Quay comes with a big reputation. It appears regularly on international top-restaurant lists and executive chef Peter Gilmore is widely recognised as one of the most inventive and thoughtful in the country. The room itself is like the bridge of a cruise ship, all glass with a spectacular view from the coathanger across the sparkling harbor to the sails of the Opera House. It would be easy to fall short of such a reputation, but Quay, right now, is gorgeously playful, assured and elegant as ever. Start with raw smoked Blackmore wagyu. Over tiny diced cubes of beef doused in fermented chilli and miso are incredibly thin shaved mushroom petals and cultured cream. It’s soft and delicate, and an umami bomb all at once. On top are miniscule pearls of dory roe, which the chefs cure in house. Gilmore’s food plays allegiance to both flavour and texture, so every bite or mouthful is a delight – sharp, soft, crackling, crumbling, melting and even popping. The tables are richly clothed and the room is scheduled for a makeover, but Quay is not here to be a passing fad. An established stalwart has a unique appeal, but it can be inventive and fun too. And when you crack a spoon into the sublime famed snow egg – a strawberry rendition marks a new era – discovering icy pink granita and creamy fool, it’s easy to see why this is world-class dining with an experienced captain at the helm. Must eat dish: raw smoked Blackmore wagyu, fermented chilli, miso, shaved fungi, kombu, cultured cream, dory roe Instagram: @quayrestaurant Address: Upper Level, Overseas Passenger Terminal The Rocks 2000

Move on from beetroot and pineapple and top your burger with a world of options at the new Concept Burger in Wolli Creek. Head chef Tomislav Martinovic (ex- Heston Blumenthal) goes global with buns stuffed with everything from Japanese tempura fish to Canadian maple bacon.

Chef Dan Hong (Mr Wong, Ms G’s) grew up at the apron strings of his mother Angie, who opened Vietnamese restaurants in Cabramatta and Newtown. Now the pair are joining forces at Parklands Food Fest this Saturday in Abbotsbury. The free event includes 50 food stalls, live music and cooking demos.

On Friday 10 November – Sunday 12 November, Wine Island will launch, transforming the stunning Clark Island in Sydney Harbour into Australia’s most tropical and unique wine festival. What began as an event encouraging its ‘holiday-makers’ to discover a piece of paradise filled with good wine and food has evolved into a 3-day experience offering 3 exceptional packages. Throw away your cares and come discover a piece of paradise filled with good wine, food, music, silent discos, masterclasses, treasure hunts and more! This exquisite yet relatively untouched piece of paradise is a small island so only a limited number of ‘holiday-makers’ can attend the event – giving Wine Island its famed first- class feels. Tickets for this exclusive event are on sale now at wineisland.com.au.

Fermenting will save your life, we hear. New book, Ferment, by wholefood pioneer Holly Davis (Murdoch Books) takes the terror out of kombucha, sauerkraut and other fermented classics. Thorough guidance guarantees you will find a place in your home for this, hot trend that will cure what ails you. Out now for $45.

The Narellan Hotel is about to host the first ever local beer and cider festival, creating quite the stir with beer and cider fans. From 12pm on the 16th September the Narellan Hotel’s lawn will turn into a tipple tasters delight with the best international and local brews for even the most picky beer swiller. With over 7 stalls pouring the best local and international drops to delight the tastebuds you will be spoiled for choice with frothy cold ones to test and enjoy in the afternoon sun. All that cider and lager action will work up a hefty appetite & the Narellan chefs are whipping up some wonders – with a metre long hot dog (yep, one whole metre!) and pulled pork rolls amongst the bites on offer. Punters will be happily entertained with apple bobbing, hot wing chowing competitions, and music from the Glen Esmond trio playing live to round out the amazing ambiance that is sure to have families and friends pleased as punch. Narellan Hotel, 279 Camden Valley Way, Narellan, NSW, 2567

Sydney inner-West favourite, One Penny Red is jumping on the ‘smokey’ bandwagon with a 5-course dinner hailing their Yoda smoker. The ‘Trust the Yoder’ menu is available throughout September and will highlight native Australian flavours such as Clarence River king prawn with smoked tarragon butter. Visit onepennyred.com.au for more information.

