Before the Christmas madness begins, you may want to consider schooling yourself on all things festive. From edible gifts to mastering the Christmas pud, Cornersmith’s Christmas workshop has everything you need to make this year the best (and most creative) yet. These classes are all about homemade classics with native Australian flavours, designed to get you in the gift-giving hand-making spirit. You can set your table with homemade preserves, and condiments like herbed jelly and mulled cherries that are guaranteed to make you the most memorable host. Serve up traditional mince tarts, festive-themed cocktails and a classic Christmas pudding all made with love by yours truly. These classes are unmissable for anyone wanting to make a memorable Christmas for all, see the full list of classes and reserve your spot here.

Two favourites in the foodie scene, Piccolina Gelateria and Future Future, have teamed up to create an out of this world Italo-Japanese style dessert. More than meets the eye, the gelato mochi is two desserts for the price of one. Combining the popular Japanese dessert ‘mochi’, a squishy, sweet-centred ball with Piccolina’s renowned, smooth textured gelato, the finished product is nothing short of a masterpiece. The bespoke flavour is a fior di latte gelato and a custom yuzu and mandarin sorbet, the perfect balance of creamy and tangy. These little beauties will be available on the Future Future menu until the 1st December, so we suggest making haste!

As the beloved Hilton Hotels edge nearer to their 100th anniversary in 2019, new research has shown the major global effect the hotel has had around the world. Best-selling author Chip Heath has been working on a new book titled ‘The Hilton Effect‘ where he argues the world altering impact the hotels have had worldwide, bringing people and cultures together to make the world feel smaller, while expanding horizons and opportunities. Inspiring stories have emerged from travelers far and wide, with Hilton employees considered going to work every day ‘extraordinary’. Hilton Hotels have played a huge role in how we travel, bringing innovative ideas to the market and creating luxury travel destinations. More than 100,000 jobs have been created, making a positive difference in people’s lives beyond the hotels. The book is available to download on Amazon now, for those interested in the research and stories behind these findings.

Tucking into a delicious chocolate is a satisfying treat in itself, but the surprise of finding a gift inside makes it all the more fun. Yowie, the delightful monsters have just announced a new mega World Wildlife Super Series with over 50 new toys to discover. Hitting confectionery shelves (included in Woolworths, Kmart and Big W) in this month, the collection is the biggest to date and includes beloved animal friends across the world like the Southern Elephant Seal and Tasmanian Devil. The new range is aligned with the brands mission to save threatened or endangered animals in a fun and interactive way, including an informative fact sheet along with each animal. The chocolates are all nut, gluten and GMO-free and certified by the Rain Forest Alliance, so you can feel even better about treating yourself. So be sure to pick up a new Yowie and collect all the new animals, if you can catch them first!

Carlton’s neighbourhood favourite Park St Dining has added a new head chef to it’s repertoire. Greg McFarland has worked at some of Melbourne’s most notable all-day dining venues (think St Al and Kettle Black) and will bring his expertise and unique edge to Park St with an all-new menu to boot. Drawing on Asian influences and a focus on high-quality local and seasonal produce, some of the highlights include the smoked eel omelette, poached eggs with yuzu hollandaise and ricotta on toast with Port Lincoln sardines. It’s definitely different but is promising to shake up the typical breakfast menu’s we’re used to. A ‘next gen’ menu offering is available for children, with the likes of a chilled coconut rice pudding and the Dr. Seuss: green eggs and ham classic for your cartoon fix. Greg is already rattling the pans with the new menu available to try now.

If there’s a wine lover in your life, boy have we just found the perfect thing to gift them this Christmas. Hardy’s Wines are commemorating 165 memorable years of winemaking with a decadent Cabernet Shiraz. The fruit has been sourced from old vines, hand-picked and fermented in French oak barriques. The rare bottle encapsulates the unique characteristics of the provenance, marking a momentous milestone that few other Australian wineries can claim. With only 2,148 bottles and 234 magnums, it’s fair to say that owning a drop will be an exclusive opportunity. Wine enthusiasts are encouraged not to miss out on what will surely become a highly sought after bottle among collectors.

From the 22nd to the 24th November, Steam Mill Lane will transform into a sugar-coated wonderland. Celebrating all things sweet, tasty vendors include Bang Bang, 8bit, The Sandwich Shop, Cream’d and Love Dem Apples. Slinging irresistible treats all weekend long like Messina Sundae, Chocolate brownie ice-cream sandwiches, Caramel apples and Thai-inspired ice cream rolls prepare for a sugar rush unlike any other. With DJ’s, competitions and fun displays, these dessert creations will be the talk of the town so be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth with a trip to candyland.

