Standard of supermarkets in melbourne
Mar 1st 2005, 6:40 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Portsmouth
Posts: 58
Standard of supermarkets in melbourne
As a Chef who is looking to migrate to the Mornington area in the autumn, I was wondering whether the standard of supermarkets were better/worse than in the uk. For example Sainsburys now provides specialist foods like truffle oil, wasabi,caviar,etc. It also has good organic ranges, gluten free goods etc, as do tesco. Do Woolworths and coles provide the same.
I wasn't that impressed about 10 years ago when I was backpacking for 7 months.
Any info on what you think about this subject.
I wasn't that impressed about 10 years ago when I was backpacking for 7 months.
Any info on what you think about this subject.
Mar 1st 2005, 7:07 pm
#2
58.38264% - Extreme Geek
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: The Place To Be
Posts: 2,270
Re: Standard of supermarkets in melbourne
Originally Posted by chaleyscott
As a Chef who is looking to migrate to the Mornington area in the autumn, I was wondering whether the standard of supermarkets were better/worse than in the uk. For example Sainsburys now provides specialist foods like truffle oil, wasabi,caviar,etc. It also has good organic ranges, gluten free goods etc, as do tesco. Do Woolworths and coles provide the same.
I wasn't that impressed about 10 years ago when I was backpacking for 7 months.
Any info on what you think about this subject.
I wasn't that impressed about 10 years ago when I was backpacking for 7 months.
Any info on what you think about this subject.
However, the speciality shops (often ethnic delis) and fresh produce markets are terrific & more than make up for the lack of the type of packaged goods that you'd get in Tescos. It's more a case of having to go to several shops to buy food over here, not just one enormous warehouse-type place. Inconvenient in one way, but no lines anywhere & really nice shop staff who pack your bag for you - so overall a much nicer shopping experience.
Where in Melb do you intend to settle?
Cheers
Anya.
Mar 1st 2005, 7:15 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Portsmouth
Posts: 58
Re: Standard of supermarkets in melbourne
Hopefully the Mornington,Mt Eliza,Mt Martha area.
Cheers Scotty
Cheers Scotty
Originally Posted by anya4oz
Sadly, the supermarkets here are of a pretty poor standard (think UK 1960s Keymarkets et al).
However, the speciality shops (often ethnic delis) and fresh produce markets are terrific & more than make up for the lack of the type of packaged goods that you'd get in Tescos. It's more a case of having to go to several shops to buy food over here, not just one enormous warehouse-type place. Inconvenient in one way, but no lines anywhere & really nice shop staff who pack your bag for you - so overall a much nicer shopping experience.
Where in Melb do you intend to settle?
Cheers
Anya.
However, the speciality shops (often ethnic delis) and fresh produce markets are terrific & more than make up for the lack of the type of packaged goods that you'd get in Tescos. It's more a case of having to go to several shops to buy food over here, not just one enormous warehouse-type place. Inconvenient in one way, but no lines anywhere & really nice shop staff who pack your bag for you - so overall a much nicer shopping experience.
Where in Melb do you intend to settle?
Cheers
Anya.
Mar 2nd 2005, 9:18 am
#4
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,277
Re: Standard of supermarkets in melbourne
Hi
Mornington supermarkets are better than most on the Peninsula. Safeway (as Woolworths is called in Victoria) is reasonable, but the Mornington Coles is probably the closest you will find to a UK supermarket. It has some organics (flour, pasta etc) and some organic veggies, and gluten free/other dietary requirements are catered for but again not to the same extent as the UK. There is a specialist gluten free shop in Mornington, and there are also specialist organic shops around the Peninsula but you may have to travel, I know the one in Mt Martha is closing down. Unlike Tesco with their equal pricing policy for organic/non organic veggies, here you will pay a premium. Generally staple foods are easier to source, you won't find organic ready meals/prepared dishes as easily. There is a (to my mind not very exciting) organic cafe in Mornington too.
Coles sells some 'fancy ingredients' but you might be better off in an (expensive) deli. Don't do too much of that kind of shopping myself as the kids don't like truffles!
I have only been here a year, but it seems that we are going the way of the UK, and I think more and more organic stuff will become available. The Peninsula is probably a good area as it is has plenty of 'alternative' families so there is a strong demand.
What made you choose the Mornington area? I like Mt Martha personally, and my impression of Mt Eliza is that you pay over the top for the snob value. It is probably only worth paying if you really want to be close to one of the private schools.
Regards
Kirsty
Mornington supermarkets are better than most on the Peninsula. Safeway (as Woolworths is called in Victoria) is reasonable, but the Mornington Coles is probably the closest you will find to a UK supermarket. It has some organics (flour, pasta etc) and some organic veggies, and gluten free/other dietary requirements are catered for but again not to the same extent as the UK. There is a specialist gluten free shop in Mornington, and there are also specialist organic shops around the Peninsula but you may have to travel, I know the one in Mt Martha is closing down. Unlike Tesco with their equal pricing policy for organic/non organic veggies, here you will pay a premium. Generally staple foods are easier to source, you won't find organic ready meals/prepared dishes as easily. There is a (to my mind not very exciting) organic cafe in Mornington too.
Coles sells some 'fancy ingredients' but you might be better off in an (expensive) deli. Don't do too much of that kind of shopping myself as the kids don't like truffles!
