Snack Bar: Free Coffee at Superfreak, a Cheesy New Burg and More Local Food News, September 27, 2024

• The fromage-loving Studd siblings have joined forces with the Mary’s crew, delivering The Punk Roquer. The new burger’s got a fat beef patty, fried potato, chutney and Le Roi Roquefort blue cheese – an artisanal cheese made in a boutique dairy in France’s Averyon region. Available at all Mary’s locations.

• Shadow Baking is popping up at Circa , the Middle Eastern Parramatta cafe, on Sunday September 29. Head in from 8am to get the Darlo bakery’s line-up of goods – plus a one-off special: a pistachio and cardamom frangipane scroll, crowned with an airy rosewater- cheesecake icing and pistachios.

• Superfreak ’s shouting free coffees for the first 50 people to mention the code phrase “locals club” on Saturday and Sunday. It’s to celebrate the arrival of U Turn Marrickville, the stand-out vintage store that’s just opened on Illawarra Road. Plus, you’ll grab score 20 per cent off your secondhand purchase with your caffeine.

• Lennox Hastie wants you to pitch your pintxos. The Gildas captain’s inviting you to interpret reinvent the restaurant’s namesake, a tasty three-ingredient skewer. The winninger’s Gilda entry will feature on the menu, and they’llits creator will be invited to dine at Gildas with three of their mates. Enter now.

• Take a walking tour through Woollahra and Paddo with tasty stops at Bistro Moncur, Civico 47 and Ursula’s. There are two spring dates – October 4 and November 1 – and the tour’s led by local historian Elliot Lindsay. There’s a course at each stop, and wines too. Tickets are $315 per person and very limited.

• Fresh New Dear Sainte Eloise head chef Sam Rozsnyoi ’s put fish and chips on the menu. The very -nice, Monday-only serve’s got beer-battered ling, chippies and a scoop of herby mashed broad beans.

• Aria is celebrating 25 years of existence dining with a pair of special menus available from September 2 til 29. There’s the exclusive seven-course tasting menu, where Matt Moran shares stand-out dishes from different menus over the years. And a knockout snack menu hits the bar. Bookings essential.

• Just Desserts , at Sydney Fringe Festival, hits Machine Hall with a performance by Ngaiire, an ACID.FLWRS floral installation and dessert bar by pastry chef Anna Polyviou. It kicks off at 6pm tonight, and you can nab $50 off tickets with code FRINGE99.

What we covered this week

• First look: Ama goes from pop-up to permanent, with its family-recipe beef noodle soup – found in Thailand’s Chinatowns – arriving in Surry Hills. There’s also salapao (steamed buns), golden fried bean curd rolls and jok (Thai congee).

• Coming soon: Slice Shoppe , an inner west pizzeria with the “whole shebang”, is arriving to an already adored Marrickville dining room this spring.

• First look: char stars at Izakaya Kushi , the new yakitori house on the northern beaches. Opt for skewers of Wagyu, or a tsukune number with a dippable onsen tamago.

• Burger Royale: we tried “ Australia’s best burger ” – but is someone telling whoppers?

• After a four-year hiatus, moody steakhouse The Cut reopens in The Rocks. The restaurant’s got Rockpool DNA – and a slow-cooked prime rib that’s cut tableside and a Gibson with an oyster on the side.

• The NSW Government’s considering mandatory sexual violence training for all NSW bar staff.

• Local Knowledge: Amami Mart brings Japan’s outstanding konbini culture to Leichhardt. Get ramen chips, swirls of Hokkaido-milk soft-serve and fresh-made onigiri.

• First look: Fabbrica’s got a strong hand, with the pasta pros returning to the inner west – and now holding a pair of Kings. There’s silky cacio e pepe, a Mapo collab and big bar energy.

• “We’re over the hump”: after a false start, Neil Perry opens Bobbie’s , his first “real bar”. It’s grooving in Double Bay, with a fluffy Garibaldi, slick service and New York charm.

You might’ve missed

• Kate Reid knows it’s been nearly five years since she announced her world-famous croissant shop Lune was coming to Sydney. Now, the flagship Rosebery site (nearly) has an opening date.

• Coming soon: Prefecture 48 brings “every Japan” to a heritage-listed CBD site. It’ll be home to six venues, where you can get pastries, whisky or sit down for an omakase experience. Plus, Maybe Sammy’s on drinks.

• First look: Kariton Sorbetes trips west with its second NSW store. It’s almost a homecoming as Tthe team brings its lauded scoops to the local its community, as well asalong with a new flavour based on a viral chocolate bar.