Botega Rotolo is a really good Italian/gourmet food store in Norwood…read more It is tucked away a bit, in an unobtrusive building on Osmond terrace which at first glance almost could pass as an accountant's office. Inside there are stacks of pastas, preserves, oils and vineagars and of course, fancy imported wine and cheese in which they specialize. In addition to functioning as a gourmet food store, Botega Rotolo also offer cooking classes at which one can be initiated into the cooking secrets of the Italian masters (like garlic is for slow cooking and onions for fast cooking and never the twain shall meet). The quality of the produce here is high and things are certainly not cheap, but it is quite good value considering what you are paying for.

Bottega Rotolo's cheese room is undoubtedly the best I've ever experienced. There's something…read moredecadent about those huge wheels of cheese. Maybe its not so much decadence as it is my arteries hardening at the thought of all that cheese but let's forget my arteries momentarily and talk cheese! As well as locally produced cheeses, their cheese room stocks products from Italy, France and Spain and those using a variety of milks and ingredients. Soft cheese, hard cheese, blue cheese, any cheese ... Don't let me give you the wrong idea though, Bottega Rotolo is not only about cheese. Just go inside and you'll find foods you never dreamed existed unless of course you're already a gourmet chef. If you are (or you're a chef in the making) and you're in the market for some couverture chocolate, Italian sparkling wine, truffles, imported pasta, or a spot of caviar - is your mouth watering yet - pay Connie and Rosalie a visit. Bottega Rotolo also hold their own cooking classes. After all what's the use of having all those ingredients if you don't know what to do with them. Their classes include everything from total hands on experiences to demonstrations as well as a combination of the two. They issue a new calendar of classes every couple of months and most are priced at $95. Located on Osmond Terrace at Norwood just before you get to the Oriental Hotel. In fact if you get to the Oriental, you've gone too far. Look for the famous Bottega "B" on their sign.

You want to go direct to the source and pay slightly less? You like seafood? You want to feel like…read moreyou are at the real fish markets instead of the Central Markets with every other shopper in town? Funny thing is, it's only a few meters away from the markets, but you know what? It's the best way to get your seafood. I lived around the corner for a few years in Wright Street if you don't know already, so I know there is a marginal difference. Go inside the Markets and line up competing with all the others in there wanting to be served and wanting that same fish that you are coveting... it more or less depends on whose eye you catch. So if you zip out of the Markets and over the road literally a few meters away and take a number at Angelakis in Field Street you have it made. You are a made woman or man. This is the warehouse, or the store. This is where it arrives fresh from the ice, fresh from the boat, fresh from the hook or net - you catch my drift? So this is where you get the prawns, not over at the Market, here where it's quieter and more honest. Less chance of feeling like you will burst if you don't get served next. Like I said, you take a number you wait your turn. It's respectful and actually pretty fast. These guys want to help you, and have a more direct way of sorting you out. They know what they have, it'd be fun to try. Once you've tried this system, you will want to subscribe.

Greeks and seafood go hand in hand, and this is exactly what Angelakis Bros successfully proves…read more This fact is only strengthened by the info commercial type TV programs, which have the Angelakis Bros themselves filmed for the show "Postcards". Sunday afternoon television at its finest, with nothing but.... fish recipes. Hoorah. Well at least it goes without saying that if it's on TV then it has got to be of some credibility, right? With this said, if you want it fresh, then come here. Angelakis Bros is always well maintained, and even for an individual like myself, who is not the most fond of seafood, I can actually bare the quick stop here and there when it come to fish like purchases. Within this premise there is not necessarily the guarantee you will receive the cheapest prices in seafood, however it is the best quality for the price you pay. Note difference. If you like fish, or seafood in general, then just do it! It's nice to see a family legacy having taken off this way.

This is a meat lovers paradise to shop in! Goat, Pork, Poultry, Lamb, Beef and all at very…read morecompetitive prices. Nice looking meat. The staff are helpful and you can ask questions without feeling like they are going to mock you. The parking is off the main (busy) road and the shop is packed with produce. It's a small area and they make use of every bit of it. The prices are very good. If you have a family to feed this is a really good place to save a few dollars. Open six days a week. There are a few of these butchers around the area so if you want to get really picky about what you spend and how much you get for your dollar there is another place within a ten minute walk, where you can go compare the price and cuts of meat - on South Road - so even if you think you are getting a bargain you can go double check if you really want to. It does get busy at times and you may find yourself waiting a few minutes, but it is worth it. The meat is delicious and the place smells and looks very clean.

