This review is as a consumer rather than purchaser…read more I'm one of those that attempts (ATTEMPTS, I tell you) to recreate something from the Women's Weekly Birthday Cakes book each year, however, I have been to so many birthday parties sporting spectacular visions of art and every time I ask, they reply, "Sugar & Spice". I drive past here often and they have a great selection in the window. I'm not certain, but I've heard radio announcer and baking extraordinaire, Amanda Blair has a connection to the store. Definitely add it to your shortlist if you're looking for a truly spectacular and very yummy creation.

We used Sugar and Spice for our wedding cake and they did an excellent job! The 5-tier cake was…read morebeautiful, with attention to detail on the decorations such as the flowers, ruffles and lace design. The process of designing the cake we dreamed of was simple and effortless on our behalf. The Sugar and Spice team really designed something wonderful and the cake was well balanced in it's aesthetics and taste. They are very well priced and worth every penny! I have recommended them to others and will continue to do so. Thank you!! Matt and Marie

I'll come out and admit, I'm a little turned on by a packed display of meat and antipasto offerings…read morein a chilled glass cabinet and this was what made me first fall for the City East IGA. Combine that with a consistently well stocked fruit and veg cabinet, fresh Kitchenhand Salads and Prepacked Gluten Free meals by Enzos this place is my go-to supermarket if I have had "one of those weekends," and haven't gotten a chance to go to Foodland. It's open late - even at the time of the evening when you're just starting to decide you might want a little bit of late night chocolate or gelati - this place will cater for you. I'm a big fan of their falafels which they get from Abdul's Kitchen but sometimes these are not as fresh as I would like. Even better is that this IGA has some of the friendliest staff around, particularly for check out chicks!

I used to live very close to this little independent grocer, so would stop in to pick up odd bits…read moreand pieces. I preferred to do most of my shopping at the Central Markets, as it was vastly cheaper, but they aren't open every day. Which brings me to the big winning point of IGAs, including this one. Opening hours. Despite their slightly higher prices, they manage to compete by being open later at night on weekdays and weekends. Each IGA is slightly different, and this one is quite vastly different to the IGA at the other end of Hutt St. This one is on the up-market side, stocking a wide range of gourmet products. The City East deli stocks a range of cakes, pastas, salads, quiches and antipasto. In the fridges you can pick up pre-made meals from a range of local producers. I used to keep my eye on the discount fridge, where deli products went to die. The fruit and veg section isn't awful, but pricier than most. There is a rudimentary few aisles of basic home needs like toilet paper and light bulbs. Next to the regular tinned veg and pasta section is a little stand with fancier Italian products - nice sauces and egg pastas. In the icecream freezer you'll find the Maggie Beer range. Not a bad supermarket all round, and I'm sure it hits the target market of young professionals or wealthier types living in the city.

It's got a little bit of everything...half the shop is vitamins, minerals and suppliments which…read moretakes up a smaller portion and the other is bulk goods. They have buckets and buckets of serve yourself whole food ingredients like: unbleached flour, wholemeal flour, lentils, dried beans, polenta, cereals, carob and the list goes on. All health food stores have a certain aroma, perhaps it's the honey or the tea I don't know, all the aromas mix but it does say 'I'm healthy stuff'. Garlic powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, coffee all pantry essentials and essential oils, ear candles and heaps more stuff. Oh...and NUTS lots of 'em! Detox Diets ie Lemon Detox (which I purchased a while ago but haven't tried yet!). Skincare products, books on various health topics, yes and more. They have a really good website and be sure to look in the recipe section for ideas and if you into Gluten Free cooking, definitely have look :-)

Uh-may-zing! There's…read morethree stores worth of intuitively laid out health foods. The staff understand what vegans can and can't eat and they even recommend recipes and cooking techniques. Example: I needed a run of black beans and they'd run out. The lady taught me that I should really buy raw/dried beans and cook my own. So I walked out with a large collection of dried beans, soaked them, cooked them and they're now in the freezer waiting to be used. The organic fruit and veg selection is great, there's a zillion different kinds of tofu and tempeh and all the bulk grains you can imagine. I seriously love shopping here, it's the highlight of my grocery shopping experience.

