■ Serial restaurateur Con Christopoulos (European, City Wine Shop, Neapoli et al) will run a pop-up gelateria cafe and bar called Pagoto (Greek for ice-cream) in the Hellenic Museum's William Street garden during the Summer Arts Festival, until March 11. Details: hellenic.org.au/summer-arts-festival
■ Buckland's slice of Italy, Villa Gusto, is no longer taking bookings. According to its website, an exclusive contract with Fiat Chrysler Australia means the retreat, awarded a hat in The Age Good Food Guide 2013, is fully booked until July 1, 2016.
■ Cold pizza is a surefire hangover breakfast but Ladro Greville takes it to the next level with weekend brunch that includes (hot) pizza, pictured, topped with speck, egg, buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes - plus a Bloody Ladro Mary chaser, if you insist. Northsiders will have to wait - brunch at Ladro Gertrude is still a while off.
■ When one door closes … Thornbury specialty coffee joint Lowlands is closing on February 16 after five years, having been unable to negotiate a suitable lease extension. But co-owners Ollie Mackay and Chrissie Trabucco, who also have Assembly Coffee and Tea at 60 Pelham Street, Carlton, will open Assembly's next-door expansion on February 18.
■ Chefs Adam D'Sylva (Coda, Tonka) and Shane Delia (Maha) and MasterChef series 4 contestant Tregan Borg get fresh with lemon, corn and basil at Highpoint, Maribyrnong, on February 22 and 23 as part of its Around the World food festival. Details: highpoint.com.au.
■ Pass the tanning butter. The third annual Apollo Bay Seafood Festival takes place on Saturday, February 22. The foreshore event features cooking demonstrations, a farmers' market, cray raffles and live music. Details: facebook.com/ApolloBaySeafoodFestival
■ Tasmania's Lark Distillery has carried off the Champion Trophy for Best Australian Distiller at the inaugural Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards' Australian Distilled Spirits & Liqueurs competition, conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria.
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