Piccolo: Melbourne food news

Anyone for coq au vin?

Following some frustrating bureaucratic setbacks, chef and cured meat enthusiast Anthony Humphries (ex-Seamstress, The Metropolitan) finally said ‘‘bonjour’’ to Brunswick when he recently opened his first business venture, the French Milk Bar. Humphries’ initial plan included a retail arm, though regulations put the mozz on that so it’s now dine-in only.

As well as excellent house-made charcuterie, you’ll find a range of seasonal Gallic fare, including comfort food staples like b ouillabaisse and coq au vin. Sweet tooth? Think creme brulee. Watch for occasional classes, too, such as sausage-making or raw-milk cheese appreciation.

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm; 153 Weston Street, Brunswick; 9079 6496. thefrenchmilkbar.com.au

PICCOLO

■ Those heading to Mount Hotham this ski season can look forward to a new restaurant. Chef Michael Ryan and partner Jeanette Henderson, of Beechworth’s Provenance Restaurant, and Hamish Nugent and Rachel Reed, of Tani Eat & Drink in Bright, are collaborating to create Yama Kitchen and Bar in the space that was The White Room at Hotham Central. The two couples previously collaborated at Range in Myrtleford, Tsubo in Dinner Plain and at a restaurant in Hakuba, Japan. Yama Kitchen and Bar will open on June 22.

■ The beer is almost here. Good Beer Week begins on May 16, when beer takes over the town. About 180 venues participate in the nine-day festival that includes one-night-only restaurant events, tastings and tutorials, as well as the brewing industry’s night of nights, the Australian International Beer Awards dinner. May 16-24. goodbeerweek.com.au

■ Chefs on TV tonight? MasterChef starts its seventh series with a fresh batch of 24 hopeful home cooks and big-name chefs, including Massimo Bottura and Shannon Bennett. Bottura stars in an episode of the Netflix documentary series on six of the
world’s greatest chefs, Chef’s Table, which also features Ben Shewry.

■ After 11 years, Salix restaurant in Merricks North will close on May 10. Chef and co-owner Bernard McCarthy says the restaurant and bistro could no longer trade because of the construction of a hotel on site. Bernard and his wife, Rachael, already
have a new venue at Mrs Nicks Vineyard in Balnarring. Called Salix Barn, it is due to open in late May.

■ Smalls, a 20-seat wine bar, is pegged to open late June at 20 Yarra Place in South Melbourne, the same laneway as St Ali cafe. Smalls’ co-owner, Jess Ho, says the focus will be a dynamic oft-changing wine list featuring small producers from around the world