JUST OPENED
KRIS Wood, one-time barista and roaster at St Ali and Proud Mary, opened Clement, his hole-in-the-wall coffee bar at South Melbourne Market, last week. The tiny space has just enough room for Melbourne's first Kees van der Westen Spirit Triplette - an espresso machine on which Wood, pictured with barista Shapa Myers-Daly, and Tim Crowley (Monk Bodhi Dharma) are brewing two single-origin coffees a day. There's a tiny bar for AeroPress and plunger coffee, some shelves of Clement's own roasts and a wall niche of cakes by Angie Whitaker of Caaake! MATT HOLDEN
Clement Espresso's Kris Wood and Shapa Myers-Daly.Credit: Simon Schluter
Stall 89, 116-136 Cecil Street, South Melbourne.
WHAT'S ON
Bocce and beer come to St Kilda's Local Taphouse.
LOVE beer? Like bocce? Get down to St Kilda's Local Taphouse for SpecTAPular Italiano, a showcase of 20 of Italy's best craft beers on tap from the likes of Birra Del Borgo and Scarampola. Bonus: bocce on a new indoor court.
The Local Taphouse, 184 Carlisle Street, East St Kilda. Phone: 9537 2633. Saturday, July 21, noon-1am. Entry is gold coin donation and proceeds go to charity.
MOVING HOME
MICHAEL Leidler brings his traditional European family pastry recipes to Surrey Hills with a bigger, more grandiose Zimt Patisserie Bakery Cafe opening tomorrow. Leidler says his Mont Albert shop, eight years young, was simply too small to cater for Melbourne's stretched apple strudel and plum streusel fans.
The new Zimt (German for cinnamon) is at 171 Union Road, Surrey Hills.
TREAT YOURSELF
VICTORIAN truffles account for a small proportion of the fungus on offer but the harvest is in full swing elsewhere. Stop by St Ali's (Yarra Place, South Melbourne Market), where Madame Truffles' pop-up shop has made its seasonal comeback. Whole truffles from Tasmania, NSW and Western Australia are available until July 29. Elsewhere, Delicatess at the Prahran Market and King & Godfree in Carlton are also selling Tasmanian truffles, these from distributor Chateaubeaufort. Those keen to hone their truffle-appreciation skills can check out à table cooking school in North Carlton, where workshops run from August 19.
For information on truffle-cooking workshops, see a-table.com.au
TRY THIS
CLEAR some space on the cheese platter for a little pot of gold. Cheese and honey, together, is the bee's knees. The folk at Richmond Hill Cafe & Larder and Melbourne City Rooftop Honey are getting together for a night of matchmaking. Honey collected from balconies and rooftops across town will be paired with the likes of Stilton, goats' cheese and more.
July 24, 6.30pm. $80 a head. 48-50 Bridge Road, Richmond. Phone: 9421 2808.