I often do my shopping at the Coburg Market. It is a small, old-fashioned fresh food market with a…read morebull-nosed, corrugated iron front. The whole place is worn but clean. There is a high old corrugated iron ceiling spanning the whole market and an old pressed tin ceiling at the entrance. There is another entrance at the back of the market, the truck delivery bay, but that is not so attractive although it does go directly to the car-park. Today I'm shopping for a dinner party and I think that I can get everything that I need under this one large roof. Seasonally there always is something different at the market. There is a large fruit and vegetable stand where I buy grapes, purple onions, rocket leaves and baby spinach leaves. And the fish stand where I buy half a kilo of mussels. I compare prices at the two butchers, and two chicken butchers and the two delicatessens. Actually chicken breasts are cheaper today at the butchers on Sydney Road. Finally, some nuts from the nut shop to go with the cheese and to complete the meal. There is a small tobacco stand is built into the market - I don't need any of that for the diner party.

I love love love Piedimonte's IGA. Their range is great, you're supporting a local business and…read morethey give back to the community! They have heaps of options. If you want pasta, you can choose from fresh delicious pasta ... to $0.90 a packet dried pasta. Latina style ravioli to local made fresh ravioli. Their deli selection is fantastic - a lot of Australian products to choose from. But also exquisite Italian prosciutto or French cheese etc. They do their own baked goods, make coffee, sell homewares, to hot fresh chickens, specialty gelato, plenty of organic options too! Definitely worth a visit.

I can't believe I'm lucky enough to live next door to this place!! O'Hea's Deli is a perfect old…read moreschool Brooklyn Italian deli. One of the things I miss the most from NYC is Graham Ave Meats. Perhaps the greatest deli in the world. And Oheas is just like it! With a bit of a very miniature eataly feel due to its market like setup. They've got the good coffee. Since they are so big on their Italian style coffee in Australia, I've found the best coffee is always at the Italian places. It's just darker. (ps, if your accent doesnt give away that you're American, ordering a long black every time will.) They have great sandwiches. (nowhere near graham ave, but that's like asking a common man to make a miracle happen as if he were a god.) they have they doughiest, yet flakiest croissants. And OH! The cannollis!!! The pizza is nice and is the price. It's nice to see that this place is always busy. It's great. It should be. You should come here and order brunch with a friend and sit out on the sidewalk in the sun. I am going to eat most of my meals here on the weekends.

Firstly, let's be clear: this place looks busy. It's for two reasons: 1. there is nowhere else in…read morewalking distance, 2. They take forever to serve their customers, so people are forced to wait. It is amazing, and an inspirational story in some ways, that people who are so crap at hospitality have somehow managed to not only survive but get rich. The owners have bought up a bunch of local real estate and are trying to build a monstrosity of a development but are being fought by locals due to its inappropriate design. Therein lies a clue: They're not nice/good people, they're greedy and are just in it for the money. And that's why what they do makes sense: a range of low quality provodore produce, cheap and ordinary coffees, day old pastries. All overpriced - because you don't have a choice. Good on them, but for gods sake don't encourage this behaviour or expect any semblance of Melbournes famous hospitality in this venue. Do yourselves a favour and go to Little Deer Tracks at the train tracks end of O'Shea St, or anywhere else. These people are just bad at their jobs and shouldn't be encouraged.

Big variety & great food & you'll be sure to find what you want ... love the cake shop, deli &…read moreflowers...

OHHH I LOVE this place…read more I swear I could live here (at night.. when its quiet). It has EVERYTHING food wise you could imagine, and more. - Freshly (like right in front of your eyes) made orange and apple juice. - Meat, meat MEAT - every meat you can imagine and drool over - Baked goods... so many... try and avoid it! - Fresh ALL AUSTRALIAN produce.. yum! But the best part is the cafe inside. Open till 3pm every day - they serve all the traditional breakfast dishes like Eggs Benedict, Big Breakfast & Smashed Avo... but they also have adorable cakes, wraps and toasted sandwiches. Great service and price too... I want to go back right now :)

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.

At first glance Bivano and Sons appears to be a high quality and well stocked fruit and vegetable…read moreshop. But anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting this well known grocer knows better! Yes B & S has the best looking and diverse range of fruit and veg I have seen, but it doesn't stop there. There is a beautiful range of flowers to choose from as well as a deli section I could very well live in. Any shop that has a fridge of Ben and Jerry Ice-Cream has my vote. And yes, they do stock a range of sauces and deliciousness from Gourmet Simon Johnson. This grocer is not only filled with beautiful products but friendly staff and a conjoining butcher for all your carnivourous needs. This place is a pleasure to visit and its produce joyous to consume. Yes, it is that good. All other greengrocers take note please.

A while ago I heard about a cheese shop which was located in the industrial area of Thomastown but…read moredidn't know what the name was and didn't know where it was.......until recently at one of the stalls at the salami festa I tasted the most delicious skewer of Buffalo boconcini, cherry tomatoes and basil, drizzled with Italian olive oil and balsamic. I picked up a brochure and discovered it was "That's Amore" located in Thomastown! That's the place! They don't just sell cheese here either. If you love beautiful Italian cheese - imagine fresh tubs of ricotta & tasty pecorino, delicious ricotta canoli to have with coffee, or fancy mouth watering porchetta in a crispy bread roll, like those you may have tasted in a Perugian town in Italy, then you should definitely visit That's Amore.

Found an instant favourite place hidden in the industrial area in Thomastown for lunch today…read more That's Amore Cheese! Huge selection of cheeses direct to the public and an amazing deli. Also really great pork roast panini, chicken and more.

Maria's Coffee Shop and deli liquor store is a fantastic arrangement of foods and now they make…read moreItalian style fresh hot meals ion the bay Mari. Sam is a great cook and his 2 sons are enjoyable to talk with. Come in to explore fantastic range of fine wines,(Not commercial) especially Italian wines from Abruzzo. Prices are great and there are so many beers from around the world to choose from with great prices to go ! Call in on Saturdays and get entertained by Ray. He has a great desire and passion to deliver you a wine , something different for you to enjoy... Whilst checking around the shop have a short black or cappuccino at a cheap price starting from $2.00 WOW 5 stars

Oh how I love this place! Fresh coffee beans, imported beer and a helluvalotta cheese - what more…read moreis there in life? Maria's Coffee House and Deli is surprisingly large for a deli. You will find canned goods from all over the world, quirky candy you've never heard of, as well as the awesome hospitality of the mom & pop who own it (I can only assume one of them is called Maria). While I wouldn't suggest you do your weekly shop here (you certainly won't find any fresh bread, fruit or veggies) Maria's is an absolutely essential store on the Nicholson Street strip - especially if you are after something a little left-of-centre when it comes to your booze.

This great little deli has opened up just around the corner from me and I could not walk past…read morewithout a bit of a sticky beak! Sure, this place is not huge but there is a great selection of meats, salami and the like as well as a fair bit of cheese hidden down the back. They have your emergency lavazza coffee beans as well a wide range of Brasserie Bread from South Melbourne (and if you havn't been there, you must!) So next time you need an emergency picnic, try loading up here!