I'm pretty sure that when I lived in Sydney at least 50% of the reason I could occasionally…read morepersuade my dad and step mum to visit me was because it meant they'd also be able to go and stock up at Simon Johnson. Most people of the vaguely foodie persuasion will be familiar with the name Simon Johnson as their produce is now stocked in many high-end deli sort of stores all over Australia. A visit here is essentially a visit to the mothership. In this store you will find a single room - like a humidor - filled with cheeses... chocolate you can't buy from anywhere else in the country and other sumptuous delights like persian fairy floss. If you want to really, really impress a guest or truly delight a host(ess), this is the only place you need to go.

Quality food is easy to find. But high quality food from all over the world is hard to come by…read more Until Simon Johnson that is. Simon Johnson (the store and the person) is really able to furnish you with provisions that are of the highest quality and are simply mouth-watering. The Simon Johnson store in Woollahra is one of the best places to visit to get a taste of this food heaven. Valrhona chocolate (the only place where you can get it), English biscuits, Wasabi coated peanuts, an entire room fromagerie and many more can be seen inside this store. And while you enjoy browsing through the delicious offerings, you can even get complimentary coffee! This really is a must-visit place!

Yes it's a produce store, with a nice selection. But most important to me is their cheese…read moreselection. They have a great little cheese room next to their store in Forestway Shopping Centre. It well stocked with one of the best selections of European artisanal cheeses I've found in the Sydney area. And the two guys running the shop really know their cheeses. They even knew of my favorite cheese, the red wax Prima Donna gouda, which they had ordered by not yet received. I picked up a very nice fresh goat cheese, rich, flavorful, but not overpowering.

Be warned of the location listed on yelp! When going down Lang Rode, turn left on Errol Flynn Blvd…read moreand then turn right on Park Rd S and turn left, following the signs for the Showground. Lots of vendors selling flowers, fruit and lunch, a few selling meats and cheeses. There are also demos which looked educational (but I didn't stop because it was meat), which is better than some demos I have seen. Lots of seating for if you decide to eat there--why wouldn't you?

I was very surprised that the old Fox Studios, now Entertainment Quarter, holds Farmers Markets on…read morea Wednesday and Saturday. They have beautiful fresh produce and gorgeous other things to delight in like barrels of spices, straw baskets and cupcakes galore. Next time I have a dinner party I shall visit here to pick up some unusual items not found in your local super market. Fois Gras for example. There are quiches and bread and cakes for the indulgent. A beautiful selection of flowers greet you at the door and are a lovely final touch for that dinner party. Expect to spend though. I bought a bunch of broccoli, a mango, asparagus, and heirloom tomatoes for $20. Whoa. Its still great though as you can taste the difference and you are helping out the local farmers.... generously.

I like my cheese bitey, crumbly and made in Lancashire. Strange then that I should move to…read moreAustralia where the supermarkets claim that their cheese is 'Tasty'. Isn't that a given? Like 'Nice' biscuits? I disgress. The Cheese Shop in Mosman sells all the delicious English imports that you might hope for plus some of their snooty European counterparts - think Roquefort, Emmental, Gruyere, Blue - if you like mould then this is your place. Now, whilst it's possible that what they sell here you could buy in a decent Providore, there's something about this charming little shop with its cobbled together feel that is very appealing. You can walk out of here with your cheese, crackers, chutney and coffee and be a very happy customer. They do a Jamie Oliver sandwich for $5 which is cheese, pickled onions and crisps. So very wrong. So very right.

I saw the sign for this shop and thought - awesome, a cheese shop! I also thought of the image of…read morethe cheese shops you find in Europe - the Borough Market and Covent Garden ones in London come to mind first. They are filled to the brim with huge round lumps of fresh cheese of all kinds. Mmmm cheeeeeese. Unfortunately the Cheese and Coffee Bar in Mosman isn't quite the cheese delight I was hoping for. It has a pretty modest selection of cheeses but then it's not the sole focus of the shop is it? Being a coffee bar too takes some of the focus of the smelly yellow stuff... sort of. The café part is quite small. There's a wee library of books to choose from if you fancy a quiet read and a selection of sandwiches and cheese platters if you're a little rumbly in the tummy. Simple and sweet enough but don't expect a traditional cheese shop.

By definition, a larder means a room or a large cupboard that's used for storing food. And woah,…read moredoes this shop live up to its name. The Larder is a beautifully arranged store full of gorgeously packaged products that will have you wondering whether you're buying something just for its pretty jar or for the actual product itself. It does make for handy gift shopping though (whose mum doesn't love a block of French chocolate or Blue Mountains handcrafted coffee?). They stock a really great range of Australian and international cheeses, Hunter Valley olive oil by the litre, and top brands like Christine Manfield, Byron Bay Chilli Co and Toby's Estate. If you're on your way to a dinner party or BBQ and need to take along a token offering, grab a loaf of Brasserie sourdough or a cheese platter. The specialty grocer store opened after the owners returned from France and realised how difficult it is to find all the quality local and imported products you wanr in the one place. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable and clearly love what they're doing. There's plenty of parking available, just look for the green and white striped storefront.

