Food & Drink

The one place you need to visit during the 2013 Melbourne Cup Carnival (aside from the betting arena) is the Schweppes Flemington Fling Bar on Level 1 of the Hill Stand, which was launched on Saturday at...

There are two things you notice when you first walk into George Calombaris' new venture, Gazi. The first is the amazing ceiling - ceramic pots placed across the whole surface. The second are the aromas coming...

ULTIMAT VODKA, one of the world’s leading and ultra-premium vodkas, is giving away over $5,000 and exclusive prizes in the Ultimat Vodka Short Film Competition. The competition invites all aspiring and...

The first-ever EFTERSKI FESTIVAL in Thredbo went off with a bang last weekend, with the sold out Big Air Big Beats event featuring three days of music, sport and film extravaganza. Sponsored by Rekorderlig...

Think Wine tastings are stuffy and boring? Well, think again as Pinot Palooza hits Melbourne-town on Saturday 5 October at St Kilda Town Hall for a wine tasting with a twist. Event organiser, Dan Sims,...

    Let's start this Editor's Test, with the following: if you are looking for great Italian food with a great atmosphere and delightful staff, you must visit Pinocchio's. This...

Do you yearn for a simpler time when people swanned about drinking tea, eating sweet things and generally enjoying a luxuriously lazy Sunday afternoon?  Well then you have not yearned in vain good people,...

Navigating Melbourne with gluten intolerance in your back pocket can be tough to say the least. If you've got other intolerances or eating preferences then that just makes things all the more tricky. Never...

Like some sort of budding annual event the Queen Victoria Market's Luna 1878 Night Market is back again this year, and this time it’s personal.  Just when you thought there was absolutely no reason to go...

Although Melbourne is the coffee Mecca of the antipodes there seems to be a strong undercurrent of tea pulsing through the cities arteries.   It might be coffee that kick-starts Melbourne’s engine but tea...

When people think of winter they rarely think of going down to the beach, which is the exactly why you should consider it.  The Mornington Peninsular is a sprawling wonderland and now - when the swarming...

To the majority of Melbournians, Docklands might as well be antipodean to where they lay their heads. It is in fact a mere block away from the CBD and thanks to a few clever cooks, there's a new reason to...

If, like most warm-blooded mammals, you have been suffering through the recent icy blasts - so cold they could extinct a dinosaur - then it’s high time you warmed yourself up with a stiff drink.  However,...

If, like many Melburnians, you are about to make your pilgrimage down to Hobart to see MONA (and remind yourself that Melbourne isn’t that cold) then you will also undoubtedly need your caffeine...

Little Big Sugar Salt. What is in a name? Can a person look like a 'Terry'?, can Sue from marketing be just like the Sue from accounts? Well, where Little Big Sugar Salt is concerned, finding out what's in...

Hidden in the heart of the Moroccan Mountains, a couple connected over peach iced tea and local beer. They shared stories, shared sips and when they returned, they longed for that taste of escape. In true...

There are a couple of things that make up a great cafe in Melbourne. Location, atmosphere, good coffee and tasty food. The newest addition to Kew, has all these ticked, but in a slightly different...

Northcote: the final frontier of low-budget, high-culture, community living. They say it’s the new Fitzroy – a tag previously pinned to Clifton Hill before house prices boomed and the DINKS moved in. Yet...

Now everyone likes to think they know Fitzroy and I'm sure you've has brunched at Breakfast Thieves and dined at Vegie Bar and think Naked in the Sky is totes magical at sunset, but if you're going to spend...

Brunch in Melbourne, whilst delicious and one of the most important weekend meals, can get a tiny bit repetitive. If you're tired of your tomato baked eggs, french toast and eggs benedict, maybe it's time to...

With the mercury dropping, at a fairly rapid rate in Melbourne, it's time to say goodbye to peachy Pinot Gris and Rose on balmy summer afternoons. Instead, it would be far more appropriate to warm the soul...

'Tis that time of year again, when we celebrate our mothers by treating them to breakfast in bed, a ladies lunch or a fine wine and dining experience. If you’re still unsure of where to take your mum this...

