Gelatissimo is taking on one of Italy’s most contested desserts with a limited-edition Tiramisu Slice, landing in all stores nationwide from May 8. Tiramisu has been argued over for more than 50 years, with two Italian regions, two government rulings and a dessert so fiercely contested it needed a notary to settle it. In 2010, the original recipe was formally notarised in Treviso and lodged with Italy’s Academy of Cuisine. The debate escalated in 2017 when Friuli Venezia Giulia secured official recognition of tiramisu as a Traditional Agri-Food Product (P.A.T.), before Veneto followed in 2024 with Treviso-style tiramisu added to the same list, giving the dessert dual recognition across two regions. At the heart of both traditional recipes is the same core lineup: savoiardi biscuits, mascarpone, coffee and a cream made from egg yolks and sugar in a zabaglione style. Gelatissimo’s Tiramisu Slice works from all of them. This is not some predictable tiramisu-flavoured gelato mission. The slice is a proper layered dessert featuring light Italian mascarpone gelato, Forno Bonomi savoiardi soaked in freshly brewed coffee and a dusting of cocoa powder, served with a chocolate-dipped savoiardi biscuit, traditional zabaglione, whipped cream and a crispy round wafer. All the distinct layers are visible, just as they would be in a traditional tiramisu. The Forno Bonomi savoiardi are recognised by the Federation of Italian Chefs and have been made in Verona since 1939, the same ladyfinger biscuits Italian chefs have specified for generations. Australia is home to one of the largest Italian-born populations in the world, with more than one million Australians claiming Italian ancestry, making tiramisu a dessert with real cultural weight locally. The slice also lands just ahead of Mother’s Day on May 10, which feels fitting given tiramisu’s own origin story. Folklore has it that the original was inspired by the zabaglione and coffee breakfast that Alba Campeol’s mother-in-law made for her each morning to recover after childbirth. Anna Temellini, Innovation Lead at Gelatissimo, said: “Tiramisu literally means ‘pick me up’ and that’s exactly what we set out to create. Every year our team travels to Italy for inspiration. This year it was all about tiramisu and experiencing the most authentic versions we could find to understand what makes a true one: the ingredients, the layers, the craft. “As an Italian, these traditions aren’t just recipes, they’re part of your heritage, your identity. At Gelatissimo, we wanted to bring something that honours both without cutting corners on either. This isn’t a tiramisu-flavoured gelato. It’s a dessert that brings two iconic Italian treats together the right way.” Gelatissimo’s Tiramisu Slice is available from May 8 in all stores nationwide, priced at $13.50. Source: Two Palms Media Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.

Buddha’s Birthday Festival is returning to Darling Harbour for 2026 with a free, family-friendly celebration of harmony, peace and unity open to visitors of all backgrounds. The two-day festival spans performances, vegetarian food, meditation and mindfulness, cultural ceremonies and family activities across the precinct. The Harmony in Diversity performances at the Sound Shell weave together music, movement and storytelling reflecting the festival’s themes of harmony, peace and coexistence. The Vegetarian Food Fair takes visitors on a plant-based tour through the cuisines of Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, India and beyond, with appetisers, mains and desserts all represented. Whether a committed herbivore or simply curious, there is plenty to explore across the stalls. Elsewhere across the precinct, Tea Meditation, a bustling marketplace of cultural crafts, wellness products, thoughtful gifts and Buddhist artworks, and plenty of opportunities to pause, connect and unwind are all part of the programme. Saturday May 2 opens with the VegRun: Run for Peace, Run for Happiness, before traditional Lion Dances at Tumbalong Park and a ceremonial blessing lead into the major Harmony, Peace and Coexistence Ceremony in the afternoon. Sunday May 3 offers a quieter close, with the Baby Blessing Ceremony, continued performances and food experiences across the precinct before the festival wraps with the Voices of Peace finale. Buddha’s Birthday Festival runs from May 2 to May 3 at Darling Harbour, Sydney. Entry is free and the precinct is accessible by ferry, bus, train and light rail. Source: Keep Left Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.