Saying Speciality Foods is a butcher is a little like saying a Ferrari is a mode of transport -…read moreit's true, but it doesn't really begin to describe what they do. I'm going to digress, for a moment, to their website, which, as well as explaining where to find them, and showing a full list of specials available, also gives the best explanation I've seen to the cuts of meat that are made from lamb, beef, pork and chicken, but also shows the differences, the correct terminology for each cut, and where it comes from on the animal. Brilliant stuff. Back to the store - a firm family favourite here is the yiros meat they supply - we've previously gone with the fresh product and picked up sauce, wraps, lettuce etc and made them up from scratch, but the great solution for a quicker dinner is the $25 pack they supply, complete with one kilo of par cooked meat that takes minutes to finish off to a beautiful, juicy offering, wraps and sauce to make up ten yiros. Again, brilliant stuff. Speciality Foods prepare products that you'll see in stores all around Adelaide, as well as being able to purchase direct from their store. They have the freshest meat, and every cut and joint of meat you can imagine. It's a trek from my home, but the savings are definitely worth it for top quality product. The carpark gets a bit frantic at times, but Thebbie Rd is a bugger to park on, so slip on in and wait your turn for a park - they're masters at keeping the turnover going so spaces open up all the time.

Having a good reputation can be a bad thing - it can raise expectations to an unmeasurable level…read more But I tell you what - if you want quality produce, this is the place to go. Yes you pay for it, but it is rare that you get quality for cheap. The charcuterie/sandwich/meat bar/ delivers excellent lunch time snacks. I tried the sopressa/basil/olive tapenade sandwich and it was Delish. I can recommend the buffalo mozzarella sandwich as well. Like I said - quality, quality place!

The first time I came to Lucia's, about six years ago, it housed just the old school…read morecoffee/pasta/pizza bit. Then a few years later the next generation came along with the deli and take-home goods in the store next door. I loved it even more and bought pate and tins of delicious things to stuff in my suitcase and take home to Melbourne. Now they've taken another store, stocked it floor to ceiling with imported and local goodies, thrown in a big bench complete with meat slicing machines and some fridges stocked with all manner of cured meats and cheese. If I ever get to build my own kitchen it would look exactly like this store... meat slicer and all. I love that you can order a fresh Panini and they'll stuff it right there and then with items from the store. We shared two - the prosciutto and mozzarella and the daily special of egg tortilla and greens - and realised while half way though eating them that we could have settled on just the one. They're massive and incredibly filling. Will I come back in a few years to find the Lucia's empire has expanded even further in to the market I wonder?

If you have a dinner party where you are required to cater for every kind of food intolerance…read moreimaginable, this is the place to go for advice and product diversity. After having unsuccessfully tried a number of other places in the market to ask whether their 2 or 3 "range" of dips had dairy or nuts in them, I was so refreshed to walk up to a store who had a detailed "gluten free, lactose free, nut free" listing for every one of their 20 dips on offer. There was such diversity in flavours from plain beetroot and hummus to Mediterranean Bean Dip, Pomegranate and walnut or Coriander Pesto. They also have a large range of South Australian and traditional Mediteranean single or mixed olives to choose from and cheeses galore. Aside from gazing into the ice cold cabinets full of goodies you can also check out the mini deli inside for any last minute unique ingredients you want to add to your antipasto platter, like biscuits, fig jams, spices, oils and more. The prices here are slightly higher than some of the Central Market's other stalls but the overly helpful service, informative nature of staff and diversity of range means I will be shopping here every time for any dipping or nibble needs.

