All posts filed under: Drink

The best hot chocolates in Melbourne

Published by

Oh Winter… sometimes you wonder if you actually hate this cold season or in fact love it to bits. Despite the coldness, there are a few things we know you love about Melbourne Winter – the fashion, the mulled wine and of course the hot chocolates. We have hand picked our top five favourite venues in Melbourne, where the best hot chocolates are served. Warm up this winter with our favourites below and tell us which one is your favourite, or maybe share YOUR favourite hot chocolate venue with us if it is not already mentioned below! Atypic Chocolate, South Melbourne Based out of South Melbourne Market, Atypic follow a profound ‘bean-to-bar’ process, showing off the chocolate making process through their street facing window. They welcome picky patrons, inviting you to customise your winter warmer by selecting your milk and your chocolate blend. Make your selection from white chocolate matcha, Solomon Island dark chocolate, spicy dark chocolate or a seasonal dark chocolate blend and enjoy. More info: here. Little Big Sugar Salt, Abbotsford Looking for …

HOT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL 2018

Published by

Australia’s most decadent food event returns this August with a month long, Hot Chocolate Festival set to warm up visitors to Victoria’s Bells Beach or Yarra Valley regions. Lovers of hot chocolate will have 31 different reasons to brave the winter chills and venture to the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie or the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie for this seasonal celebration of a winter warming favourite. European Chocolatiers at each destination have devised 31 different flavours over 31 days in August – with eight different hot chocolate creations introduced each week. A couverture chocolate base, seasonal and exotic ingredients, fresh herbs from the kitchen garden and inspiration from local surrounds will take the classic chocolate and milk combination to hot new heights. Expect temptations such as decadent Hazelenutella, Piping Pistachio, Heavenly Chestnut, Triple Chocolate Brownie, Mint Madness, Cookies and Cream, spicy Pumpkin Chai and even Smashed Avocado and a Black Sesame Crunch, while a collection of showstoppers will get temperatures rising when hot chocolates get adventurous and interactive with elements such as exploding marshmallows, melting chocolate discs …

The Fire Garden On The Lawn

Published by

Pop-Up Fire Garden comes to South Wharf Built specifically to keep patrons warm and cozy down on the Promenade this winter. Including a range of drink specials, custom food menu and entertainment throughout the series. The Fire Garden is built upon The Common Lawn, a large exterior lawned area on the South Wharf Promenade. A pair of shipping containers, classic Airstream bar, a range of campfire seats, fire pits, heaters and more create the setting; while blankets are on offer to add that extra touch of relaxation for the brisk Melbourne winters. However the setting is just the start with Common Man hosting a multitude of food and drink option. Craft beer artisans James Squire have created a custom beer menu (with rotisserie and smoked meats) for the series, coupled with 5 of their award winning beers available on tap and as tasting paddles. Redbank have a wide selection of their very own wines on special just for the event, while Aberlour and Glenlivet are providing the soothing warmth with Whisky Flights on offer as …

The Finest Après-Ski Lodge – Mont Plonk

Published by

Mont Plonk; a complete alpine-themed takeover of Melbourne Public’s terrace, opens for its second season from 28 June – 26 August, promising an authentic après – ski experience slap – bang in the middle of Melbourne. Having teamed up with Ugg Australia to provide fur blankets, sheepskin rugs, and deliciously cosy fire-pits – this urban ski lodge creates the true look and feel of an après-ski bar, despite being over 200km away from any hint of snow-kissed mountain caps.   Featuring a selection of warming wintery offerings, passionate (après) skiers will keep toasty with mulled wine, boozy hot chocolate and hot toddys. Mont Plonk will also be home to an array of traditional food that wouldn’t be out of place on the Alps, with cheese fondues and bratwurst sausages.  Owner of Melbourne Public, Alysha Darcy, can’t wait for this second season. “Mont Plonk was such a success last year that we are excited to see what our guests think of our new additions, including our dazzling new terrace bar.” Access to Mont Plonk is free, but …

MASTER DEN’S POPPU UPPU

Published by

Master Den, the keeper of secrets at Melbourne’s Japanese dining and drinking destinations, Izakaya Den and Hihou, can finally reveal the hot secret he has been keeping a tight lid on. Master Den’s Poppu Uppu will open for a limited time on Wednesday 20 June in the site formerly home to Kappo, offering a fun, new Japanese hot-pot experience to keep Melburnians warm through winter. The Poppu Uppu, a take on the Japanese translation for pop-up, is inspired by the special ‘nabemono’ dining experiences of Japan, where a pot is filled with broth and allowed to simmer, before vegetables and protein are gradually added to cook. There are dozens of varieties of hot pots, each with a distinguished flavour and style, and Master Den has created his own special versions of shabu shabu, a Hokkaido-style seafood nabe, and an elegant Japanese mushroom hot pot, that guests make themselves at the table guided by the friendly staff. The Shabu Shabu features a konbu flavoured broth, with a plate of wagyu rump, topside and sirloin 6+, with …