The celebration of locally grown food is always something we can get behind, with the Grow Your Own 2019 festival announcing its upcoming lineup. The festival takes place in Forster-Tuncurry on January 12th and champions the people behind local food, with a focus on the pristine waterways, rich farmland and rainforests that allow fresh produce to flourish. Among the lineup is a variety of producers, who will host workshops and educational talks on the growing and cooking process that makes local food so unique. You can expect to tuck into freshly baked goods from Palms Micro Bakery and delicacies from Dr Drool, washed down with Bottled Culture’s locally produced kombucha. With performances by the likes of Hockey Dad and The Preatures throughout the day, it promises to be a memorable (and delicious) event for all. Support sustainability and develop a strong ethos around food production and consumption at this years festival, get your tickets here.

Rockpool Dining Group and Culinary Director Neil Perry are bringing back the beloved Blue Water Grill after a 30 year hiatus. Appearing in the heart of the CBD (Eleven by Rockpool at 11 Bridge Street) for 6 days from the 19th-14th November, the venue will be offering daily lunch and dinner seatings. The retro-style seafood dinner will be offering over 20 of their most loved dishes, along with an 80’s style cocktail list. This is your first chance to taste the famous flavours of Blue Water Grill in over three decades, so don’t miss out! For the full menu see here and to make a booking call 02 8099 7081.

Vue Group Melbourne is known for investing in the chefs of tomorrow, offering unique training programs to create the next generation of culinary leader’s. Their bespoke apprentice program, created by respected chef Shannon Bennett involves developing techniques at each of the groups venues, Asian-fusion at Jardin Tan, Seafood at Iki-jime and culminating with at least a year at Vue de monde, learning from the world’s best chefs. Jeremy Warne is officially the first apprentice to complete the program in its entirety and to celebrate (while showing off his new skills) is hosting a pop-up at Jardin Tan. The evening will include a five-course menu with snacks, with a selection of matched wines from Australia’s best producers. The event will take place on Friday the 23rd November at 6:30pm. If you’d like to walk through Jeremy’s incredible culinary journey, be sure to reserve your ticket here.

Windsor’s beloved bar Lover is giving us another reason to fall in love with it all over again, a dedicated gnocchi night. Every Wednesday night will be devoted to the pillowy pasta, freshly made and paired with a glass of wine all for the humble price of $25. The current gnocchi special is served with blue cheese, onion and toasted sourdough, with an additional gnocchi dish to choose from every Wednesday. The new venture also comes with the release of their new spring menu, so there’s a lot to love at Lover!

The latest venture from Bird in Hand Winery has officially been released, launching the Nest Egg Joy Sparkling Pinot Noir 2015. With honoured guest Alexa Chung in attendance (who flew especially from the UK to attend the launch), the Adelaide Winery hosted a black-tie event to celebrate the release of the vintage bottle. Representing the best the brand has to offer, Nest Egg Joy has been carefully aged in the finest French oak, giving it a distinctly rich flavour. Delighted with the continued support of Alexa Chung, founder Andrew Nugent led her on a tour of the property, where she sampled barrel-aged wines. The bottle will undoubtedly be enjoyed by wine enthusiasts across the world and is available for purchase now.

That Hippie Co have released two new products dedicated to gut health just in time for World Vegan Week! The Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic is specially formulated to boost gut health with superfood ingredients like Manuka honey, turmeric and lemon. Best of all, this magical elixir can be enjoyed any way you like; sparkled, brewed or dressed. Then, the 100% Vegan Collagen Booster & Prebioitic Capsules are the very first of their kind in Australia. Boosting energy levels, aiding your metabolism and promoting healthy, glowing skin, these little babies will be your new best friend (and best kept secret). Good health starts in the gut so get your hands on these powerful products if you’re looking to kickstart your health.

Fratelli Fresh will be slinging 16 mouthwatering gelato flavours, just in time for the impending heatwave. From mascarpone & figs to hazelnut salted caramel, each flavour is very different but very delicious, a guaranteed authentic taste of Italy’s finest. Freshly whipped up by Italian-born Head Pastry Chef Riccardo Falcone, the scoops are made fresh with premium ingredients from local suppliers. Gelato is available by the scoop, in tubs or even a litre container (if you really need to cool down). The full range is available at Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour, with other Fratelli outlets holding up to 9 flavours. Get your taste of Italia!

The glorious Pt Leo Estate in Merricks will soon celebrate it’s first major milestone, a first birthday. To honour a fabulous first year, the Estate will open the gates and welcome all from near and far to admire the world-class sculpture park. From the 1st to the 2nd December, a fun-filled weekend will take place across the grounds with acrobats, face painting and a special barbecue from culinary director Phil Wood and the team. Guests can expect a classic Australian grill feast, with lamb chops and mint sauce, roast onions, sausages and prawns. Pt. Leo Estate will also be unveiling new artworks for the first time, including Mirri by Australian contemporary indigenous artist, Reko Rennie. It promises to be a great day outdoors, with a feast for the eyes and mouth so be sure to head along.