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Written for Broadsheet Walking into Cosi feels a little bit like stepping into my nonna’s living room. Roomy booths make it easy to get comfy, there’s a projector playing classic black-and-white films, a grappa cart roves around the room, and in cooler weather the open fireplace gets going. It’s this old-school hospitality that’s made Cosi… Continue reading South Yarra Institution Cosi Is Back, With Generous Bowls of Homemade Pasta and a Roving Grappa Cart
Written for Broadsheet Pasta is my thing. I’ve been shovelling it down by the bucketload since I was a kid. I’ve sat in my nonna’s kitchen for hours perfecting the gnocchi roll and churning out sheets of lasagne on her manual machine. A part-time job at a deli taught me about the different shapes –… Continue reading Now Open: Oster, a Modern Take on a Traditional Northern Italian Osteria
Written for Broadsheet A scan of the breakfast menu at Joe Mammone’s new Toorak Road spot, Cantina Carolina, makes it clear this is not another cookie-cutter Melbourne cafe. Classic breakfasts come with an Italian spin. There are ricotta hotcakes with pistachio and mascarpone. Bruschetta with heirloom tomatoes, a poached egg and prosciutto di Parma. Eggplant… Continue reading Now Open: Cantina Carolina Is Bar Carolina’s New Morning-Oriented Next-Door Neighbour, Inspired by Classic Italian Espresso Bars
Written for Broadsheet Flinders Lane’s historic Richard Allen & Son building was constructed in 1897 and operated as a fabric-manufacturing warehouse in the early 20th century. More recently, the site existed as office space before the Mulberry Group – which sold its iconic Melbourne cafes Top Paddock, Kettle Black and Higher Ground last year – took it over in 2017 and began… Continue reading First Look: Nathan Toleman’s Hazel Arrives, All Soft Hues and Natural Light, in a Historic Flinders Lane Building
Written for Broadsheet Brothers Miki and Igor Dodevski have fond childhood memories of their mother Vera Dodevska and their baba (grandmother) baking on Sunday mornings. Miki’s favourite dishes were banica – a hand-rolled, layered leek and cheese pastry – and pindjur, a relish of roast peppers, eggplant and tomato topped with feta. “Waking up in the morning and… Continue reading Le Lee Is Northcote’s Cosy New Family-Run Diner Serving Macedonian Meze and 18 Different Types of Rakia
Written for Broadsheet Kirsten Dickie and Virginia Selleck are moving at light speed. The pair launched their smart and thoughtfully curated online wine store Magnum + Queens in 2017. In May last year they turned it into a physical store in South Melbourne. And now, not only can you pick up top drops to take away, the… Continue reading South Melbourne Wine Shop Magnum + Queens Introduces a Tiny New Wine Bar
Written for Broadsheet As far as city dining goes, Melburnians have a tonne of choices. The recent opening of upscale food hub Ella really ramped up the options for casual city lunching, and now, further south, another high-end food hall is attracting attention. St Collins Lane is a shopping hub that runs between Collins and Little Collins… Continue reading Six to Try: The Best Dishes at St Collins Lane
