Food prices
The schooner invasion: Victorian pubs are embracing the northern beer glass
More Victorian pubs are pouring schooners. Some are even phasing out pots in favour of the size some say is the “sweet spot”.
- Emma Breheny
Sunny with a chance of mangoes: Here’s the fresh produce forecast for Christmas
Ordering early is the secret to a wilt-free festive feast. Beat the heat, and the last-minute panic, with these expert tips on securing the best produce.
- Dani Valent
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why Chinese restaurant food is worth so much more than ‘cheap and cheerful’
Chef Neil Perry is pivoting his restaurant from Cantonese to Italian cuisine. But contrary to his comments, Australian diners recognise the value of a succulent Chinese meal.
- Kevin Cheng
Why it’s about to get difficult to buy high-quality, ethical meat
A decision by meat processors has left some of the country’s best small-scale farmers with a tough choice: go big or go bust. But it’s consumers who will ultimately pay.
- Richard Cornish
Is it still possible to find a cheap coffee? Yes, if you know where (and when) to look
Smart cafe operators are offering happy hours, discounts or other deals. And in some cases it doesn’t matter which milk you drink.
- Emma Breheny
From birthday cakes to choc tops: Vending machines gather momentum around Melbourne
At a time of rising costs, robots are coming to the rescue, ushering in a new age of food on the run.
- Bianca Hrovat, Tomas Telegramma and Emma Breheny
‘Kind of scary’: The real reason so many restaurants are closing
The predictions are devastating: one in 13 hospitality businesses could close in the next 12 months. So what’s gone wrong, and what can be done to help?
- Dani Valent
While you are sleeping, this major suburban food market quietly powers Melbourne
A miniature city rises and falls each night, built on cucumbers, apples, forklifts – and bacon and egg rolls. Meet some of the people behind it.
- Emma Breheny
Trouble brews in Australia’s craft beer industry, with ‘alarming rate’ of closures
More than a dozen independent breweries have been pushed to the brink of insolvency in the past 12 months.
- Bianca Hrovat
‘Groundbreakers can’t survive any more’: Is Australia’s restaurant industry on the brink?
For many restaurants today, just breaking even is cause for celebration. Will 2024 be remembered as a year of closures? And what can cash-strapped diners do to help?
- Dani Valent