Vermouth is having a moment and nowhere is that more apparent than at Banksii, a new bistro at Barangaroo. Rebecca Lines and Hamish Ingham have set up a bar of 40 fortified wines, and use the drop in dishes such as rock oysters with dry vermouth and lantana flowers. 33 Barangaroo Ave

This summer, gourmet spins on the classic burger include brioche buns and spicy relishes, and now there’s a new option to try: a slice of full-bodied blue cheese. The masters at Castello have made a style of blue that holds its shape when melted. castellocheese.com

The long-awaited Fred’s is finally open. The Merivale project is actually two venues in one. Upstairs is the 60-seat restaurant headed by chef Danielle Alvarez. Downstairs is Charlie Parker’s, a bar by Sam Egerton and Toby Marshall. 380 Oxford St, Paddington, merivale.com.au

Give vegan food a whirl with a five-course Thai dinner prepared by guest chef Saruttaya “Na” Lakchai at South Wharf’s BangPop restaurant. Get natural wines with each clean and green course on Tuesday at 7pm for $79 (or $49 minus wine). bangpop.com.au

Graze your way around Albert Park Lake this week when Taste of Melbourne offers tucker from 14 top restaurants. Go avant-garde with IceCream Social’s brown sugar ice cream or classic with Supernormal’s lobster rolls. It runs Thursday to Sunday, melbourne.tastefestivals.com.

Head to Yandina’s Spirit House to improve your Asian cooking. Learn to make a range of dishes including duck with citrus caramel and star anise, and then tuck into the feast you’ve created. Asian Entertaining, 9.30am, Saturday, November 12, $150, spirithouse.com.au

Swirl and sip for a good cause at this wine tasting event featuring eight wines plus cheeses. At least half the tickets sales of the event at Grape Therapy will go to MS Queensland. To be held 6.30pm, Thursday, November 10, $59, grapetherapy.com.au.