Sandi Sieger’s guide to what’s hot and happy(ning) this week. Eat, drink, buy, try, visit, read and be merry.
EAT: All Italian Errythang at Tipico’s Abbuffata Boozy Lunch
Launching Saturday 15 March, Italian bar and restaurant, Tipico will be offering a European-style boozy lunch every Saturday and Sunday for two hours from 15 March to 7 April, 2019.
Dubbed ABBUFFATA and translating to blow-out in English, Tipico anticipates that its boozy lunch will be exactly that. Serving: arancini, salumi misti, pappardelle beef ragu, homemade pizza and salad, guests are encouraged to come along with a large appetite.
In true Italian style, everyone will receive an Aperol spritz on arrival, with unlimited top-ups of Peroni, Prosecco, Pinot Grigio and Montepulciano also available throughout their two-hour sitting and inclusive of the price.
ABBUFFATA at Tipico runs every Saturday and Sunday from 15 March to 7 April 2019, from 12 pm to 4 pm, for $55 per person. Groups of four or more can dine for up to two hours and groups of two and three can dine for one and a half hours.
Reserve a table here.
DRINK: At The Noisy Ritual Pop-Up Fermentation Bar at Victoria Harbour
Brunswick’s Noisy Ritual Urban Winery is bringing its inner-city winemaking prowess to Docklands, opening a pop-up winery and bar in Victoria Harbour as part of the 2019 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival presented by Bank of Melbourne.
Between 20 to 30 March, the Noisy Ritual Pop-Up Fermentation Bar at Victoria Harbour will be serving wine by the glass, tasting flight and bottle alongside delicious wares from neighbouring Italian panini bar, Saluministi. This will take place alongside the fun of a working winery with grapes fermenting away and opportunities to get your hands (and feet) dirty, as the Noisy Ritual team showcases its urban winery offering in the waterfront precinct on the edge of the Melbourne CBD.
With this initiative, the Noisy Ritual team continues their mission of demystifying winemaking, making it accessible to thousands of Melburnians and visitors alike to get up close (and dirty) with the winemaking process.
More: Noisy Ritual Pop-Up Fermentation Bar at Victoria Harbour
BUY: A Ticket To The High Seas at The Westin Melbourne
You’ve heard of high tea, but now The Westin Melbourne is introducing High Seas – high tea with seafood as the star ingredient.
The cost is $89 per person and includes a Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin and Tonic on arrival to give you your sea legs before you dive into three tiers of savoury treats showcasing seafood favourites such as fresh oysters served three ways, lobster rolls and tacos and a Four Pillars frozen gin marmalade custard to finish.
High Seas will be served every evening from 5.30pm in the hotel’s signature restaurant, Allegro, for a limited time only until 30 April, 2019.
More: High Seas at The Westin Melbourne
TRY: Free Fries at Lord of the Fries
Purveyors of Australia’s favourite fries (and food puns), Lord of the Fries, is giving away FREE FRIES to celebrate the launch of its Docklands store.
The newly opened Lord of the Fries Docklands will forge a feeding frenzy for their throngs of loyal fry devotees on Sunday 17th March 2019.
Oh, and did we mention the first x 250 in the door will get a Bottomless Chip Cup with as many refills as they like? It’s fry mania!
VISIT: Werribee Park Mansion for Fromage a Trois
Melbourne’s tastiest day of the year – Fromage a Trois – will return to the historic grounds of Werribee Park Mansion on Sunday 24 March 2019, where cheese lovers will unite for the one-day festival.
Festivalgoers will be granted access to some of Australia’s finest food exhibitors, and are encouraged to build their own unique and delicious picnic hamper on the day, selecting items from local producers, showcasing a delectable array of food and beverages. You will also be able to meet the makers behind the delicious, cheesy offerings, sample their wares, and pair those delicious cheeses and artisan food with handcrafted wine, beer, cider or spirits for a leisurely picnic on the lawns of the stunning Werribee Park Mansion.
More: Fromage a Trois Cheese Festival
READ: The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made To Your Kids
An animated adaption of the hit book The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made has been created to deliver funny, frank and embarrassment free sexuality education for children.
The book has sold 35,000 copies and counting, and has been shortlisted for both a Children’s Book Council of Australia and Australian Book Industry award. Author Fiona Katauskas has a ‘real talk’ approach to sex ed for children and ditches the outdated learnings still being taught in some Australian schools.
All too often education around sexuality is clinical, dull and restrained. Fiona Katauskas presents a fresh approach to sexuality education that is simple, inclusive, informative and entertaining.
More: The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made
