Snack Bar: Free Coffee With Maison Balzac, a New Food Market and More Sydney Food News This Week

What’s on around town

• Drop by Maison Balzac’s pop-up Paddington cafe on August 20 & 21, between 8am and 1pm, for coffee, pretzels and pastries on the house – and a first look at the just-launched Breakfast Collection. 31 Norfolk Street, Paddington

• Toby Wilson is popping up on Enmore Road, taking over the Bar Demo kitchen on Sunday August 30. Expect chicken liver “Iced Vovos”, mortadella sandwiches and cheffy chocolate crackles alongside the bar’s usual line-up of excellent drinks. Walk-ins only, 4pm till 8pm.

• Crown Street spot White Horse has just launched a six-dish, $55 lunch menu, which spotlights executive chef Jun Hwang’s Korean heritage and honed French techniques. Book in from Friday to Sunday for refined, cosy dishes like lobster pappardelle, chicken with gochujang jus and a scoop of brie ice-cream. You’d be wise to add some new menu items, too: a golden seafood pie or the pink lady tarte tatin, maybe.

• Chiswick will host a wine dinner dedicated to drops from Orange. Book in for a feast with a five-part pairing that showcases the magnificent region’s most distinct wines, from the likes of Chalou, Cargo Road and Jessop. Hosted by Aria somm Mimi Mrazikova, the night is $150pp. Bookings essential.

• Nomad has launched The Sunday Table, a $72 lunch menu to see out the weekend. Expect a share-style meal starring woodfired Wollemi duck alongside falafels with zhoug, baked saffron rice, sour cherry dolma, Turkish tiramisu and more. Bookings recommended, limited space for walk-ins.

• Love Tilly’s annual dinner for suicide prevention charity RU OK? is on Tuesday September 8. Chefs from across the group will cook in the Fabbrica Darlinghurst kitchen for a meal that roves through the multi-storey building. Expect dishes from Love, Tilly Devine, Ragazzi, Letra House and more. Tickets are $100, with 100 per cent of the sales donated to RU OK?

• The Little Food Market debuts at Carriageworks from Friday August 21 till Sunday August 23. Expect chef-led masterclasses, pop-up stalls from artisan producers and dishes from Olympic Meats, Attenzione and more. Tickets essential.

• Black Star Pastry is now opening late in Newtown – and adding cocktails to the mix. Head in from 5pm, Thursdays to Sundays, for your slice of strawberry watermelon cake paired with a spritz, or a chocolate slice with a chocolatey Old Fashioned. There are four combos to choose from, or a $99 three-part cake and cocktail flight. Walk-ins only.

What we covered this week

• A new general store stocks locally made provisions alongside an inner west park.

• La Buvette dials France at the Paris end of Potts Point.

• A Moment For: the chewy, gooey yakimochi snack from a top ramen spot in Darlinghurst.

• Where Chefs Eat: the one Sydney restaurant Porteno’s Elvis Abrahanowicz hits for every special date.

• Our food editor’s favourite Portuguese tarts find a new home in the city.

• A Malaysian beer hall – with brews from all over Southeast Asia – is readying to open in the CBD.

• First look: there’s now a dedicated destination for mochi-topped tong sui (Chinese sweet soups) in Haymarket.

• One of the world’s best chefs is coming to Sydney to open her first fine diner outside of Thailand.

You might’ve missed

• There’s a new Japanese kissa (with coffee and cheesecake) hiding in the inner west.

• A classic fish’n’chipper finds a second home just six months after opening.

• There’s a swish new subterranean bar in the city – with chartreuse slushies, potato gems with caviar, and saucy fried chicken sandwiches.