Looking for some fine ingredients? Stop here…read more They've got some fine cheeses, breads, pastas, sauces, and more. Lots of artisan-produced foodstuffs from Australia and around the world. Good stuff for gifts to foodie people, or when you need to lay out bits and bites that need to impress. You can also buy quality olive oil in bulk - in their or your own containers - that is much closer to cheap bottled brands. Nice!

Pork Ewe is good. Very good. The worst thing about it is the location though. It takes a 15min trip…read morejust to pick up some meat and cheese. When you first walk in through the interesting wooden door the smell hits you. It's all sorts of weird and wonderful cheese aromas and is not for everyone! The staff are knowledgeable and passionate. This deli is their world and they want to educate you on what their products are. Warning: you will end up spending more than expected. Once you start choosing you can't stop and next minute you've got $50 worth of cheese in your hand! Go to Pork Ewe for some special occasion treats or just to share with people that you know will appreciate it.

Pork Ewe Deli. Just the name alone got me excited to walk through the wooden door of this gourmet…read moredeli. Another in a few businesses that I think are turning Mayfield around, this is the spot to come if you're seeking gourmet oils, charcuterie and cheese. It's a place to come to stock up a picnic basket en route to the beach or just because that's what Saturday night supper calls for. The staff (a husband and wife duo) are there to answer all your questions and make sure a perfect match is made between cured meats and creamy cheese. Bookmark without delay!

Owned by the Somma family, Paesanella was one of the first producers of Italian cheese. Unable to…read moreimport cheese, several families around the country attempted to start their own factories and Paesanella was one of the most successful. Umberto Somma started making cheese around 1959 and established a business in 1962 when his neighbours and friends wanted to buy the cheese. Today the factory is run by his two sos and produces about 20 different styles: burrata, boconcini, ricotta, cacciota and fior di latte to name a few. The cheeses produced by Paesanella are all soft cheeses and have a shelf life of less than a week but they are the best cheeses of their kind that you will find in Sydney. They also sell a range of hard cheeses from other manufacturers. You can buy straight from the factory or from their shop which is located at 88 Ramsay St Haberfield.

The mozzarella and ricotta are divine. I particularly like the smoked mozzarella. :-) The queues…read morewaiting for tubs of ricotta can sometimes be long but the wait is worth it. The one downside is parking in the area.

I love cheese and so I was in heaven here at the cheese shop. So if you are looking for good cheese…read moreand things that go with cheese look no further. Unlike the reviewer before I was not fussed where the cheese was made - wether Bowral or somewhere else in Australia, but they had a great selection of cheeses. The staff where extremely friendly and helpful. Specifically as I was looking for a specific type of cheese. They also allow tasting which is a seriously plus.

This little shop tucked away a little off the main road has a credible selection of olives and…read morecheeses. The only disappointment was the limited supply of local produce with the exception being some great local options from a cheese makers in Robertson - gold medal feta and silver medal Camembert.

Ok, I'm going to be roughly the hundredth person to testify that this place is amazing--with a few…read morecaveats. The food here is stunning, but it's really the wine and cheese pairings that are the star attraction. Seriously, my first visit was six weeks ago, and I'm still gushing about it. My partner and I took every recommendation the staff offered and did not regret it. However, what you should keep in mind is that this place is tiny, and does not take reservations on Fridays or Saturdays, so you take pot luck on seating and volume. So, for instance, I probably couldn't take my parents here, but if I could convince my partner to spend his next Christmas bonus (oh yeah, this place ain't cheap) roughly 10 months in advance, well I would go back tomorrow. So when you want a really nice meal, but with a slightly inconvenient twist, march right on in and order everything.

As someone who doesn't know much about cheese the staff were very friendly and accommodating and…read morehelpful in recommending some based on my preferences and all were enjoyable. Very laid back atmosphere during the day great place for a coffee too. On the slightly more expensive end for a cheese board I thought but I guess they're specialised and selection is unmatched.

They sell the best peppercorn rissoles! Staff are delightful and so engaging no matter what the…read morehour.

I have been on the very strange 'Dukan Diet', so meat is a very important part of my life right…read morenow. I don't particularly like getting it from the supermarket so it's nice to find a good Butcher. The one in Coogee Village is exceptional. I think you pay for what you get here, which is gorgeous meat. The men who serve you are always smiling and kind and their product is the freshest meat in Coogee. You could pay about $7 for a fillet of steak which isn't too bad for the quality. They have some beautiful lean mince and sell free range eggs too. Having a local butcher that you like always makes you feel like you're a part of the community too. I highly recommend them.