Melbourne is littered with both large and hole-in-the-wall coffee shops; a cup of caffeine available at every corner. However, the question that plagues city wanderers is how to filter out the bad from...

Got a free Friday or Saturday night in the next couple of weeks? Well, grab a couple of friends and shimmy your way to Somerset Place, which becomes heavily doused in tequila and all things Mexican thanks...

A few years back a couple of young volunteers sat on an African beach and sipped beer that tasted a lot richer than the economic climate. This disparity got Zanna Mccomish and Simon Griffiths talking and I...

At face value Cafe Blac may come across as a fairly unassuming and typical suburban cafe but don't be so quick to judge, because like most good things, at Cafe Blac,  it's the inside that counts. The new...

With a name that alludes to a rather large amount of space, Fifty Acres is a surprisingly cosy spot. Nick Gaoutsos and his team have settled in on the retail end of Bridge Road, providing shoppers the perfect...

After closing down the lauded Der Raum to start Gamsei, "a produce driven Der Raum 2.0" in Munich, Matt Bax has left Bar Americano (and soon to come Bar Economico) in its wake. But far from an ode to the...

Only a short stroll from the CBD, North Melbourne was built by locals, for locals. Subsequently it's often overlooked by Melbournians, and travellers alike, for the busier haunts of Carlton, Fitzroy and...

Private school girls, the football team, ageing population and expensive real-estate are all terms you may have associated with the suburb of Hawthorn. How rude! There is so much more to this Eastern beauty....

Ah, Coburg. Famed for its density of kitschy bridal stores and Middle Eastern take-out shops, the sprawling, creek-side ‘hood' is frequently overlooked due to its perceived lack of viable entertainment...

Located just off China Town’s main strip,  awaits Cantonese restaurant, New Kum Den. As I entered the venue, the resurgence of kitsch Chinese restaurants about town came to mind - which, for me, was...

It's impossible to deny, we live in an era where cooking shows and restaurants pop up like daisies in Spring, celebrity chefs are as revered as actors and we find ourselves enthralled by some new grain or...

Descriptions like 'smooth caramel texture' and 'zesty aftertaste' are the kind of uber-specific things baristas say or that you see written on single-origin coffee boards. Such recounts of subtle flavours...

One of the most important components to any wedding, would have to be the wedding cake. After all, the cutting of the cake photo is memory-box must have. The cake must look beautiful, and for anyone with a...

On the tail end of last week and at the top of a secret staircase, Mamasita played host to a Mexican tour as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. The six course tequila-paired feast, showcased...

Food for your wedding ought to be delicious, detailed and not too difficult. Fortunately, you can enlist the aid of culinary event specialists. All of whom have a focus on delivering the best food and...

Welcome to the Happy Palace, where a suspicious stairway leads to a hot pot that's boiling over with babes, cocktails, deep fried parcels of yummy goodness and the kitsch charm of old school...

Sydney siders turned Melbournians, Jessica Dalziell and Gregory Young, have made themselves at home on High St in Prahran with their new tapas and wine bar, The Wise. Couturing attended the official opening...

Ombra Salumi Bar is a fresh seedling with roots that run deep in hospitality culture. Having opened in November by Guy Grossi and managed by his son Carlo, the salumi bar next to Grossi Florentino, began...

Spurring on rumours of being a married couple, Nicholas and Dax Byrne have produced their first child in the form of NBHD (neighbourhood) Neanderthal. This cafe and bar off Chapel may be the product of...

There's nothing more romantic than a day spent ankle-deep in a vineyard, sipping on some of our state's finest. At Dominique Portet, this rural fantasy is only one hour away. Nestled deep within the Yarra...

Lately the pop-up store phenomenon has been moving from the world of fashion into food. Taking notes from designer flash sales and exclusive temporary stores and market stalls, Market Lane have set up a...

Just a short 30 minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD, Bulleen is home to the stunning Heide Museum of Modern Art and the popular Café Vue. If you’re looking to get out of the city for a day and appreciate...

