What’s on around town

• The next PS40 Takeover Tuesday brings the flavours of Colombia’s Caribbean coastline to the CBD cocktail bar. Costenita chefs Alex Heery and Sergio Baron are bringing kingfish ceviche, yuca fritters and lamb arepas – and that’s just the start. $65 per person, bookings required. Gluten free and vegetarian or vegan options available on request.

• AP Bread & Wine is officially open for dinner. Head to the Darlo cottage for an AP-eritivo and dinner menu spanning spritzy drinks, snacky bits, fried mussels, pasta, pies and, obviously, bread. From 3pm till 11pm, Wednesday to Saturday.

• There are free limited-edition Messina scoops outside the Queen Victoria Building this Saturday, between 11.30am and 2.30pm, to celebrate Lunar New Year. There’s a caramel and soy flavour and coconut and makrut lime topped with chilli oil peanut crisps, both made in collaboration with the team at Lee Kum Kee.

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• Head to North Bondi Fish on Friday February 21 for a free coffee and a high-energy set by Cosmo’s Midnight and Winston Surfshirt. Registration encouraged.

• Fontana is taking over Cafe Freda’s on Sunday February 16, from 3pm. Bookings are recommended: it’s the second-last kitchen takeover before the Freda’s team moves to its new home in Chippo, with the last one announced for Sunday March 23 with OG head chef Xinyi Lim (aka Megafauna).

• February 22 means International Margarita Day – which means $15 Margs aplenty (think spicy mango or passionfruit) and $5 taco specials at Harry’s in Surry Hills. Get around it.

• Is it your birthday? Head to Cho Cho San (with a group of eight or more) for its Buns & Bottomless offering, and the restaurant will shout the person of the hour. Available on weekends from midday till 3pm.

• Lennox Hastie has created two flashy February-exclusive dishes at Gildas. Head in any time this month (except for Valentine’s Day) to dine on the newcomers, which are served in Ironclad’s new-release Junior skillets (which you’ll also have the chance to win). Bookings recommended.

• Sundays at Attenzione now mean live jazz – adding more vibes to an already vibe-heavy place. From 6pm till 9.30pm, bookings recommended.

• Bar Planet’s celebrating Valentine’s Day with a fire-engine-red cocktail. The cherry-topped Scorpino’s been made together with cake creative Baked in Space, and it’s available all week. Plus, three more sweet ways to celebrate love this week.

• The Chiswick team is celebrating the end of summer with two parties. On Sunday February 23 and Sunday March 2, expect cocktail specials, snacks and a “garnish-your-own” station with herbs from the kitchen garden. From 4pm, no bookings needed.

What we covered this week

• Coming soon: The Grumpy Baker is on its way to Potts Point, this time with a bar and dinner menu.

• Broadsheet Sydney columnist Gemma Plunkett’s love letter to summer, “Sydney’s worst season”. She ditches the kitchen and finds solace in dining out.

• Where Chefs Eat: Kiln’s Isobel Whelan-Little picks Sydney’s best post-beach burger, a hassle-free special occasion restaurant and a top-notch sanga.

• The Bar Copains team snaps up Bar Vincent, the trio’s favourite restaurant in Sydney. Find out when the team will take over from owners Sarah Simm and Andy Logue.

• Now open: at Middle Eastern brekkie spot Iftar, classics join twists like shawarma tacos and kofta dumplings.

• Now open: Petit Loulou joined the CBD mix this week, celebrating with free croissants every morning. Expect a chocolatey city exclusive too, and a bistro next door in the coming months.

• Local Knowledge: Filipino food’s greatest hits come supersized at Sir Manong, where cooking and serving food is an act of cultural preservation.

• Sad news, Sydney: Maido, Provider Store’s Darlinghurst coffee stop, is closing. There’s still time to drop by for matcha or an Artificer coffee, or to visit resident shiba inu Pocari.

You might’ve missed

• Where chefs date: 10 kitchen talents – including O Tama Carey, Josh Niland and Danielle Alvarez – share their top rec for a night out with your love.

• First look: the old Ricos Tacos corner spot has new custodians: market bakery darling Khanom House. Stop in for pandan-cream-stuffed doughnuts, Thai-milk-tea Basque cheesecakes and more.

• The mood is right at Eleven Barrack, the Bentley team’s new woodfired grill restaurant. A fluffy starter riffs on a sweet Bentley original and a tight pasta list supports beautifully done steaks from an inherited grill that’s “about the same price as a Ferrari”.