
Welcome to Crumb Wire‘s weekly round-up. Here, we’ll reshare the week’s hottest food and drink stories, launches and features.
Don’t miss this new limited-edition secret menu item at Grill’d
Grill’d has launched Rais’n Grill’d: a limited-run dipping sauce inspired by a viral overseas flavour that has been circulating across Australian social feeds. The very literal secret-sauce release responds to growing curiosity from consumers following the trend online.
Wharf Hotel launches hot air balloon-themed dining pods for summer
The Wharf Hotel has introduced Wharf on Cloud 9 for the summer, a series of hot air balloon-themed dining pods set along the Yarra River. Running through late summer, the spaces are designed for groups celebrating birthdays, organising catch-ups or settling in for a long lunch. Each pod uses a light-themed fit out that adds a touch of novelty while keeping the focus on comfort and privacy.
Sofitel Sydney showcases French Christmas traditions with Maison Balzac
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has brought a French-inspired Christmas to its lobby, unveiling a seasonal collaboration with Maison Balzac that highlights festive food traditions alongside the brand’s distinctive glassware and table objects.
New BBQ Chicken Double Crunch BBQ taco lands at Guzman y Gomez
Guzman y Gomez (GYG) has added a new limited edition taco to its menu today, with the BBQ Chicken Double Crunch now available at GYG restaurants nationwide.
The BBQ Chicken Double Crunch features a soft flour tortilla with queso wrapped around GYG’s hard shell tortilla, filled with grilled free range chicken, sweet chipotle BBQ sauce, chipotle seasoned fries, chipotle mayo and GYG’s jack cheese ($4.80).
Red Hill Estate unveils new-look sparkling wine range
Red Hill Estate has launched a refreshed trio of sparkling wines just in time for the festive season, unveiling a new-look collection that brings together cool-climate acidity, approachable drinking and celebratory styling.
Red Rooster’s Chickmas Wonderland to light up Cannon Hill in Brisbane
Red Rooster Cannon Hill is getting a glow up this festive season with a three-night Chickmas Wonderland, switching on from December 12 to December 14.
The Wynnum Rd store will be decked out in an oversized light display designed as an easy local night out for families, friends and anyone after a bit of December colour. The program includes roaming entertainment, festive music, small giveaways and a few unscripted surprises across the weekend.
Melbourne’s Showroom Bar sets the scene for New Year’s Eve
Showroom Bar at The Royce will open through the afternoon and evening for New Year’s Eve, offering cocktails, canapés and an early dinner before Melbourne’s midnight celebrations.
Hungry Jack’s teams up with Tabasco for spicy Cheesy Loaded Chips
There’s a new hot sauce player in the fast-food game and this one comes with serious pedigree. Hungry Jack’s has teamed up with Tabasco for a limited run of Cheesy Loaded Chips, pairing its thick-cut chips with a cheesy cheese sauce and the original Tabasco flavour turned up a notch.
Bar Sophia by Marameo and Il Bacaro team brings modern Athenian fare to Melbourne
Bar Sophia has opened in Melbourne’s Central Park Village, bringing a Greek-leaning wine bar and dining room to the neighbourhood. The venue comes from Michael Badr and Marco Tenuta, the team behind Marameo and Il Bacaro, and takes cues from the new-wave bars of Athens. It adds a more relaxed, walk-in-friendly option to an area that’s been short on casual spots.
Kings Cross Coke sign gets a new look celebrating everyday Sydney moments
Sydney’s iconic Kings Cross Coke sign has a fresh new look, with Coca-Cola Australia unveiling an updated image that leans into the everyday connections the billboard has come to symbolise. The refresh builds on the brand’s recent ‘Meet Me at the Coke Sign’ campaign, which invited locals to share their own stories of meeting under the glowing red landmark.
Coming soon: Historic Darling Mills site to be reborn as subterranean brasserie Darling Glebe
A well-known corner of Glebe dining history is about to get a new life, with Darling Glebe set to open on Glebe Point Road in February 2026. The restaurant will take over the former Darling Mills site, a space tied to Sydney’s early farm-to-plate movement, and reintroduce it as a subterranean brasserie with a martini-led bar and a French omakase chef’s table.
Saint Juniper partners with Toki for one-night-only gin pairing dinner
Award-winning craft gin distiller Saint Juniper is teaming up with Toki Bistro and Bar in North Sydney for a one-night-only five-course degustation and gin pairing on December 19. Curated by Group Executive Head Chef Jacob Lee, the menu centres on premium Australian produce layered with modern Asian-fusion flavours, with each course designed to pair with a specific Saint Juniper gin.
Uber Eats to become Coles’ exclusive on-demand delivery partner
Uber Eats and Coles have expanded their national partnership, giving Australians access to a much larger grocery range delivered on demand. The multi-year agreement will see Uber Eats become Coles’ exclusive on-demand delivery partner from December 26, 2025. Customers can now order up to 17,000 Coles products through the Uber Eats app, an increase of more than 50 per cent, with delivery aimed to arrive in under an hour.
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