Spring Street's Grocer is the opening act of John Brisbane's and Con Christopoulos' budding community centralised around the finer sensibilities of "old world Europe". The first cast member in this piece...

The Brunswick Mess Hall opened last Wednesday night (16th of Jan) with a bang. Brunswick's first beer hall is a welcome new addition to Sydney Road's night life. The huge space has a communal feel and aims...

Storm in a Teacup is celebrating its first anniversary with Smith st after snuggling into the street-scape a year ago. "I wanted to start a business good for people, both health-wise and spiritually,"...

Tea parties have been all the rage since your great-great grandmother’s grandmother could knit a doily. And we at Couturing wholly agree. Tea parties are a must for this summer so we’ve collected some...

An exciting new French patisserie shop has just been piped into Sydney Road's busy network of multicultural specialist stores. By Josephine offers family-recipe macarons and other tasty morsels encased in...

It's your cheat day, your treat day! The day you allow yourself to let go a little, but you want to do it right, don't get overwhelmed in the confectionary aisle and end up choosing a macadamia and honey...

We hear the experts talking about 'super foods', but which ones are actually super? Here are some of our favourite super foods that will help give you a healthy start in 2013. Chia Seeds These little...

Christmas wrapped up nicely and the new year has ticked over without a hitch. People are heading back to work and some of us are still partying. Here is a recipe for an all occasions biscuit; whether you...

The mere mention of summer festivals can make some of the strongest of us squirm. Hideous memories arise. Visions of entering a portable toilet on the last leg of its four day sun-soaked marathon, of not...

Monday 31st New Years Eve! Couturing has picked the best New Year's Eve celebrations around Melbourne to help you get wild. Whether you're celebrating at a festival, at an event or even a house...

Last week Couturing chatted with the founder of Slim Secrets, Sharon Thurin. Thurin has watched her hobby of helping people curb their unhealthy snacking habits, turn into a globally recognised brand. We found...

Last Friday I woke to the drizzling rain that graces Melbourne every other day, I braved the first sign of cold I had felt in a few weeks since summer had hit, and I marched myself down to Federation Square...

In the warmer months we tend to change our eating habits, and salads are always at the top of the list. We've chosen, made and tasted, three simple summer salads that will leave you feeling fresh, light and...

The festive season revolves as much around merry drinks as it does children's day time movies and tinsel. This week we ventured out in search of some cheer infused cocktails. We've narrowed them down to...

What do some of Melbourne's leading restaurants have in common with our favourite DC comic characters? No, they're not fighting off crime with their spatulas or turning potato sacks into capes. Across the...

Monday 17th Tees: Exposing Melbourne’s T-shirt Culture Got love for a classic tee? How about a FREE exhibition featuring Melbourne’s influential t-shirt culture. Including Eddie Zammit's personal...

Melbourne is the city of diverse culture, exuberant flavours and of course, wild weather. Michelle Luckman is the face behind Melbourne’s fresh new business Lucky Pops. Luckman breaks away from such typical...

  There is exciting news we have been waiting to share with you all! Couturing most recently partnered with fabulous premium frozen yoghurt brand CLOUD 9 on a wonderful new initiative. Can you...

When its Forty degrees outside who can be bothered adding to the heat with hot coffee? No-one! But if you need something to get you through the day, why not take the chilled option? Cold coffee is going to get...

Melbourne welcomes a 1950/s oasis with delicious baked goods and exquisite cupcakes, located in both Ascot Vale and Prahran. Owners Deb and Lucas, take much pride in their work, from friendly helpful service...

    Moët and Chandon are preparing for a very exciting announcement - the news of their fresh new Brand Ambassador for the Moët and Chandon line, and to celebrate Couturing and Moët and...

A trend will come. A trend will go. However the 'trend' of lining up for a restaurant will be around long after you finally get into Mamasita. There's no waiting this one out. Although lauded as being a recent...

This week I met with Chris Lucas, the man who gave us the double chin (Chin Chin) and Go Go Bar, whom has just welcomed a new member to his family, Baby Pizza, located in Richmond.  Q: Where does...

