The download: Everything you need to eat, drink, make and book this week

A bite-sized recap of the biggest stories of the week, so you know where to go and what to order across Melbourne and Victoria. Check in each week so you can be the smartest person in your group chat.

Stay up to date with all the latest food news, recipes and reviews on the Good Food app, now available from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store now.

Sweet deals: Melbourne venues rev up for F1 weekend

Racing down to Albert Park for the Australian Grand Prix this weekend? We’ve got you covered with our top picks for dining at the event. But for those keen to soak up the race-day vibes while avoiding crowds and queues – or looking to head out on the town after the day’s activities – there are plenty of venues nearby the action offering special deals this weekend.

In South Yarra, Toorak Road bar Nobody’s Baby is currently hosting a chef residency by Michelin-credited Spanish-Australian chef Aitor Jeronomio Orive, who is bringing the flavours of the Basque Country to Melbourne with Basque Txoko. Meanwhile, Crown’s glitzy Cali-themed restaurant Marmont is transforming into an off-track party destination across a turbocharged weekend with DJs, motorsport-themed merch, and cocktails to boot.

Along the tram line and just across from Anzac Station, the Royce Hotel’s Showroom Bar is offering diners a limited prix fixe menu every day until this Sunday, March 8. Expect fun, F1-themed cocktails and dishes by executive chef Pawan Dutta. And continuing with hotel dining, the Hilton on Little Queen Street is transforming its lobby for race fans every day until March 8 with F1 racing simulators, a live street art installation created in real time with Melbourne mural artist Rory Lunch-Wells, and a limited “pole position” cocktail served at in-house bar The Douglas Club.

A dietitian’s guide to frozen supermarket chips

Have you heard the word? It’s Chip Month here at Good Food!We’re devoting the month of March to the seemingly endless possibilities of chips, both hot and cold. Watch this space for everything golden and crunchy – from where to find the best in town and how to master them at home, to the top-tier supermarket picks. Speaking of which, dietitian Susie Burrell has kicked us off with her guide to frozen supermarket chips, including those to chuck in your trolley, and which to avoid.

Sweet deal: Harvest Lunch series returns at Cumulus Inc.

The autumn Harvest Lunch is back this month at Andrew McConnell’s hatted Flinders Lane restaurant, Cumulus Inc. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample an elegant, seasonal three-course meal for under $100 – provided you can stop in for a weekday lunch. The menu features the best produce available this month, including a tomato and peach salad with buffalo mozzarella; red mullet with shellfish escabeche; and black fig clafoutis cake with fig leaf ice-cream. It’s just $55 for two courses, or $65 for three, from noon to 6pm on Monday through to Friday for the entirety of March.

New bars to visit in Melbourne

Aussies may be drinking less, but Melbourne’s bar scene is showing little sign of slowing down, with a slew of new openings to check out as summer winds up. Here are eight to try – and what they’re best for, from Sunday happy hours to a supersized beer garden and cocktails in an old convent.

The Download: Friday, February 27

Florian cafe opens new takeaway shop on Rathdowne Street

A narrow strip of real estate on Rathdowne Street has slowly become the domain of perennially popular Carlton North cafe Florian. The original venue (now five years old) was joined by an interiors shop last March, and now a third space focused on takeaway sits in the seam between the two. Beyond selling coffee and the cafe’s in-demand sandwiches, Florian To-Go will eventually act as a providore, open morning till evening. Read more here.

Hot ticket: South Gippsland Garlic Festival

The last day of summer calls for a road trip, and South Gippsland is calling all garlic lovers for the return of its second annual garlic festival. The event is Victoria’s biggest celebration of Australian garlic, showcasing local growers in collaboration with top chefs from across the state including Michael Clark from Messmates, Alejandro Saravia from Farmer’s Daughters, Hogget Kitchen‘s Trevor Perkins, plus more, with the food kitchen hosted by food writer Richard Cornish. It’s all kicking off this Saturday, February 28 from 9am to 5pm with nearly two tonnes of garlic and garlic products for sale, plus food, drinks, live music, kids’ activities and face painting. Tickets are $15 for adults ($5) for children) and can be purchased here.

Weekly meal planner: Adaptable recipes for meat-eaters and vegetarians

Meal planning gets a little tricky with varying dietary requirements across one household. If you’re cooking for both meat-eaters and vegetarians, stop doubling your dinner workload. These paired recipes offer a meat version and a vegetarian twin – splice them together to cut your kitchen time in half. See the full list of 20 easily adaptable vego and meat recipes here and save your favourite combos for later on the Good Food app.

Hot ticket: Dani Valent’s Bentleigh food tours

If you’ve ever wanted to join Good Food critic Dani Valent on an Eat Streets culinary tour, now’s your chance. For just two weekends in March and April, Valent has launched guided food tours in the south-east suburb of Bentleigh. For $90 a pop, you’ll get a three-hour tour of Centre Road’s most delicious food stores, providores and delis, all while trying cuisines from across the globe, from Balkan pastries to European caviar. There will also be hands-on making experiences, plus the chance to watch local artisans work their magic behind the scenes. Slots are filling up, with just a few tickets remaining on Saturday, March 14, Sunday, March 15, and Sunday, April 19. Book here.

Seed & Sprout’s chic new butter bell plus other ceramics

Forget the classic butter dish. If you’re looking for an elegant way to store butter that keeps it fresh and spreadable, the French-inspired butter bell is your new best friend. Using the water-seal method, butter is packed into a compact lid before placed upside down onto a water-filled base. Byron Bay homewares label Seed & Sprout has launched its new ceramic range including these ultra-chic butter bells, plus other items like salt and pepper pots, measuring cups and more.

Melbourne Market unlocks wholesale produce prices to the public every Saturday

Usually only open to registered grocer and restaurant buyers, mega wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower trading centre Melbourne Market in Epping is opening its heavily discounted fresh produce prices) to the public with Super Saturdays, launching this Saturday, January 31. Running each Saturday from 8.30am to 1.30pm until late April, shoppers will have access to bulk wholesale specials including limited deals this weekend to celebrate the launch. There’ll be10kg boxes of nectarines for just $8 for the first 150 customers, plus 5kg trays of nectarines and peaches for $25, and eggs for $2 a dozen (or $3.50 for two dozen). The market will also host food vendors and facepainting for kids – find out more here.

Hot ticket: Summer Barbecue series at Toorak Cellars

A sizzling chef-takeover series is returning for its second summer at Armadale wine bar Toorak Cellars, featuring a stacked line-up studded with Melbourne’s top chefs. The likes of Carnation Canteen‘s Audrey Shaw, Danny Natoli of nearby Rina’s, and Jordan Clay from Pipi’s Kiosk are among those taking the reins in the kitchen each Sunday from now until March 15, with a different pair of chefs on the pans each week. It all kicks off on Sunday, February 1 with Meatsmith’s Troy Wheeler and Rory Cowcher (ex-Harley and Rose, Cutler). The menu will shift weekly but you can expect snacks and dishes cooked on the barbecue and Gozney oven, plus cellar wines to match. Half of all profits from the series will also be donated to those affected by the recent Harcourt bushfires. Book your session here (be quick as spots are filling fast).

Save your favourite recipes and restaurants on the Good Food app

No more dog-earing your recipe books. The Good Food app has launched a new saved function, which allows you to compile all your favourite recipes in one easy place. Simply click the bookmark icon to save, then head to the Saved page on the navigation panel to view. The Good Food app is home to more than 10,000 recipes from Australia’s top cooks, including Nagi Maehashi, Adam Liaw, Helen Goh, Neil Perry, Karen Martini, Emelia Jackson and more.