Melbourne’s Flinders Lane is getting a new late-night address with the opening of The Florence, a Tuscan-inspired wine and cocktail bar drawing on Florence’s famed hospitality culture. The venue sits above longstanding sibling The Meatball & Wine Bar and marks the latest opening from Valarc Group, the team behind Euro-forward neighbourhood spots including Tartine Bistro, Middle Park European and Ines Wine Bar. As with The Meatball & Wine Bar 15 years ago, the space was designed and built in collaboration with Melbourne-based studio Bergman & Co, delivering a warm and moody fit-out with deep red tones, angular lines and accents of natural Italian stone and timber, with plenty of nods to 1970s Italy. A marble-topped bar and custom wine display anchor the room, alongside intimate booth seating, original artworks and vast windows overlooking Flinders Lane. Super Tuscans and stirred-down signatures The drinks list leans into Italy’s cult Super Tuscan wines alongside locally made Italian varietals, including bottles from Valarc’s own Sandhill Estate Wines in the Macedon Ranges. Cocktails are designed by bar manager Cameron Rogers and his time living in the Tuscan town of Pistoia. Rotating Negroni variations feature throughout, while house signatures include the Piazza Rosa, a floral Campari cocktail with hibiscus, gin and raspberries, and the Tuscan Manhattan, a stirred-down blend of rye, Chianti Rosso vermouth, Pedro Ximénez and balsamic. Small bites, big hours Food runs from small bites to more substantial plates, with the kitchen open until 1 am seven days a week. Snacks include Parmigiano-stuffed olives crumbed and fried, scallop crudo with caviar and pecorino and Sangiovese-braised beef croquettes. Ricotta gnocchi with butter, sage and pecorino make up the more filling options, while dessert spotlights a chocolate Florentine semifreddo and a selection of Tuscan cheeses with accompaniments. Valarc Group founder Matteo Bruno says, “Flinders Lane has always been the heart of Melbourne’s dining culture. I lived on Flinders Lane for ten years and opening something above my first restaurant, The Meatball & Wine Bar, feels incredibly special. It’s somewhere people can drop in for a drink, share a few plates and enjoy great wine together.” Following the launch of The Florence, Valarc Group will begin work on Alameda, a Spanish-leaning wine bar in Albert Park, with a transformation of its Ned’s Bake & Bistro brand also planned for later in 2026. The Florence opens April 30 at Level One, 133-135 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, from 5 pm to 1 am seven days a week, with a happy hour from 5-6 pm nightly. Source: Kate & Co. Find more dining out updates on Crumb Wire.

Coca-Cola Australia has signed a three-year partnership with the National Rugby League as the official non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage partner of the NRL Telstra Premiership and NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership. The deal marks a new chapter in the brand’s long-standing connection with the sport, spanning the full season across blockbuster clashes, State of Origin, the Finals Series and national team sponsorship for both the NRL and NRLW. To mark the partnership, Coca-Cola has launched a 500ml NRL Superfan Edition can, now a permanent addition to its range. Specially marked cans will unlock instant prizes and entries into a draw for one winner and seven friends to attend State of Origin 2026 Game 3 at Suncorp Stadium, with premium Open Air Box seating and $1,500 Visa travel cards per guest. Later in the season, fans will also have the chance to win tickets to the Telstra Premiership NRL Grand Final. The Superfan Edition cans are available now at participating service stations and convenience retailers including Ampol, Euro Garages, Metro Petroleum, Night Owl, Reddy Express, On The Run, Chevron and United Petroleum. Andrew Abdo, CEO of the National Rugby League, said: “Coca-Cola is one of the most recognisable brands in the world, and it’s great to welcome them back to the NRL. “Rugby league continues to grow right across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and beyond, and this partnership allows us to build on that momentum in new and creative ways. This partnership reflects the continued growth of our game and the strong value the NRL delivers for leading brands.” Ahmed Rady, Vice President & General Manager, Coca-Cola Australia & New Zealand, added: “Rugby league is part of the fabric of Australian and New Zealand life. It’s where friends cheer side by side, families come together, and communities feel that shared pride. “We’re excited to celebrate the game with fans all season long, and especially through experiences like State of Origin where the atmosphere is electric and unforgettable. It’s all about being there for the moments that matter, and we can’t wait to be part of those memories with the NRL and NRLW.” Further details on fan activities, prizes and special events will be revealed throughout the 2026 season. Source: Ogilvy PR Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.