I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur of pizza, and find conventional take-away pizzerias to be pretty oily and tasteless, so I've decided to sort out the best from the rest and have compiled a list of...

I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur of pizza, and find conventional take-away pizzerias to be pretty oily and tasteless, so I've decided to sort out the best from the rest and have compiled a list of...

Melbourne's newest installation to the Mexican food craze is Los Hermanos, an authentic Mexican taqueria with an injection of Brunswick edge. Los Hermanos opened last Monday, after what some have called...

The warm weather is kicking in and so to are the endless barbecues and picnics of summertime. More often than not meat, salads, beer, wine, bread, cheese, fruit and other delicious nibbles make their way into...

Tired of walking in to overly trendi-fied lane way bars and being met with a bemused look of condescension when you ask what beers are on tap? Then proceed to pay $10 for a bottle of Stella while you stand...

Melbourne’s weather is finally starting to pick up with Summer just around the corner, and it's usually around this time of the year that we start to hit panic mode about how much we have neglected our...

Hearty, minimal fuss, carb and protein-loaded dishes, typically accompanied by pints of beer. Welcome to the world of dude food. Think parmas, burgers, cheesy pizzas, and a good old-fashioned steak with fries....

This last week Couturing attended the intimate cocktail and dinner degustation hosted by The Table Restaurant in St Kilda, in celebration of JLP Tequila's Day of the Dead Festival.   Mexican born...

Energy was high at the Black Toro in Glen Waverly this week, celebrating The Day of the Dead Festival or “Dia de los Muertos”, if I may. The Black Toro went all out with creating an authentic ambience,...

Teriyaki glazed salmon and crisp cucumber and peanut salad served on a bed of white fluffy rice. That was my lunch. A far cry from my usual lunchtime mission to consume as many carbohydrates as my half-hour...

Hot Asian Buns, Massive Wieners, Phat Brats, lovingly prepared balls… Turned on? You should be. Melbourne’s new string of specialty eateries are not just being cheeky with their words for the fun of it,...

The smooth sounds of double bass and slick keyboard thrust together and lingered in the air, as we were welcomed into a fresh, urban  restaurant, Camberwell's latest, He Says She Says. With an eclectic mix of...

At only 22, Davis already owns three restaurants across Melbourne. If this isn’t novelty enough, they all specialize in diverse cuisines and couple with different music genres. His string of...

The creative behind the much-loved D.O.C Pizzeria and Carlton Espresso, Tony Nicolini, has recently extended his foodie franchise to include a top-of-the-range delicatessen, stocking only the finest in...

Traditionally, Melbournians are a patient people when it comes to the weather but there’s no denying we’re all thankful that Spring is here at last. Balmy breezes, floral dresses, extravagant millinery,...

Hola! Fellow Couturing compadres! It’s that time of the year again; time to dust off those ponchos and pull out the good tequila, because its El Grito tiiime! Mexican Independence Day is this Sunday the...

Italians have perfected the car, leather products, men and wine. Now, they have perfected the energy drink.   Hailing from a land shaped like an Armani leather boot, it’s little wonder the...

Eating with a twist   Sometimes I wonder why I love Italian food so much. It’s not like I’m Italian or grew up with many Italian friends or families, but if there is a meal I always go to,...

The Usual Place       Ever since I started working in the city many moons ago, I can always remember going to Il Solito Posto for a great Italian pasta, after work, during work...

When I think of eating Asian food, I think of Asian restaurants that are decorated in various shades of red or gold, food that is served by chefs who don't bother with the concept of "plating" and the soft...

I’m all about the history of a venue and how I feel when I go into a place. So I was curious about the Wallis and Ed story. I knew that it used to be the Hard Rock Café, which I remember going to when I was...

Through a concealed door off Exhibition St marked by flashing offset lights, stands 1806. I must’ve walked past it at least three times because to the left of the entrance is the stairway that takes you down...

Couturing attended the launch of new Sichuan restaurant SHU. Founded by chef and restauranter Shu Liu, SHU promises to set a new standard in modern dining. With recipes passed down from Liu’s mother,...