Mott 32, one of the world’s most celebrated Chinese restaurants, is opening its first Australian venue at Crown Melbourne in March 2027. The Hong Kong-founded restaurant holds recognition from the MICHELIN Guide, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and the Tatler Dining Guide, with existing locations in Vancouver, Singapore, Las Vegas and Seoul. Its arrival in Melbourne is part of a $200 million redevelopment of the Crown Southbank property, which will deliver more than 15 new restaurants, bars and casual eateries, a revitalised Riverwalk and a major upgrade of the theatre, now rebranded as Crown Live. Iconic Modern-Chinese fare Mott 32 is known for its modern Cantonese cuisine, with the 42-day applewood-roasted Peking duck as its most iconic dish, prized for its crisp skin and tableside carving. The menu also spans dim sum, smoked black cod, Iberico pork char siu glazed with mountain honey, premium wagyu and seafood, alongside an extensive drinks list. Mott 32 Founder Malcolm Wood said: “We’ve always positioned Mott 32 to show that Chinese cuisine belongs on the same stage as any cuisine in the world, in the top tiers of the most discerning global cities. Melbourne has been on our wish list for years thanks to its dynamic energy and global outlook. Partnering with Crown to bring this vision to life is a real honour, and we’re extremely excited about the future.” More to come Also confirmed is Bellevue Bar & Terrace, a waterside gastropub opening directly onto the Riverwalk in November. The venue is designed to operate as a relaxed meeting spot by day and a nightlife destination by night, serving elevated pub favourites with large screens showing major sporting events. Its position on the water is expected to draw diners, sports fans and anyone after a cold drink at any hour. Crown Melbourne CEO Ed Domingo said: “This next wave of openings signals our ambition to reimagine Crown Melbourne as a world-class entertainment destination for the next generation of guests and Melburnians. Building on a proud history of securing Australian-first brands alongside standout local icons, we’re delivering experiences you won’t find anywhere else in the country, right here on the Southbank riverfront.” Further venue announcements are expected as Crown Melbourne’s transformation continues throughout 2026 and beyond. Find more dining out updates on Crumb Wire.

Australians are spending more on Mother’s Day dining than ever, with the average per-head spend hitting $65 in 2025, up 13% year-on-year, according to new OpenTable data. Dining on Mother’s Day in 2025 increased 23% year-on-year overall, with preference for curated dining experiences up 44% and a 23% rise in restaurants offering special Mother’s Day menus. The same OpenTable research also shows 60% of Aussies say dining out plays an important role in their Mother’s Day celebrations. How Australians are celebrating The way Australians celebrate is shifting too. While 45% of mothers and mother figures still prefer spending the day with family, 42% now see the occasion as increasingly about self-care and personal time, with 40% open to celebrating with their “mum group” rather than family. Nearly half of mums (47%) believe first-time mums should be celebrated in the same way as mums of all tenures, and 38% of Aussies are planning to celebrate with an intergenerational lens, reflected in a rise in parties of six or more on the day. As far as food preferences go, the research shows Japanese cuisine is the fastest-growing cuisine for Australian Mother’s Day diners, up 61% in 2025. Food quality remains the leading driver for mums choosing where to dine out at 56%, followed by value for money at 42%. A third of mums expect their partner to cover the bill. When it comes to booking, 57% of Aussies lock in their reservation at least five days in advance, though 25% of Millennials admit they have forgotten to book Mother’s Day entirely. For those who do plan ahead, 11 am is the most popular booking time, up 33% year-on-year in 2025. Drew Bowering, General Manager Australia at OpenTable, said: “We are seeing Mother’s Day celebrations shift beyond the traditional family meal toward a focus on connection and curated experiences. “With Mother’s Day 2025 proving to be one of the biggest dining events of the year, the launch of our 2026 Top 50 Restaurants for Brunch and Lunch helps diners get ahead of the crowd and discover standout venues that make the occasion truly special.” To help diners plan and tick a few, if not all of these boxes, OpenTable has released its Top 50 Restaurants for Brunch and Lunch in Australia for 2026: NSW Amalfi Ettalong Beach Bathers’ Bistro Crafted by Matt Moran Doyles on the Beach Glasshouse at Goonoo Goonoo Station Kurmond Social The Boatshed La Perouse The BOX on the Water The Potting Shed Whalebone Wharf Zushi Queensland Bocca Italian Burpengary Tavern Caloundra Power Boat Club Coffee Cat on Kings Beach Full Moon Hotel Green Zebra Hotel Richlands Northerlies Beach Bar and Grill Ricky’s River Bar and Restaurant Robina Pavilion The Brasserie Sails Noosa Sails Restaurant Redlands RSL Secrets on the Lake STOA The Green The Terrace Emporium Hotel South Bank Brisbane Warrior Restaurant & Bar SA Boatshed Cafe Rosemont Hall West Beach SLSC Tasmania The Atrium Windows On Westella WunderBar & Restaurant Victoria Caffé Greco Oakleigh Deer Park Club Elwood Bathers Farm Vigano Grazia Restaurant Hochi Mama CBD Lost Watering Hole The Lancefield Brewery Merricks Store Mount Erica Hotel Rococo Secret Kitchen Chinatown Stamford Park Homestead Tesoro Gastronomia The Old England Hotel Heidelberg The Rocks Mornington Waves on the Beach Source: Praytell Agency Find more dining out updates on Crumb Wire.

