Pinch me.

READ » 21 New Melbourne Restaurants that didn’t make Mainstream Media

Despite one hell of a 2020, a feast of restaurants has opened over the last 12 months. From Burmese to Chinese and Israeli to Egyptian, here are the ones that didn't make headlines, plus insight into how and why the same restaurants get media attention – every. damn. time.

RECIPE » Sabzi Polo for Persian New Year Hamed's Herby Rice with a Golden Crust

This Saturday March 20 is the first day of Nowruz (Persian New Year). It celebrates the start of spring if you’re in the northern hemisphere, but Iranians the world over mark the 13-day festival with food and family.Hamed Allahyari of social enterprise Cafe Sunshine and SalamaTea Restaurant has shared his recipe for sabzi polo; herb-packed, saffron-tinted rice with a golden crust known as tahdig (Hamed's family fights over it!), as well as his memories of Nowruz back in Iran.

TO EAT/DO » Good things come in threes

March 28: Melbourne Food & Wine Festival's Dandenong World Fare On Sunday week, 20 food stalls will set up in the glorious melting pot that is Dandenong Market, representing more than 15 cuisines. It's free to enter and a wonderful way to learn more about food from other cultures. Visit the website for details.

April 3: The Thick Accents Project's Sicilian Feast The inaugural event for this brilliantly-named venture is taking place at Lyons Will Estate in the Macedon Ranges. It's $75pp for a leisurely, three-course Sicilian lunch that celebrates migrant women in hospitality.Tickets here.

Support Indigenous farmers with Kakadu Plum Co.'s Easter Treat Box Ditch the Cadbury Creme Eggs and give back to Kangaroo Island growers and businesses with these Easter bush hampers. Each includes two vegan chocolate bars (white with desert lime and lemon myrtle with kakadu plum), davidson plum powder, honey-coated popcorn and wattleseed Anzac biscuits. $69.95 online.

Know a curious eater? Forward them this dispatch ♥️