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The iconic Australian dessert has found a new hoe in Alphington on Melbourne's inner north east. OK New Zealand - we hear you. Like Crowded House, Russell Crowe and everything else good we claim, except your rugby team, we know it's really yours! Created by Nerida McPherson, whose voice you might know from in flight food podcasts, Pav Queen is yet another COVID success story. Nerida wanted to make a pav for a friend and took 18 attempts to get it right. Once she did, a new

From the first day they flung open the doors and invited us down the brightly lit neon red hallway from the cobblestones of Melbourne's Oliver Lane, I have had a thing for Lucy Liu. It is one of my Melbourne staples and they do pan Asian food so very very well. A change of ownership and the departure of Michael Lambie, Scott Borg and Owen Brockfield haven't changed the place a great deal, meaning the legacy remains intact, the food is equally as good and Lambie's influence on

From the team who gave Perth both Ezra Pound and The Bird, comes North Bird. It joins the growing trend of wine stores doubling as eating houses, bars and all manner of places to scoff turps and tucker. The focus here, which we love, is small batch, hard to find and natural wines. They stock the likes of Latta Vino, Koerner alongside some smaller wineries producing interesting varietals and orange style wines. It is a wine lovers heaven, and there is some food that is as s

Sydneysiders will tell you a drive to Parramatta is a long way to go for a sandwich, but as those who have made the journey or are lucky enough to live nearby, will tell you, it's worth the trip. If your hankering leads you to thick fluffy, crunchy white bread rolls, stuffed chock full of meaty, cheesy goodness with some excellent house produced sauce, then Harvey's is for you. This is not rocket science, it sandwiches but by jove, they are good. You can have them sloppy or

Times are tough in the hospitality sector across the country. And for those growers, artisans and makers who produce for restaurants, cafes and eating houses, it is equally as tough. There are few places to sell produce to, especially with extending lockdowns across Australia. The good folk at Straight to the Source have created a limited edition small batch market bag, filled with delicious, and interesting produce. Working closely with producers, they've got bespoke prod

When you're in the middle of the country, you kind of expect to find run of the mill dining, cold beer and red dust in literally every crevice and cranny of your body. What you don't expect is five star Asian food by one of the Territory's nicest blokes. I've had the pleasure of eating at Jimmy Shu's Hanuman in Darwin. I was overjoyed to find a southern post of the same restaurant at the Double Tree by Hilton in Alice Springs. Jimmy is the consummate restaurateur, bon vivan

If you love a bit of seaside chic to dine in, the old 18 Footers Sailing Club housed in a former weatherboard on the breakwall on Trafalgar St has reemerged as the Manly Boathouse. It's the kind of place you almost expect to find by the water. Think Hamptons meets Noosa but with even more white. It an influencers dream backdrop for their Instagram. Did we mention it's very very white? Braden White (I kid you not) is the man on the pans, and has a solid pedigree in Noosa, Bri

People have often looked at the Gold Coast with some scorn and derision. Sure it aint Melbourne or Sydney but lovers of the Gold Coast love it and others love to visit. And while it may not be a shrine to culinary adventure of artistic pursuit, it does have some great spots to eat, drink and be casual. Gods of the Sea is one of those places. Its located on the Gold Coast Highway at Mermaid Beach, a quick stroll away from Nobby's Beach SLSC where you can stroll before your fe

As lockdowns continue to torture Melbourne, a couple of its brighter stars have fled north to warm weather and a city whose dining scene is exploding. Brisbane has so much going on it's hard to keep up, lest we get too fat. It seems there is a new venue opening every week and this makes us super chuffed. Melbourne's Alex Kim is one of those who has taken up residence in the Gabba, in Jurgen's Street. This part of Brisvegas, with soon to be trains, is ever expanding and Kim's

If you happen to be heading to Glenelg beach in Adelaide, then Polk is an absolute must stop. A splendid find, Polk is all about beautiful, Scandi inspired pastel interiors, impeccable service and spectacular food. Its minutes from the city yet feels miles away. A melded menu of modern Asian concepts, all combined in a fusion style menu which is as clever as it is superbly handled. First thing first, there is a complete lack of pretension. It is almost like we wandered into s

Tucked in a side street off Punt Road in Richmond, is the Rowena Corner Store. Some refer to it as a hipster heaven, but for me, it's just my local where they pour great coffee, care quite a bit about the local clientele, and dare I say, it's the place where everybody knows your name. Set in what was once an old school corner shop, there is a distinctly Mediterranean feel about the venue. It's also upgrading every week it seems. Shelves are stocked with a plethora of comest

It's tough in hospitality, tougher than it has probably been since the GST was introduced back in the 80's when this scribe was cheffing in or running suburban venues. Restaurants are struggling to survive between lockdowns and many punters are doing their best to support them. It is tough and we get it. Which is why this much hyped new addition to 80 Collins Street was an even greater disappointment. The first visit caused a couple of old industry stompers to look at one an

One of the many great disappointments of 20/21 has been the loss of incredibly well curated festivals dedicated to gluttony and scoffing. Let's be honest, the likes of #pinotpalooza was an annual outing and all appointments were cancelled for days after, knowing the physical carnage a day of scoffing pinot from across Australia and the globe has on this old body. Mould Cheese festival was one of the cancellations we most felt. If anyone says they don't like cheese, they just

Hey babe - I'd like to talk to you. About a little Boom Boom. Okay so perhaps the reference to the 1987 suggestive dance track might be a bit obscure for the millennials and the zoomers, but who are we to resist temptation. This was very much the theme of our visit to the Boom Boom Room - failing to resist temptation. Brisbane's Boom Boom Room, part of the Ghanem Group (Bisou Bisou, Iris, Byblos, Blackbird and Donna Chang) is downstairs from the aforementioned house of Sich

Whether its your first time here or if you are a seasoned regular, St Ali is a reliable place to see and be seen. An always busy spot tucked away in Yarra Place, its has become almost a behemoth, dominating the small South Melbourne block. It was Saturday and we were with people about to buy a house so a Mimosa and a Bloody Mary were sensible decisions for a late morning brunch. There has often been a question whether St Ali is a victim of its own success the thing that can

Whilst lockdowns have all but devastated the hospitality industry across the country, there will always be survivors. Willow and Spoon, in Brisbane's inner suburban Wilston, is one of those survivors. It's an ever evolving project of love from owner Keith and his team. He has been in hospitality all of his career and doesn't know what else he would do. You can tell. There is a commitment here which is why the venue has stood the test of time. Willow and Spoon is housed in a