I have only been here a year, but it seems that we are going the way of the UK, and I think more and more organic stuff will become available. The Peninsula is probably a good area as it is has plenty of 'alternative' families so there is a strong demand.
What made you choose the Mornington area? I like Mt Martha personally, and my impression of Mt Eliza is that you pay over the top for the snob value. It is probably only worth paying if you really want to be close to one of the private schools.
Regards
Kirsty
Mar 2nd 2005, 6:02 pm
#5
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Portsmouth
Posts: 58
Re: Standard of supermarkets in melbourne
Kirsty.
Thanks for your reply.It was really interesting.
We chose that area as we liked the idea of being near the national parks on the penninsular and for beach life. Ive also heard that its a really good area for good food and wine especially Redhill.
We are looking into schools for our daughter who is 4.5 years and pre school for our 3.5 year old son.Any ideas?
Thanks Scotty
Thanks for your reply.It was really interesting.
We chose that area as we liked the idea of being near the national parks on the penninsular and for beach life. Ive also heard that its a really good area for good food and wine especially Redhill.
We are looking into schools for our daughter who is 4.5 years and pre school for our 3.5 year old son.Any ideas?
Thanks Scotty
Originally Posted by kirsty&al
Hi
Mornington supermarkets are better than most on the Peninsula. Safeway (as Woolworths is called in Victoria) is reasonable, but the Mornington Coles is probably the closest you will find to a UK supermarket. It has some organics (flour, pasta etc) and some organic veggies, and gluten free/other dietary requirements are catered for but again not to the same extent as the UK. There is a specialist gluten free shop in Mornington, and there are also specialist organic shops around the Peninsula but you may have to travel, I know the one in Mt Martha is closing down. Unlike Tesco with their equal pricing policy for organic/non organic veggies, here you will pay a premium. Generally staple foods are easier to source, you won't find organic ready meals/prepared dishes as easily. There is a (to my mind not very exciting) organic cafe in Mornington too.
Coles sells some 'fancy ingredients' but you might be better off in an (expensive) deli. Don't do too much of that kind of shopping myself as the kids don't like truffles!
I have only been here a year, but it seems that we are going the way of the UK, and I think more and more organic stuff will become available. The Peninsula is probably a good area as it is has plenty of 'alternative' families so there is a strong demand.
What made you choose the Mornington area? I like Mt Martha personally, and my impression of Mt Eliza is that you pay over the top for the snob value. It is probably only worth paying if you really want to be close to one of the private schools.
Regards
Kirsty
Mornington supermarkets are better than most on the Peninsula. Safeway (as Woolworths is called in Victoria) is reasonable, but the Mornington Coles is probably the closest you will find to a UK supermarket. It has some organics (flour, pasta etc) and some organic veggies, and gluten free/other dietary requirements are catered for but again not to the same extent as the UK. There is a specialist gluten free shop in Mornington, and there are also specialist organic shops around the Peninsula but you may have to travel, I know the one in Mt Martha is closing down. Unlike Tesco with their equal pricing policy for organic/non organic veggies, here you will pay a premium. Generally staple foods are easier to source, you won't find organic ready meals/prepared dishes as easily. There is a (to my mind not very exciting) organic cafe in Mornington too.
Coles sells some 'fancy ingredients' but you might be better off in an (expensive) deli. Don't do too much of that kind of shopping myself as the kids don't like truffles!
I have only been here a year, but it seems that we are going the way of the UK, and I think more and more organic stuff will become available. The Peninsula is probably a good area as it is has plenty of 'alternative' families so there is a strong demand.
What made you choose the Mornington area? I like Mt Martha personally, and my impression of Mt Eliza is that you pay over the top for the snob value. It is probably only worth paying if you really want to be close to one of the private schools.
Regards
Kirsty
Mar 2nd 2005, 8:46 pm
#6
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,277
Re: Standard of supermarkets in melbourne
[QUOTE=chaleyscott]Kirsty.
We are looking into schools for our daughter who is 4.5 years and pre school for our 3.5 year old son.Any ideas?
Hi Scotty
Red Hill is certainly a real gourmet area, many orchards & vinyards and some well regarded cheesemakers. There is also a nice but rather expensive British pub for when my hubby needs his fix of 'Old Speckled Hen'.
I won't be much use with regard to schools I'm afraid as we are one of the 'alternative' families I mentioned, and home educate our kids (6, 4 and 2). I know there is a Steiner school which seems a more popular choice here than the UK (some state schools have a Steiner stream), but other than that can't really help. There are quite a few Mornington area people on Britvics, so you might want to ask there: http://s7.invisionfree.com/BritVics/index.php?act=idx
Regards
Kirsty
We are looking into schools for our daughter who is 4.5 years and pre school for our 3.5 year old son.Any ideas?
Hi Scotty
Red Hill is certainly a real gourmet area, many orchards & vinyards and some well regarded cheesemakers. There is also a nice but rather expensive British pub for when my hubby needs his fix of 'Old Speckled Hen'.
I won't be much use with regard to schools I'm afraid as we are one of the 'alternative' families I mentioned, and home educate our kids (6, 4 and 2). I know there is a Steiner school which seems a more popular choice here than the UK (some state schools have a Steiner stream), but other than that can't really help. There are quite a few Mornington area people on Britvics, so you might want to ask there: http://s7.invisionfree.com/BritVics/index.php?act=idx
Regards
Kirsty
