A bite-sized recap of the biggest stories of the week, so you know where to go and what to order across Melbourne and Victoria. Check in each week so you can be the smartest person in your group chat.
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She at the Helm dining series comes to Taverna
After successfully debuting in May at two-hatted Yarraville restaurant Navi, She at the Helm – a dinner series spotlighting women in hospitality – is back on Thursday, August 20. This time, it’s coming to Brunswick East’s Critics’ Pick-listed venue Taverna. The one-night-only, six-course feast combines the talents of Taverna co-owner Angie Giannakodakis, Cicciolina chef Michelle Elia, Navi co-owner Georgia Roberts, sommelier Bonnie Spain and head chef Ana Cortes Garcia. A live three-piece Greek folk band will play to a giant communal table of 100 guests, where share-style dishes inspired by the chefs’ own heritages will be served. Tickets ($185) include dinner and drink pairings. Book here.
Eat Streets: We explore Fairfield’s Station Street
Fairfield’s main drag, Station Street, is often overlooked as somewhat of a thoroughfare, a vein connecting the north and the east. But what is it really? A casual dining cornucopia, bolstered by a brigade of new openings, that deserves more attention. Find out where to stop and snack along the Fairfield strip here, starting at its Heidelberg Road end and working your way north, dipping into a couple of side streets along the way.
Win a weekend away at Brae
Your chance to dine at three-hatted, Critics’ Pick-listed restaurant Brae has arrived. The destination Birregurra venue’s annual community fundraiser is back, with the opportunity to win from a pool of more than $9000 worth of prizes. From just $5, you’ll go in the running for a two-night stay including dining, drinks and breakfast, plus a guided tour of the 20-acre farm, the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles. Other tourism and dining prizes include a two-night stay at a cottage in the Otways, a $500 voucher for the Otways Distillery, plus more. All funds raised will be donated towards a $30,000 goal to support upgrades to the local Birregurra CFA headquarters. Grab your raffle ticket here.
Recipes: High-fibre, protein-rich meals to fuel your week
Dinner, sorted. Big on flavour, these 20 nutrient-dense recipes are packed with veggies and will keep you full for longer. Jessica Brook’s lentil dhal with sticky tamarind roasted fish is easy to whip up after work, while Neil Perry’s braised chicken with lentils is ideal for cosy nights in. Smart, hearty eating for busy weeknights and beyond. Plus, find more easy ways to get your daily fibre here.
The Download: Friday, August 7
Get Baked’s famous 24-layer cake is coming to Messina
The Bertha is a visual feast of dark chocolate cake and ganache standing 24 layers high, each $40 slice weighing in at about 900g. It’s the viral signature dish at Get Baked in the UK and it’s in Australia for a three-day pop-up at gelato giant Messina from next week. Bruce Bogtrotter, eat your heart out. It’s available via pre-order from August 10, for pick-up at Messina outlets across Melbourne August 14-16, but she’s not coming alone. The pop-up also includes ‘The Mertha’, a collaboration cake pairing 12 layers of chocolate sponge with layers of malt cheesecake, Milo ganache and Milo crumble.
The Tony Trail food tour at Queen Vic Market
Calling all cinephile foodies – A24’s much anticipated Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony is coming to Australian cinemas this August. Ahead of the release, the Queen Victoria Market are launching a one-off weekend tour of its traders and food halls inspired by Bourdain’s time visiting the market. Tickets are $119 and include tastings across eight venues from 10am on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16. Think freshly cooked mussels, pickled octopus, artisanal cheeses and of course, Queen Vic’s iconic hot jam doughnuts. Book here.
Good Food’s 100 Essential Melbourne Cafes & Bakeries guide
Melbourne’s coffee – and by extension, its cafe scene – is often declared among the best in the world. But what is the hallmark of a good cafe in 2026? The answers are found in Good Food’s 100 Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries Guide. Narrowing it down to just 100 anonymously reviewed venues wasn’t easy in such a cafe and bakery-dense city that continues to grow. But visit any of the spots on this list, and we guarantee you’ll be happy, whether you’re a long-black drinker or a banana cream matcha obsessive.
Hot ticket: Michelin-starred Hanoi restaurant at Aru
This spring, Vietnam’s Michelin-starred restaurant Gia is coming to Melbourne. The Hanoi fine diner is taking over our very own two-hatted Aru on Little Collins Street for just two nights in September. Gia co-owner and head chef Sam Tran, the first Vietnamese chef to retain a star for four consecutive years, is preparing an eight-course tasting menu ($245 per person) on September 1 and 2 from 5.45pm, with drinks pairings available for an extra $125 a head ($75 for non-alcoholic). Bookings can be made here.
Hump day special: $25 pizza and wine at Garfield
Lygon Street pizzeria Garfield is giving us a reason to brave the midweek chill this winter with its Wednesday night pizza and wine special. Each week, get a wood-fired margherita – made with 72-hour fermented dough using Garfield’s signature Tokyo stretch method – plus a glass of house fiano or sangiovese, all for just $25. Date night, sorted.
Our most popular winter recipes
From crowd-pleasing tray bakes, pies and puds, to crumbly, nostalgic cookies, Good Food’s most popular recipes in July covered all winter comfort food bases, plus more. Sink your spoon into these 21 comforting recipes you loved the most last month – and be sure to bookmark your favourites to your own custom recipe saved list on the Good Food app.
Hump day special: Lunch from $35 at a hatted restaurant
Opposite South Wharf, on the banks of the Yarra, From Here by Mike has cooked up a bargain weekday lunch. Get one main course for $35 – perhaps a scotch fillet with fries or a seasonal pasta – or add an entree and pay $50 total. In her November review, Dani Valent wrote, “Each plate is a clever, delicious showcase of ingredients, working on its own terms but also singing in harmony with the rest of the menu”. With the deal available Monday to Friday, noon to 2.30pm, it seems like a solid choice for your next business meeting or team lunch. Find out more.
Save your favourite recipes and restaurants on the Good Food app
No more dog-earing your recipe books. The Good Food app has launched a new saved function, which allows you to compile all your favourite recipes in one easy place. Simply click the bookmark icon to save, then head to the Saved page on the navigation panel to view. The Good Food app is home to more than 10,000 recipes from Australia’s top cooks, including Nagi Maehashi, Adam Liaw, Helen Goh, Neil Perry, Karen Martini, Emelia Jackson and more.