy.

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• There’s a bearnaise in there: Play School moves to the kitchen.