Coles is rolling out a new ready-to-heat roasting box and a run of half-price chocolate deals ahead of Mother’s Day this Sunday. New research from Coles shows 58% of customers plan to spend the day with family, with 45% expecting partners or kids to take on the cooking. The Made Easy Sweet & Savoury Roasting Box 1.9kg at $35 per pack, approximately $8.75 per serve, is the brand’s answer to that, serving four with slow cooked roast beef crusted in garlic, roast potatoes, gravy and mini choc brownies. Available for a limited time, it sits alongside a broader Mother’s Day spread that includes some of the steepest chocolate discounts Coles has run this year. Sweet treats for Mum Boxed chocolate sales historically almost double in the week before Mother’s Day, and this year Coles is running half-price deals across a solid range from May 6 to May 12, including: Cadbury Roses 380g down to $9 from $20 Ferrero Collection and Rocher 30 pack both at $16 from $32 Raffaello Heart Gift Boxes at $7.50 from $15 Darrell Lea Milk Chocolate Love Heart 100g at $5.50 from $11 For those wanting to get hands-on, Coles is also sharing a Love Heart Mud Cake hack, turning two Coles Chocolate Mud Cakes 600g, now $6.40 each, down from $7.10, into a heart-shaped centrepiece with pink icing and lollies. The recipe is on the Coles website and in the Coles magazine. Flowers galore Coles is expecting to move nearly 900,000 flowers and floral gifts in the lead-up, making it the biggest flower event of the year for the supermarket. The Smith Street Flowers range holds the same prices as last year, starting from $15 for the Pocket Money Posey, $25 for a classic Rose Bouquet and $30 for the Mother’s Day exclusive Beautiful Bouquet, featuring roses, chrysanthemums and seasonal greenery. Customers spending $30 or more on Smith Street flowers in-store will get 15% off wine and Champagne at Liquorland when scanning their Flybuys card between May 8 and May 10. Champagne sales at Liquorland are expected to jump almost 50% in the lead-up, with nearly a third of purchases made the day before. The Canard-Duchêne Brut NV Champagne 750ml is available for $56, down from $72, and the Winton Road Eden Valley Chardonnay 750ml at $30 each or two for $35, both in gift boxes. The full Liquorland range also includes the Canard-Duchêne Brut Rosé NV 750ml at $82, Pure Origin Tasmanian Gin 700ml at $58 and Mayfair Pink Gin 1L at $71. Coles and Liquorland stores are open this Mother’s Day Sunday for any last-minute additions to the celebration. Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

With grocery bills climbing and fuel costs squeezing the food supply chain, community-powered food network Box Divvy is growing its presence in Victoria. The model works through local Hubs, often run from homes or community spaces, where members pre-order food in bulk to reduce waste, cut excess packaging and keep costs down. Members can also see exactly what farmers and suppliers are paid, making it one of the more transparent alternatives to traditional retail. The results are measurable: research from Western Sydney University and the University of Wollongong found food insecurity among Box Divvy members dropped from 51% to 28% after joining, with strong improvements in diet quality. More than 350 Hubs are now operating across NSW and the ACT, with a growing presence in Victoria. One of those running a Hub is Kellie Wishart, CEO of Carenet, a community organisation supporting people experiencing financial hardship and social challenges. Through Carenet, Wishart operates a local Box Divvy Food Hub, giving her community a practical, consistent way to access affordable fresh food. Wishart said: “People are making trade-offs every week, and many feel priced out of fresh food. At the same time, the supply lines community organisations rely on are under strain, making it harder to move food at a local level. What Box Divvy does is strengthen the overall food system at a local level. “It gives people a consistent, affordable way to access fresh food, while also supporting producers and reducing pressure on traditional supply channels.” The model is coming into focus ahead of the Victorian Food Policy Forum on Friday, May 22, where government, researchers and community organisations will examine how to build a more resilient and equitable food system. Victorian councils are also under increasing pressure to meet their responsibilities under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act, where access to healthy, affordable food is a consistent priority. For councils working with limited resources, Box Divvy’s cross-policy impact across health, economic and community outcomes is particularly relevant to that conversation. Box Divvy co-founder Jayne Travers-Drapes said: “Food security isn’t just a supply issue, it’s a system design issue. When access to fresh food relies on long supply chains, high overheads and centralised distribution, it becomes harder to keep food affordable and accessible. “What we’re seeing is that community-based models can do more than move food efficiently. They strengthen local economies, reduce waste and rebuild the social fabric by creating regular points of connection in neighbourhoods. That combination is where real resilience comes from.” Nick Rose, Executive Director of Sustain: The Australian Food Network, said: “Australia’s food system has become highly centralised, which creates efficiencies in some areas but also leaves gaps at a local level. Community-based models can help fill those gaps by improving access, increasing flexibility and building resilience closer to where people live.” Box Divvy co-founders Jayne Travers-Drapes and Anton van den Berg will be among those contributing to the forum on Friday, May 22. Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.