This isn't the closest fruit and veg shop to my house so I don't come here unless I happen to be on…read moreSydney Road and it happens to be a convenient time to do some vegetable shopping. The first few times I came here I thought they were rather pricey compared to my local fresh produce shop, but a recent visit has led me to change my mind. La Manna had lots of good deals going, and I managed to find tarragon there, which I hadn't found in other stores in the neighbourhood. I don't know if I just never get the nice, smiley staff member at the cash register, or if none of them smile or make an attempt to be friendly, but that's just how it goes in La Manna. It would be nice if they were nicer to me, but if it were that easy for everyone to be nicer to each other, there would probably be less fighting in the world. How on earth did I go from fruit and veg to more peace and love in the world please? I think it's time for afternoon tea break.

Last Sunday my partner and I did something we've never done before... we awoke before 9am. But more…read moreimportantly, we got our butts out of the house and decided to stock up our fridge for the week (and stock it healthy.) La Manna is just a short walk away and is an absolutely gem of a local grocer. Piles of fresh fruits, veggies, flowers and all that other healthy stuff that you look at in the supermarket but always walk right past. You know the ones - quinoa, freekah, sunflower seeds and anything green... We stocked our basket sky high with enough veggies to feed a small family and smugly strutted out on to Sydney Road - proud smile on our face for all that we had achieved before 10am on a Sunday - and all for just a few clams! A highly recommended destination when you want the best and freshest veggies without the hefty price that can often come along with them.

I love this supermarket! Located just off princes highway in the Dandenong CBD, this Coles is open…read more24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I love this particular Coles because there is heaps of parking available, it's adjacent to the market, there are always good deals going on and there is a great selection of multicultural food that I can buy at any time, because it's always open! Easy to navigate layout, friendly staff at the tills and heaps of product available. This is my go-to Coles when I see a good deal on and I want to stock up or am looking for those ingredients that aren't so common and generally aren't found in other supermarkets.

You probably think all Coles supermarkets are pretty much the same. I understand how you could…read morethink that too, if you haven't been to Coles in Flemington. As I type this, Coles Flemington is less than a year old. It's what Coles refers to as a 'new look' supermarket with a different layout, range and service system than the others. If you've ever lived in the UK, it's more like a big Sainsbury's than what we've come to expect of Coles in Australia. The store really has everything you could kind of want for your everyday grocery shopping. There's even a fishmonger and butcher inside. I love their huge range of gluten free products (on which you get a 20% discount if you belong to the coeliac society) and that they use rainwater to clean because of the size of the roof. They also have skylights in the ceiling to reduce the amount of energy used lighting the place. Bottom line: if you have to shop at Coles, this is the one to do it at.

I love this Coles. Truly, I've never had this much affection for a SUPERMARKET. Most supermarkets…read moreare quite humdrum and boring. This particular Coles is quite refreshing. Situated next to the Flemington Showgrounds, the site itself is huge. Coles is the main tenant, and takes up probably 90% of the total floor space. The huge amount of space has allowed them to put in a fish station, butchery section, and a gourmet section (which I find ridiculous). Fruits and vegetables are very well laid out, with multiple long rows. The fish station is set up to replicate a market stall, but it doesn't quite get there yet. What is impressive is that there are whole fish on offer, with several types past the usual basa and barramundi. Despite having whole fish, most of the other seafood is still frozen and from overseas, like fish from Thailand and prawns from China. I find it disappointing, but I have to remind myself this is a supermarket after all. The deli section is about normal size for a Coles supermarket. I would have preferred more choice, but standard fare is offered. The cheese section is impressive, with a wide range of hard and soft cheeses. There is also a bakery section, with fresh bread and biscuits and croissants. I think this is a welcome addition to supermarkets, especially for people who are time poor to visit artisan bakers but want something different from the usual white bread fare. The rest of the supermarket is well laid out, but I got the feeling that they had so much space they didn't really know what to do with it. Six or seven rows of a single product is a bit much don't you think? As a supermarket, there is none better. I use this Coles as a benchmark against other supermarkets. Even Barkly Square doesn't come close. My only gripe is why can't they stock Spreyton Fresh apple juice? It's the best apple juice out there...and they used to stock it until recently.

Something different from the other supermarkets in the area. Nice and clean, well organised and…read moretidy. Very friendly and helpful staff. Enjoy shopping here to find things I have not tried or even heard of before. You should check it out sometime. It is next to Dan Murphy.

Corriander. Pears. Eggplant. What do they all have in common?…read more You can find them at Growers Fresh. This large greengrocer owned by the Sculli Brothers is located on the ground level of Greensborough Plaza. It is spacious, well lit and organized. The staff know their produce and are happy to help with your selection. As well as fresh fruit and vegetables they also have yoghurts and juices which seems to be a trend in greengrocer stock now. The produce is high quality and a good range. The store easy to navigate with your trolley, the prices reasonable and specials well signed posted on the windows. It's all peachy!

Huge place, all about cooking, I really could spend a few hours here…read more From a fork to some belgian chocolate, you're pretty sure to find what you need here. In fact I was looking for some Tonka bean for days, noone was aware of this, and this is the place I found some ! So from me and my chocolate mousse : THANKS Enough said, whatever you need for cooking, you should be able to find it here

Whether you're a novice cook, a chef extraordinaire or a weekend chef, walking into Essential…read moreIngredient will change your life forever. If you've never been here, I highly suggest you make a trip now! But be warned: Kitting out your kitchen with every imaginable apparatus and appliance is great so long as you can afford it, can justify the buy and have room for it at home. There is nothing worse than a cluttered kitchen with no room for preparation. Not only is Essential Ingredient that store where you can get anything you desire to help you cook (eg cookbooks, cookware, pots, baking apparatus, knives, bakeware, catering equipment, glassware, tableware, cutlery, barware etc) it's an emporium for the chef in you. In addition to specialty foods (spices, truffle products, vanilla beans, olives and olive oil products, pastas and condiments), cookware, kitchen and tableware, which The Essential Ingredient is reknowned for, the large store has a highly respected cooking school and since 1997, has been at the cutting edge, teaching enthusiastic home cooks who want to shop where the chefs shop.

I'd be pretty damn happy if I lived in this village and this was my local store. Sure I might not…read moredo my full grocery shop here, but if I were looking for quality ingredients for a dinner party or some unique items for my pantry then I would be here all the time. There's a small fruit and veggie section as well as a nice range of wine, but what I loved most of all was the compact deli right down the back, complete with neon diner lights spelling out DELI. Like moths to the flame, charcuterie lovers will be drawn down here for fine cured delicious things.

Every good neighbourhood needs a gourmet grocery store and this is it for Yarraville. Whether…read moreyou've got dietary restrictions or just looking for products of higher quality or less jammed full of sugar and preservatives, this is where you'll find it. In addition to a good range of meat and everything you need to throw together a meal, they also sell wine and have a cute deli section. Being just a short stroll from Yarraville Gardens, this would be a wise pit-stop to stock up on cheese and charcuterie to prep a picnic.

My husband and I went on The Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries Tour while visiting Melbourne after…read moreChristmas. Our guide, Kathy, was phenomenal. We learned not just about the filming of the show, but also quite a bit about Melbourne's history and architecture. At every filming location she took us to, Kathy had a video clip from the show to share with us on her i-Pad. We ended the tour enjoying a signature Miss Fisher cocktail as well as great conversation about Melbourne with Kathy. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is a fan of the show.