Snack Bar: A Tiny Chicken Ramen Shop, the Best Hot Cross Buns and More Local Food News This Week

What’s happening around town

• Jollygood Junior has taken over the Airstream trailer at Rocky Ridge, previously run by taco greats CDMX. The team now serves American diner-inspired fried chicken sandwiches, beef smashburgers and vegan cheeseburgers at the Brunswick brewery.

• Etta head chef Lorcán Kan has introduced a Saturday lunch series with a $70 menu inspired by his travels to Malaysia. Titled Fish, Fried Rice and Shaved Ice, the series will feature a set menu that changes frequently, but will always include versions of the namesake dishes such as charcoal-grilled whole fish finished with seaweed butter and Kan’s take on the Malaysian shaved ice dessert, ais kacang.

• Chef Mo Zhou has teamed up with Chinese alcohol brand Moutai for a one-off five course dinner at his Gertrude Street restaurant Gaea, on Tuesday April 15. Zhou’s refined dishes will be paired with five cocktails such as a Moutai and Tomato Milk Punch and a Moutai Salted Kabosu and Wild Peppercorn Leaf Collins.

• Carlton North bakery Calle will launch a hot chocolate version of its croissant wheels on Friday April 4, featuring its signature laminated pastries filled with Parisian-style hot chocolate.

• CBD steakhouse Meatmaiden is collaborating with Sweden's Restaurang AG. The two venues will prepare three six-course dinners from Tuesday 29 April to Thursday 1 May. Tickets are $240 per person and are on sale now.

This week in food and drink news

• First look: Hector’s Bakery is about quality control.

• First look: Ramen Ako’s makes no more than 100 serves per day.

• 21 Melbourne restaurants that opened or closed in March.

• A guide to the best hot cross buns in Melbourne.

• Sunda is back – kind of.

• Seven to try: hot cross everything but buns.

• Collingwood’s Molly Rose Brewing enters liquidation.

• Where chefs eat: Moon Mart’s Eun Hee An loves these “extremely tasty and unbelievably cheap” noodles.

• First look: get coffee with a side of live music at new Cremorne cafe On Air.

• Nornie Bero’s Mabu Mabu has entered liquidation.

• Yugen Tea Bar makes a hard left.

• All the food vendors and restaurants at Chadstone’s new $485 million Market Pavilion.

The Hot List

• A royal palace for Melbourne’s sandwich king.

You might’ve missed

• Laurie Woolever told Anthony Bourdain’s story. Now she’s telling her own.

• What 15 top chefs cook at home after service.