Recently in Australia, as festivals and pop-up events have grown in popularity, the gourmet food truck revolution has boomed. In 2017 Melbourne City Council recognised the demand and has since set up sixteen dedicated food truck sites across the city, eight permanent and eight rotational.

Recently, the creators of one of Melbourne’s older food trucks, Mr Burger, have transformed an old garage into a food truck park and beer garden called Welcome to Thornbury. Every month they have over eighty food trucks rotating on a daily basis, with five to seven on site at any one time. You can find it at 520 High Street in Northcote, and it is open Wednesday to Friday from 5 pm until late and from 12 pm until late on Saturday and Sunday.

Once a ubiquitous site rolling through the streets of Melbourne city, the infamous Tramcar Restaurant is no longer. You and your unlimited-booze-on-wheels will be missed!

The distillation of whisky dates back to a single distillery in sixteenth-century Scotland. From there the industry grew and spread across the globe, but for a spirit to be called Scotch whisky, it must be distilled, produced and bottled in Scotland. Aged for a minimum of three years in oak barrels, it comes in two varieties: single malt and single grain. Mixing whiskies from different distilleries results in blended varieties.

The best way to enjoy the individual notes and aromas of Scotch whisky is to drink it neat in a wide-brimmed glass. If you must have it on the rocks, just a cube or two of ice; otherwise, you risk diluting the flavour.

Each of the Scottish regions produces distinct notes in their whiskies. Here are some top tips to navigate your way through the Scotch whisky maze, region by region.

Nothing invokes the nostalgia of childhood like our favourite food. For Panda, hotpot is the most flavoursome of dishes, and it is also so much more—it is comfort, it is home, and it is pride in her cultural heritage.

Looking to broaden your home cooking repertoire? Searching for an obscure ingredient? With Melbourne’s array of specialty food stores, you can spice up your food game in no time.

I hear you—I’m so over this wannabe Scandi-chic minimalist vibe that seems to have taken over the Melbourne café scene. If I hear yet another tired joke about affordable housing and smashed avocado, I think I’ll hurl my magic coffee into the Yarra in pure frustration. Fret not though, I have bountiful recommendations that won’t make you gouge your eyes out as you stand in line for yet another smashed avocado toast dusted in micro herbs or edible flowers.

Join Alice as she explores the phenomenon of the sushi train—from its early days as an affordable dining option in Japan through to the many and varied restaurants spread across the city of Melbourne.

What is it with Melbourne’s cafes? Every time I try and go somewhere new for brunch with bae, it’s a complete déjà vu. White tiles, bearded baristas and long lines.