From Dough To Divine: A Close-Up on the Croissant An alluring, buttery, and glorious love affair between one American and the crescent-shaped pastry we all think we know and love. Consequent to moving to Melbourne, I made it my mission to find the best croissant. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it rapidly turned into a defining theme during my time here, and an expensive one at that (Girl maths does, however, prove that each croissant I buy and eat is free, written off like taxes, but emotionally). My relationship with the croissant is rather untraditional. I take my j ..read more

If you swooned over the delights of Taormina in season two of White Lotus and fancy yourself some similar Sicilian-styled action before summer sets, then your beautiful friends at Rosetta have got you sorted with their Sicilian Long Lunch. Hosted on their magnificent alfresco terrace for two days only (Saturday 25th February and Sunday 26th February) this is a must-attend event for anyone who wants to indulge in the tastes of Sicily without the Tanya McQuoid drama. From the moment you take your seat at the table, you’ll be transported to the shores of this picturesque island, with its rol ..read more

It was the go-to ingredient of the health-conscious crowd in the 1970s and 1980s, but carob fell out of favour as other options took the spotlight. Fast forward to today and daggy old carob is making a comeback in Australian kitchens, as people are once again turning to carob for its health and sustainability benefits. Carob trees, which belong to the legume family, grow in all five mainland states and the Northern Territory with around 170ha under cultivation. The tree bears pods that contain a sweet, edible pulp and inedible seeds. The pulp is then dried, roasted and ground to create carob p ..read more

As Melbourne slowly creeps towards summer, our tastebuds start to crave the smoky and juicy goodness of BBQ. From seared steaks and chicken, to ribs dripping in marinade, and expertly-charred seafood, no summer is the same without these stalwarts of the season. And while we all think we’re masters of our own flames, are we? Are we, really? Enter Brunswick’s The Que Club on Lygon Street (where Hellenic Republic used to be), the true lords of smoke and flame. Led by Brazilian executive chef, Fabio Castello, sit back, gorge and wonder at the skills of he and his team as plate after plate of BBQ b ..read more

If there’s one thing we learnt from Melbourne’s interminable lockdowns and the bleak years of 2020 and 2022, it’s that we’re inextricably linked to some of the world’s best produce. From Portarlington mussels to Koroit potatoes and Goldfields lamb, it was all just out of reach for us to enjoy in situ in country Victoria beyond the so-called “ring of steel”. With curfews and the cursed 5km radius gone (and never return, please) it’s time to celebrate the cornucopia of country Victoria’s bounty together again. Enter the latest champion to this cause: Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters. A first-of-it ..read more

Supernormal’s slow-cooked lamb shoulder, eggplant, Yuxiang sauce and crispy garlic with Non’s #7 Stewed Cherry and Coffee. Picture: Nicola Skill As Dry July comes to its end, Nicola Skill explores how to carry on the halo effect of sobriety deeper into a Baltic-like Melbourne winter. For the sober-curious among us, Non is an innovative Australian product which doesn’t seek to mimic wine, rather, present it as an interesting drink to enjoy. Each numbered Non has its own distinct character enabling it to be paired somewhat symbiotically with food.  So when Non offers one the opportunit ..read more

East Gippsland is the beautiful eastern flank of Victoria fringed by the tranquil Gippsland Lakes and home to some of the best beaches and freshest produce in Australia. It stretches from beaches to high country in less than an hour’s drive and, at just over a three-hour drive from Melbourne, packs the punch of a small Mediterranean country with its landscape diversity, wine, cheese, you-name-it. Try to time any visit with a full moon. Watching the golden disc ascend from the ocean and swell over the horizon as it finds form rising to punch its presence through the inky indigo of a waning twil ..read more

Summer means seafood and summer also means most of us have a little bit more time and what’s better in your spare time than flexing your culinary muscle and tackling a type of protein you may have not worked with before. Vesper Bistro and Bar’s Francesco Castellana has got you covered on both fronts. Check out his slow-cooked octopus with white fava beans puree with chicory and chorizo oil recipe below. But remember, it’s summer, so maybe you’re all about doing less. Treat yourself, book a table at Vesper Bistro and Bar at 25 Toorak Road in South Yarra, and let Frank and his team show you how ..read more

Looking for a summer series right smack bang in the CBD? La Madonna at Next Hotel is for you, bebe. Chefs Danny Natoli and Adrian Li have brought the concept of the Sunday family lunch to La Madonna and, after what seemed like bloody years of lockdowns and missing family, their La Famiglia is absolutely perfect for a CBD catch-up. They kick off with house-baked focaccia and crostini, marinated olives and La Madonna pickles with a generous platter of salami, mortadella and bresaola, Stracciatella and Lakes Entrance sardines and preserved lemons. Smash this all down and then move on to ..read more

When my sister, Carmen, was in high school one of her mates threw a ham sandwich at her in the playground. For reasons known only to her, she described the ham as “mah” (ham backwards) and “honking” (immense). Ever since, our family has called a leg of ham as a “honking bit of mah”. Welcome to the Mitchells of Sandgate, Queensland. I wasn’t sure if I could get back to Queensland to see my family after almost two years of COVID bedlam, so I wanted to make a recipe that paid both homage to my birth state and also brought some of its best produce, and even summer, to what I expected could be anot ..read more