Eureka 89 are excited to welcome back London’s Neal’s Yard Dairy for an exclusive cheese masterclass with Jamie Hall on October 3rd. Hosted alongside Harper & Blohm’s Olivia Sutton, Jamie will showcase the best of British Isles cheese available in Australia, while taking guests on a journey through traditional British & Irish cheese making history and craft. When: Tuesday 3rd October 2017 Time: 6.30pm for 7pm Cost: $120 per person, all inclusive Where: Eureka 89, Level 89, Eureka Tower,7 Riverside Quay Southbank VIC 3006 Click here to book now. Bookings essential.

Melbourne is turning into a city of chocoholics as more premium offerings enter the game. Koko Black has a luxe new menu featuring treats like vanilla custard and chocolate brioche, hot chocolate with rocky road and leatherwood honeycomb, and a black forest gateau. Meanwhile, Pana Chocolate has relaunched its popular pana-pop, typically a chocolate cheesecake on a stick, with a mint centre. The Richmond store caters to utter indulgence with its new peanut butter pot – layers of chocolate custard, chocolate biscuit, caramel chocolate and peanut butter served in a jar.

The biggest collection of gluten-free food providers, food trucks, experts and celebrities will gather at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on October 7th and 8th for the 2017 Gluten Free Expo. The event is a ‘must do’ not just for those with coeliac disease, but also for the food curious and those that are embracing a gluten-free diet for other reasons. The event is $18 for Adult entry ($15 online) and Student entry $12 ($10 online). There will be plenty of goodie bags to giveaway and endless taste testers at the expo to satisfy all your GF needs. With food and drink options including gluten free beer and a Greek street food truck to pizza and pasta, there will be options for every gluten-free craving. You can purchase tickets online at glutenfreeexpo.com.au.

If you carry a torch for sushi, head to The Modern Eatery. The Perth import specialises in sushi aburi-style, where fish is seared directly by flame. The Richmond digs also offer dishes such as salmon sashimi with sweet potato fries, blackberry and tomato, and green tea soba noodles, fried egg, aonori bits and pickles.

Spring has sprung at Jamie’s Italian in Brisbane city with an updated menu to celebrate the new season’s bounty. Destined to be a crowd pleaser is the buffalo ricotta ravioli in a lemon butter sauce with peas, mint and pea shoots.

Following its popular city restaurant crawls, Bite Sip Stroll will host a Fortitude Valley version this Saturday. Wander between Gerard’s Bistro, Gerard’s Bar, Nickel Kitchen & Bar and The Apo, with a food course and matching wine at each venue ($129 per person). Things kick off at 11.30am. To book, go to bitesipstroll.com.au.

Australia’s favourite pick-me-up is taking centre stage to help promote R U OK? Day this month. Queensland coffee roaster Merlo is teaming up with the mental health and wellbeing charity to help people connect and support each other through tough times. Buy one coffee, get one free, then have a conversation with a friend and help change a life at all Merlo-owned stores in southeast Queensland on September 14. To get the chat going, Merlo recommends a flat white – the no nonsense, dependable “flattie”. “We are 100 per cent behind R U OK? Day,” says Merlo owner Dean Merlo. “What better way to connect or reconnect with someone – be they a childhood friend or a work colleague, than over coffee? The conversation doesn’t have to be the heavy stuff. Sometimes just talking about travel, sport or the kids is enough to ease the stress of life.” Or create your own coffee indulgence and invite friends over for a coffee, a treat and a chat this R U OK? Day. Find the recipe for tiramisu popsicles here.

Master the art of pizza making with Sydney chef Stefano Manfredi’s tasty tome New Pizza ($39.99, Murdoch Books). From what flours and yeast to use and why, to how to prepare and shape different types of dough, it covers all the techniques, plus offers deliciously simple recipes.