Emma Breheny

10 days in New Zealand: Soothing horizons, dozens of shades of blue, mesmerising mountains, winding roads, sandwiches on the beach, Art Deco details, becoming a moon watcher, trinkets galore in an Airbnb, great bookshops and spectacular colours everywhere.

My grandmother wasn’t one for rules, but she would absolutely not allow my brother and I to call her grandma or nanna. Those would make her look old. Collie - short for Colleen - was our babysitter, school holiday care, and there at every family birthday or celebration. When we stayed at her house, we got honey and sugar on our cornflakes, and Viennetta for dessert. A walk to the shops meant ice-cream for everyone, even the dog. She sang us an old song about sugar and then later made up one about tooth decay, I guess to try and undo the damage. She performed in musicals and sang in choirs from when she was a teenager right up until her late 80s. When she later needed a cane to walk, she’d wrap it in sequins or feathers to go on stage. She was terribly vain - for as long as I can remember she dyed her hair blonde and asked for a facelift for Christmas - but also very stylish. She ran four clothing boutiques during her life, and as a kid I got to play dress-ups with her old costumes and hand-me-downs. Growing up with not much, she knew how to improvise. One time she was so proud to tell me she could use her Sodastream to make “sparkling rosé”. It was a good thing we were on the phone and she couldn’t see my face. I was always impressed that she maintained so many friendships that lasted decades. After her second husband died, she maxed out her credit card buying her friends lunch and drinks at the pub, and my mum had to have a talk with her about managing her finances now that she was on her own. The last photo is her standing next to her dining table covered in flowers she was sent for her 90th birthday. She wasn’t perfect but, like the best grandmothers, she brought a lot of joy and silliness to my life. We miss you already, Collie 💔

Jamie: The Musical could be the next Oliver! guys. Also the 90s are coming for our tastebuds. *Credit to @claireadey and her crystal ball on the protein futures market.

Editing another Good Food Guide was def a 2025 highlight. Hunting down the best lip-tingling lamb and blissful country escapes and delicate saucework and tender banh cuon with my partner in crime @honestfranks , launching it with the @goodfoodau team and celebrating some of the legends who make Victoria so fun and tasty - what a job 🙈 🍀 Thanks to all the hands that made it happen especially @lanozza @emmadotchu @_sammiilouise_ @em.holg @erinastarkey and the many reviewers. Ready for a breather before diving into the next one 🤿🥤🥭

Don’t mind if I do 💁🏻‍♀️ highlights from Tokyo and Hakone in May: 1 Finding the sweetest of rest spots in hilly Hakone 2-4 Round after round of flawless yakitori at @yakitoriimai finishing with a bowl of chicken soup feat. the googiest quail eggs 5 Requesting Blondie, Roxy Music and Faces at Record Bar 33 1/3 6-7 The hamburg at @hikiniku.to.come is sick but no one talks enough about the vibe hiding behind that heavy wooden door 8 Stumbling across the toilet blocks of ‘Perfect Day’ around Yoyogi and Shibuya 9-11 Classic Margherita at @freys_famous_pizzeria ⏩ Leftfield pizzas at @pizzamarumo : prosciutto with runny egg; mackerel, seaweed, spring onion and bonito 12 The perfect colour palette at Caffe de L’Ambre 13 Tonki showing who’s boss of tonkatsu 14 Sproingy soba in a gorgeous old shop house served by an army of older ladies in checked pinafores at @kanda_matsuya 15 Fruit’s high fashion moment continues 🍒 16 The sleeper hit at @isanasushi : raw bonito with an insanely peppery sauce of apple, onion, yuzu and myouga shallot 17-18 The prettiest sake carafes 19-20 Art and clouds in Hakone

If you want your cheesecake by weight, a flat white after dark, matcha ground before your eyes or just a solid spot that makes a great omelette, you’ll find it in the @goodfoodau Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries guide, out today. It includes reviews of more than 100 places across the city, from coffee counters to sweet specialists, tea masters to the spots that have fed generations of breakfasters. Editing this reminded me that Melbourne is a damn good place to wake up. Thanks for the snappy words @andymcginniss @annabelfsmith @danifrangos @danivalent @em.holg @emilynaismith @honestfranks @lucethoughts @onetui @quincepaste_ @tomastelegramma @sidneyvenus . Thanks to @photobychege for the beautiful photos of @opheliawestgarth and to everyone at Good Food HQ for the finishing touches while I was in Japan. So exciting to return today to this! Get it in The Age today or read online.

“Should we get the fish?” will probably be written on my gravestone. On the fishiest day of the year (aka Good Fishday), here’s a parade of some favourite fish and other sea creatures that have passed my lips in the last year or so. @gibneycottesloe @saintpeterpaddo @victorchurchill.melbourne @yugendining Home-cooked Clarence River prawns at @ildelfino__ @julierestaurant @kenangan.au @ipsos_restaurant @realconservera @penangflavours_melbs @clambarsydney @brico.melbourne @minamishimamelbourne @citywineshop @barra.melbourne

Balmy nights are made for @tzaki.tzaki in Yarraville. The chickpeas were as good as everyone promised, ridiculously tender and the depth in such a simple dish - my god. The burnt feta “cheesecake” (more like a baked custard) showed how much further the sweet-salty thing can be taken. And the saganaki was totally wild - so much more funk and salt and richness than what you usually get around town. @claireadey said it was giving Welsh rarebit and I agree. I’m jealous of anyone who can walk here from their house!

Croissants in their glory and 👉🏼 during the chaos of blind tasting 23 of these babies for a @goodfoodau taste test. A mammoth day with many hands involved - not least the bakers’ own! Melbourne is spoiled for choice. We could have tasted 50 I reckon (if our bodies were willing). Read the results at my bio!

Would recommend a weekend that includes margaritas and popcorn at @centro.86 , many swims, @mapo_gelato , all the fish @saintpeterpaddo , catchups with mates, snacks at @porkfatsydney , and gawking at both the Metro and the incredible Angelica Mesiti installation in the Tank at @artgalleryofnsw

Summer off to a strong start ⛵️🐠🌶️ The cutest martini ever @inuman.melb ‼️more bay oil on everything please Smoky, peppery good times on a stick at @therocketsociety Lunch on the water @afloat_melbourne (also responsible for the chic table condiments in # 1) Finally experienced the seventh wonder of the world: @etta_melbourne ’s chilli oil parfait Tomato girl summer returns @distasiocollegamento V plump crustaceans in the prawn cocktail @maison_batard 🦐 Golden hour snacks at @eatpierogimakelove led by this rilletes-like situation of makrela, a smoky mackerel dip on toast Bracing scallops in pools of green chilli @apolloinn.bar Why is no one talking about the bread at @our_taverna 🌾 Fish tacos at home with a spine-tingling spice paste, no fryer required

Join us at our warehouse on March 22nd for Transform The Food System - a panel discussion that’s tackling how we all can make an impact with our food choices. Natoora’s founder @franconatoora , Tara Medina founder of the Australian wild game meat purveyor @discovered_foods and Campbell Burton an authority on and distributor of organic and additive-free wines @campbellburtonwines make up the exceptionally knowledgeable and experienced panel. The discussion is hosted by food journalist @breheny Panel kicks off at 4pm. Arrive early to join panelists and friends to socialize over a few wines from @campbellburtonwines , seasonal snacks by @florian.eatery and a lush grazing table of peak season produce. We are also excited to have this event listed in the @melbfoodandwine program for 2025. Grab tickets through the link in our bio or through the @melbfoodandwine website - a seat at the discussion, wine and snacks are all included in the ticket price.