Go Vita has a great range of health food, natural and organic products - it's tucked right down the…read morefar end of the new Newton Shopping Village, past Woolworths, and is quite easy to miss if you're like me and tend to run in to one of the supermarkets for your regular needs. There aren't as many of these specialised, healthier options stores in the Campbelltown area, so I reckon it's worth supporting this one - prices are good, there's a great range of product, and the owner is very friendly and welcoming.

House of health has all the goods of similar stalls in half the space and usually for half the…read moreprice! An amazing selection of soy milks and gluten free / wheat free etc breads. I always shop at house of health for honey and peanut butter... they package them up in different size chinese takeaway containers and sell them at bargain basement prices. So much cheaper and better than the supermarket. There is also an array of nuts and seeds to keep all you health fanatics happy!

A gem in the market! I love the prices and the selection of offer. Their coconut flours prices are…read morethe cheapest I've seen so far. They also have a great range of soaps and serve yourself bins. Last time I grabbed myself some almond meal and it is such better value than the supermarkets and you can choose how much you like. On the continuing flour trend, the rice flour is cheap t=and good quality too! Friendly service makes this place a definite favourite.

I go grocery shopping at least 4 times a week, and yes it is a lot. I just can't be bothered going…read moreonce a week because I know that I'll always forget something and still have to end up going back. The Woolworths store at West Lakes is my favourite of the franchise. It's not too big, it's not too small, in fact it's the perfect size. Everything is easily located and the signs are large enough for everyone to read. You might not think this is important, but it really is. Woolworths have a large selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, freshly baked goods, cold cuts, dairy products, stationary, a decent selection of DVDs and so much more. I even managed to snatch up some awesome Star Wars toys there a few months ago. What an awesome find that was! The downfall for me is the lack of registers that are usually open. It tends to get quite busy (especially during the holidays) and it seems that they're sometimes understaffed. Other than that the staff are very friendly and knowledgable of their products. If you're a regular there they even remember your name. That's what I call service.

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 want to get the most out of shopping here, talk to the staff. They are what makes this…read morebusiness really excellent. Unless you have a good knowledge of local suppliers, seasonal eating and food sovereignty, trying to eat ethically and affordably can be baffling. I'm no expert - which explains why I was buying zuchinnis at seven dollars a kilo instead of waiting a month for them to go down to three dollars a kilo. Most of the veges here are sourced directly from local suppliers and everything is labelled with information about where it comes from, whether it is organic, sprayed with any chemicals, all that stuff. If you ask, you can find out what has just come in, what is in season and really cheap, all that kind of stuff - the staff play a big role in the running of the business so they know all this firsthand. They are very, very friendly and passionate about eating good food. The big focus here is fresh fruit and vege, but they also stock meats, pasta, vegetarian products, canned goods, bread, cereal and even some body products. There is also a little cafe in the centre of the store, and a lovely seating area next to the window, with all the sunlight and breeze coming in. I tend to pick and choose what I like to buy from here - I can't afford to shop only organic, which is why talking to the staff about what is in season helps so much. There are a few special things I can't resist though. The Mylor Bakery bread is the most expensive bread I've ever bought - between eight and eleven dollars a loaf - but it is also the greatest and best bread I've ever eaten. I would recommend the fruit loaf (loaded with heaps of figs, apricots, really moist and spicy) and the olive and pumpkin loaf (so good that eating it with anything else on it is a travesty).

Currently housed in a temporary shop out the back of Earth's Kitchen, Wilson's Organics has not…read morelost its smell of hessian sacks, slightly overly ripe fruit and wooden crates. But it has adopted a more organised and structured market layout now which makes it a lot easier to navigate. Fruit, veg and produce still remain quite expensive for their organic label but I'm a sucker for that stuff. This is the perfect place to drop in for a green Shrek smoothie or protein ball, vegan chocolate brownie or spinach pastie when you're trying to be healthy after attending a pilates class down the road. Just don't be in a rush as they do run on peace and love time here. Staff are incredibly friendly and laid back. Variety of food is great for the size of the shop and I kind of hope they stay here over their Gouger St premises! One hot tip: Check out their Facebook page for secret specials every week. ie. "quote Shakespeare to us and get 20% off all fruit and veg products in store" or "wear green in store and get a free aura reading.*" *I wish