Bastille Day French Festival 2018

Published by

Back for its fourth year, winner of the 2017 Award for Contribution to Multiculturalism by a Corporation, this popular festival brings together all the major French-Australian associations and businesses in Victoria to celebrate the best of French culture and its national day. Calling Francophones and Francophiles of all ages, our program ensures there is something for everyone. Held under the iconic arches of the heritage-listed North Melbourne Meat Market, the festival will be hosting movie screenings, an art exhibition, talks, masterclasses, live performances and a kid’s corner. Navigate the stalls and taste our selection of delicious food and drink: whether its pastries, raclette cheese, snails, wine, beer, crepes or macarons. There will also be a raffle with some sensational prizes to be won thanks to event sponsors. Tickets are $10 or 3 for 20$, and can be purchased on-site or online before the draw on the 15th July at 4:45pm. Prizes include: Paris for two on Singapore Airlines with 5 nights accomodation in Sofitel Paris Baltimore Tour Eiffel hotel New Caledonia for two on Aircalin …

Food Truck Park June 2018 Edition

Published by

Rug up with friends and family at Melbourne’s home of street food this winter! The Food Truck Park is dishing out brand new events, bringing back crowd favourites and is ready to delight guests throughout the colder months. Check out our street food themes for this June at Preston; ⎯ Mac ‘N’ Cheese Festival, June 08-11 (open all Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend) Name a better duo. We’ll wait. If you love it fried, sandwiched or with lobster, the sexiest of microwave snacks has grown-up enough for its own festival. With lots of exclusive eats available this weekend only, the FOMO will hit hard if you miss out on your chance to try Mac ‘N’ Cheese in every possible melty combination available. Line-up announced soon. ⎯ Hummus Festival, June 15-17 How often does something good for you taste as good as hummus does? It’s time to give back to our favourite healthy spread. Let’s celebrate the conclusion of Ramadan with the halal food that brings everyone together – hummus! There’s a reason you can buy 1kg …

BLUE PEA FLOWER TEA TASTING

Published by

Blue pea flower is making a splash around the world as the next superfood! Here is a chance for you to try this colour-changing herb in tea, juices and desserts at Prahran Market! High in antioxidants, anthocyanins, and with a strong anti-inflammatory factor, we are offering a wide range of blue food and drinks for tasting, including hot and cold-brewed teas, iced juices, yogurts, dips and cheesecakes! So make sure you visit the Omega and Neil Perry Kitchen on Saturday 30th June, and Sunday 1st July for this exciting Blue Pea Flower Tea Tasting event! Content from Prahran Market website When: 30 June 2018 Where: Prahran Market, Omega and Neil Perry Kitchen More information: Check their website.

Arbory Roast Collection 2018

Published by

Arbory Bar & Eatery’s Roast Collection returns to keep guests warm over winter partnering with Meatsmith and award winning sommelier Raul Moreno Yagüe. There’s no room for the winter blues at Arbory Bar & Eatery with the popular ‘Roast Collection’ dinners back on deck to keep guests warm throughout the whole of winter. Arbory Bar & Eatery’s Executive Chef Nick Bennett has teamed up with Sommelier Raul Moreno Yagüe (2017 Good Food Sommelier of the Year) and cult butcher Troy Wheeler from Meatsmith to offer premium cuts of roasted artisan proteins alongside a glass of perfectly paired wine for $25.00 per person, for lunch and dinner throughout the three months of winter. Each month heroes a new beast, and each week will champion a different cut and dish as created by Bennett and his team. For June the offering is pork paired with the 2015 Norton ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir from Richmond, Tasmania, in July they will be dishing up beef, paired with the 2016 Palmetto Shiraz from Barossa Valley, and lamb will be featured in August, providing guests …

Wine & Wildlife 2018

Published by

Thinking about going away for Queen’s Birthday long weekend? Look no further because Healesville Sanctuary is teaming up with Yarra Valley icons to bring you a gourmet experience with a wild difference! Healesville Sanctuary is just one hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD through Victoria’s beautiful wine country. Over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend (9-11 June), Wine & Wildlife will bring you the best in food and wine against the backdrop of the Sanctuary’s stunning bushland setting. From 11am to 4pm each day, six event spaces will showcase a line-up of Yarra Valley wineries, craft beers and ciders with a good helping of delicious locally-sourced warming winter dishes available too. Warm up by roaring open fires and delight your senses with live acoustic music while keepers roam the grounds with some of our furry, feathered and scaly friends for serendipitous wildlife encounters. Plus, visit the Four Pillars Gin pop-up bar – you won’t want to leave with all the G&Ts, mulled wine, cheese and charcuterie on offer. All Wine & Wildlife proceeds directly support Zoos Victoria’s …