Harried cooks would appreciate Easy, a timely re-issue from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage. Each of the 175 recipes relies on just three key ingredients. Think lamb, kale, quince. Or bream, olives, couscous. $45, Bloomsbury.

Restaurants are getting into the spirit of Vivid Sydney, the 23-day festival. The Kerrigan, a smokehouse shack at Pier One Sydney Harbour, is dishing up colourful burger buns in blue, red, green and purple. $17 with fries plus waterfront views.

New from Veuve Clicquot is Extra Brut Extra Old, a silky, bright and distinctive champagne made entirely of reserve wines from six different vintages. $129, and available in July from Vintage Cellars and select accounts.

Hana, Melbourne’s first Hawaiian restaurant, is bringing some Pacific sunshine to Little Collins St. Head chef Mario Manabe is dishing up Maui-inspired fare with tapioca crisps, jalapeno kingfish and lime cheesecake.

Slurp your way around the Med at Oinofilia, the inaugural celebration of Greek wines. Food will come courtesy of Elyros restaurant, among others. North Melbourne Meat Market, June 24, $45-$55 (includes all wine tastings).

As well as its regular fare, Prahran’s Queen of the South has a vegan menu with dishes such as chipotle-marinated chargrilled cauliflower. “We take veganism seriously,’’ says head chef Malcolm Williams.

QT Gold Coast’s Japanese restaurant Yamagen is undergoing a major makeover, opening early next month as a modern izakaya with a 15-seat sushi bar. Expect sashimi, share plates and a drinks list packed with sake and Japanese whisky.

Ahead of this year’s State of Origin, the inaugural Maroon Festival runs from today until Wednesday at South Bank. Support the team plus taste some of Queensland’s finest produce on offer at the Cultural Forecourt.

Taste the best of the budding food scene at the Gold Coast Food and Wine Festival kicking off this Friday. The three-day event features dinners, masterclasses, food and wine tours and fruit pickings.