When it comes to celebrating the much-loved Japanese snack, Sushi Jiro goes big – and expensive. The sushi store is offering an exclusive, limited edition nigiri at its Chadstone QV, Box Hill Central and The Glen outposts. The decadent flavours include nigiri, specially flown in from Japan, black truffle, sea urchin and beluga caviar. Break that piggy bank now – two pieces of the super-luxe sushi will set you back $128.

Warm up with ramen and whisky at Osaka Trading Co from July 3–20. The Tramsheds’ favourite is collaborating with one of Japan’s favourite whisky brands, House of Suntory, to bring you hearty bowls of ramen paired with Suntory Whisky Toki highballs. And, there’ll be cocktail classes on July 6 and 13, where you can mix your own drinks, then enjoy a serve of shoyu ramen. Tickets are $27 and can be booked here.

Get the gang ready: The Tropic will host a bottomless brunch, weekly, from Saturday, July 6. Executive chef Guillaume Zika’s banquet-style menu will showcase the best of the region, including freshly shucked oysters and prawn cocktail rolls. And, you can indulge in lemon meringue tarts for dessert. Choose from two luxurious drinks packages: bottomless NV Chandon and NV Chandon Rosé ($99) bottomless Veuve Clicquot and Veuve Clicquot Rosé ($129). Or you can opt for the food-only package for $55. Held every Saturday from the July 6 at 11am, bookings are essential and can be made by calling 07 5661 9050.

Melbourne’s Spice Temple is honouring the mighty duck with a dinner dedicated to the Chinese delicacy. Highlights from the expansive eight-course menu include Peking-style roast-duck pancakes with cucumber and spring onions, duck and ginger broth ramen, and a duck-egg custard meringue roll with strawberry compote. The event is on June 25 and tickets are $95pp. Book your spot here.

Working with the cooler weather, Phillippa’s is set to release a limited-edition range of winter goodies in celebration of the winter wheat season. The beloved bakery will be offering a mouthwatering range of sweet and savoury slices and biscuits to keep you satisfied during the cold snap. Whether you’re looking for a peanut butter cookie with your cup of tea, or a nutty oat cake to compliment your cheese platter, Phillippa’s treats are made using time-honoured recipes and methods.

On July 8, head chef of Sydney’s Aria restaurant Joel Bickford will invite Clinton McIver (Amaru, Melbourne) into the kitchen for one unforgettable night of cooking, showcasing the Australian produce at the heart of both their restaurants. The following week, on July 15, roles will be reversed and Melbourne will get a taste of Sydney as Joel heads to Amaru to cook on Clinton’s home turf. These culinary minds have worked tirelessly to bring you an eight-course menu that combines impressive techniques, ingredients and flavours. Sydneysiders will enjoy sparkling views of Sydney Harbour, while Melburnians will enjoy the intimacy of Amaru’s 34 seat dining room. Both restaurants have created wine pairings to accompany the menu, available at an additional $150pp. Tickets are limited for both evenings, so be sure to secure a booking for Aria or Amaru now.

Those who appreciate the finer things in life will be lining up to get their hands on Huon Aquaculture’s new product, Ocean Trout Caviar. Hitting shelves this week, it is grown and carefully hand-milked at Huon Aquaculture’s Springfield hatchery in Tasmania’s north east. The milking process is painless for the fish, who are then returned to the waters where they reside until next harvest. Chefs are already excited to cook with this special product, with its unique texture and salty, creamy taste. Huon Trout Caviar can be purchased online at shop.huonaqua.com.au or in select stockists.

Banish your sad-looking work salads and forget about Sunday night meal prep, Long Chim is officially doing lunch. Spicy dishes will get you through your work day and present the perfect chance to refuel. Introducing its Market Lunch Combo, made especially for busy worker bees, a mere $25 will get you one main served alongside a Thai soda – with the option to customise as you go. It’ll feel like you’re visiting the streets of Bangkok in your lunch hour, piecing together various dishes from a hall of market stalls. Sad third-day soup really can’t compete with stir-fried squid curry and duck larb salad, can it?

Barzaari Chippendale is gearing up to launch a series of dinners that’ll explore the little known flavours of Eastern Mediterranean regions that have inspired their menu. For one night only on the July 3, Barzaari will host a five-course meal centred around the flavours of Lebanon. Chef Darryl Martin will serve dishes such as eggplant stuffed with sweet onion tahini and slow-cooked goat served with spiced rice and pita. The regional dining experience is $90 per person with a selection of local spirits and fortified wine available a la carte. Reservations can be made via https://barzaari-chippendale.com.au.

Celebrate Negroni Week at Manly Wharf Hotel from today until June 30. The week-long event will pay homage to the iconic cocktail and raise money for charities around the world. And, this year, the team will be donating to Ozharvest. In honour of 100 years of the classic tipple, Manly Wharf Hotel has created four limited-edition Negroni cocktails – the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4. Each drink is unique, seeing Campari mixed with a range of rosemary gin, Cointreau and strawberry-infused Bombay Sapphire. The cocktails are available throughout the venue and have been designed to pair perfectly with the restaurants’ woodfired pizzas, burgers and seafood dishes.

Arcade Alley has officially landed, turning back the clock and transporting you to the ‘80s. Created by the fun folk over at Bankstown Sports, it’s only 20 minutes outside the city and a perfect way to spend a rainy weekend. Kitted out with a touch of nostalgia, it sees both new and old-school arcade games like Space Invaders, Mario Kart, Tomb Raider and a light-up dance platform – it’s the adult playground you never knew you were missing. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, choose from 8 different restaurants and 4 bars to refuel at, before getting back in the game.

If you’re dreaming of warmer weather during this cold snap, Hacienda is the ideal place to be. Celebrating the recent launch of its new cocktail menu that’s full of summer cheer to help beat the winter blues. The menu infuses high-end spirits from across the globe with its signature Cuban-esque flair. And, it gets better. The venue is also set to reintroduce its first-ever XL share cocktails with sangria, and will be re-releasing two of its Insta-famous cocktails: The Campfire Espresso Martini and Monks’ Secret To Happiness. The new drinks offering is designed to be paired with all-new share platters, including arancini frijol, pumpkin flowers and meat skewers.

Why not enjoy a glass of wine on a Monday night? JAMU is giving you a reason to pour a glass at the start of your week with the launch of a special initiative close to its team members’ hearts. JAMU’s Monday Wine Nights will see all profits from wine purchases being donated to Berry Street – a charity aiming to change the lives of children, young people and families. Raise a glass in support this Monday night.

Munich Brauhaus and The Bavarian restaurants are embracing the winter chill, with a series of epic parties that’ll see you from July through August. The month-long celebration of whimsical, winter festivities is set to bring the haus down, each with a different playful theme. First up is an ‘80s aprés ski bash on July 6, followed by a classic Christmas in July party on July 20. It’s officially time to dig out your fluoro ski attire and ugly Christmas jumpers, with the best-dressed having a chance to win a $200 restaurant voucher at each event.