Piccolo: Melbourne food news August 1

- Johnny di Francesca has been expanding his 400 Gradi brand all over Melbourne since he won an international pizza smackdown in 2014, and now he's taking his Neapolitan-style pizza into the Middle East. 400 Gradi will open in Bahrain in October.

- The Table at Kisume, the 12-seat fine-dining experience on the upper floor of Chris Lucas's new Japanese restaurant in Flinders Lane, is now open. Bookings for the 15-course, $175 menu, delivered from the solid bamboo bar, can be made online or by phone.

- Bad luck Heidelberg, good luck city-dwellers. Glenn Laurie, the chef-owner of the suburban tiny-but-mighty trattoria Little Black Pig and Sons has sold the venue, but it's to focus on finding a CBD site with attached bar. Laurie hopes to open by Christmas. Little Black Pig will continue to trade.

- Victoria's strict new anti-smoking laws kick in today. Here's what you need to know about lighting up around restaurants and bars.

- The team behind Fitzroy's Marquis of Lorne are swinging open doors to their new Richmond pub in the old Union Dining site today. Read more here.