Want to shop for steak in the same place as hot chefs and restaurants? Well you have arrived at the…read moreright place! Feast Fine Foods is the butcher with some of the best cuts and quality meat in Adelaide. Dreaming of trying wagu? Check out their display! You will drool on the glass. Seriously. The range is from very high quality cuts, to the more affordable kind. What type of meat will you find here? Their own branded meats - Coorong Angus Beef and Pure Suffolk lamb. You can request cuts here. Great if you are after a particular part for a type of cuisine or recipe. Everything I have bought here has been very fresh, tasty and worth the money I have spent. In particular I really love the beef ribs sold here. They have a good amount of meat left on them, so it is not cut right back. Last thing to note is the staff here are very knowledgeable and friendly. It doesn't surprise me that this butcher is popular with restaurants in town. They know their stuff!

23/1/2012 2 Photos If you're ever out of gift ideas for a…read moreloved one, this is certainly one place that you need to go to. The owner? He gave me free samples of oreos and fairy cookies! He helped me as we both went on a fun gift hunt to figure out what to put in a basket. It was really fun! Let's see...so much variety of cookies to choose from, even chocolates! When you need a gift or just a few free nibbles, go to Scanco Hampers & Cookie Man. This specific store has a great selection, free samples, prices that go as low ($12) or as high as you want ($thousands?)! Oh...I'm such a sucker for those store owners that do custom made products! LOVE THEM! So many options here available and there are very helpful and funny staff that will help you pick out and load your half a dozen bags of cookies and sweets into the gift basket.

This shop is actually two in one. Cookie Man specialises in - go figure - cookies of all sorts…read more White chocolate, dark chocolate, vanilla, macadamia, raspberry, cinnamon, you name it, they have it. All their cookies look truly delicious and are a great idea if you need a gift for someone or even just want to treat or reward yourself. Sanco Hampers don't sell your usual hampers you get in supermarkets. With prices starting at $50, all their hampers contain high-quality products. They're packed really lovely and usually after a theme. You get, for instance, a French Christmas hamper, containing a bottle of Moet and other delicacies or a SA Wine & Food hamper, which includes a bottle of Taylor's wine and Matchett quince paste amongst other things. Great shop if you need a gift that looks a little bit more fancy and expensive. Or if you're just after cookies. :)

There are butchers, and then there are butchers. Feast Fine Foods at the Unley Shopping Centre is a…read morelarge traditional butcher with an outstanding selection of top quality meats. You can pick up Coorong Angus beef, Pure Suffolk, Hay Valley Lamb, Limestone free range beef and my favourite, Spear Creek Dorper Lamb, as well as many other local products. If you're looking for cheap by all means shop at Woolworths across the way (many others do). But if you want quality produce for your guests where they can taste the difference, this is a great place to shop. They also have a great website with loads of recipes and an online store where you can order meat to be delivered. Feast at Unley offers truly outstanding products and lovely, old-fashioned service.

"Fine" butcher We…read moretried the national award winning chicken, lime and chilli sausages for an Australia Day BBQ with an Asian nod to our multicultural influence. I don't eat meat so cannot comment on their red meat but Feast's stores have an excellent range of locally sourced, small producers. We can feel good supporting our local farmers who are providing unique produce and cuts. Very well displayed and tempting store and their staff are very happy to explain cooking methods and times. The sausages were yummy and I will be back to try their chicken, cinnamon and apple sausages or traditional gourmet chicken variety. High end prices but excellent quality product.

There is nothing quite as refreshing as walking into a butcher and not being able to smell…read moreanything. You know? Possibly not because who goes to a butcher these days? Most of you will be purchasing your meat in the meat department at one of the big supermarkets, but let me tell you - there really is something special about the old school variety of butcher where they store the whole source in their cool room out back and cut it off as required. This is the case at Corinthian Meats up the road from where I live, and the difference is really something. The meat is less wet, the freshness is very clear and obvious and the scent is not at all like that old smell you get when you peel the plastic back off of the small back tray of meat you bought in the supermarket. I'm just saying. The other really cool thing is you can discuss the meat and what to do with it. You can have it cut in a particular way to suit a special recipe. You can even hire a spit to have a big home backyard roasted critter, such as a pig or a baby cow... I know it doesn't suit everyone, but for some this is just brilliant. For under $200.00 you can hire the spit, purchase the coal and get the whole lot delivered. The meat costs more obviously... I just think you can not go past a really clean and fresh butcher on the local level. Try it out and smell, see and taste the difference. Have Peter Marinis show you around if it's not too busy, he's a really nice bloke and takes great pride in his work.