Australia / Melbourne supermarket shopping tips

[squishee]

Recently arrived from the UK by way of Europe. Will be staying long-term but temporarily. So I want to make the most of it!
As the subject is so vast (and I'll keep restaurants for a separate thread), I'll start with supermarket fare. So far, as a child of 70s UK I have enjoyed:

Proper bacon!
Pies
Gammon steaks (which seem to be called loin steaks here?)
Crumpets
Soft white rolls
Coleslaw
ALLLL the Asian ingredients.
Affordable avocados that are perfect (not brown or black) inside!
Clementines

What else should I look out for?

TIA.

Have to agree about the mangos. I didn't even think it was the same fruit that I'd eaten in the UK!

We went to my brother in laws house once and they proudly produced this mango from Sainsbury’s and were like “we know you like mango!” and my son (at the time about 5 year old) just went “this isn’t a mango, I don’t know what THIS is” while my other son ate it with a look of polite horror.

Ooh more tips, thanks! DH and I love mangoes and mango lassi - looking forward to mango season.

"Democracy sausage" has made me laugh!

South Melbourne Markets are fantastic for ingredients also. There also happens to be a damn fine French patisserie there, so get there early. It’s often crowded. Fabulous restaurants.
Footscray has amazing African shops with ingredients from the many unique cultures. Also Vietnamese shops and restaurants.

If you enjoy cooking and cookbooks, go to Books for Cooks at the Vic Markets. It’s a treasure trove and the staff are extremely knowledgeable. I lost a cookbook during one of my many moves, and missed it a lot. It had been a gift and was a bit of a niche, one printing kind of book. I went in there and asked if they might have it. Without looking at the computer, the staff member knew exactly what I was talking about and pulled a copy off the shelf!

You would find better/fresher vegetables in a market. You have the Queen Victoria Market in CBD, or there's another one in Dandenong. Vegetables there are much better and cheaper than in any supermarket.

Meat is better to buy with a Butcher, Queen Victoria Market has many options of meat.

In Coles you can find the chunky peanut butter. There are many options and brands.

When we moved to the Netherlands from Aus, my eldest DD was just turning four. (Just want to say that she was always a bit of a nanna…) She tried a mango and some watermelon at a party, sighed and asked me “Why does it taste like an armpit, Mum?” (Meanwhile stonefruit back here has the same response after European ones. God, I miss decent cherries and apricots!)

OK, thanks!
I know, I was talking about Chunky peanut butter Kitkats.

I'm enjoying simple things you can get here, like nice big baking potatoes with thin skins. How I've missed them!

I love the Saturday market at Gleadale street in Richmond. I get crunchy peanut butter there and fruit loaf.

Hot jam donuts at Vic Market, kranskis at Vic Market, cakes from Acland street St Kilda, banana paddle pops from anywhere that sells icecreams, sausage rolls (Lancefield Vic has some particularly nice ones), bolognese meatpies from a bakery in Ballarat (I’ve only come across them in Ballarat).
I feel like Aussie summer tastes like eating smiths Salt and Vinegar chips after getting out of a swimming pool. The lakehouse in Daylsford.
eating either pizza under the vines in Mildura or a Kebab.
Country bakery vanilla slices.
Fresh prawns and fresh mangos.

Ooooooh! A little off topic, but if you don’t go to
Gelato Messina (There are three other stores in Melbourne). You will kick yourself. Seriously THE most divine gelato I have ever had - and I have lived in Aus, USA, Scotland (admittedly not well known for Gelato), Netherlands and Austria, and travelled everywhere.

Sausage Rolls from the bakery at Bright Bright Bakery and sit under the colorful leaves and enjoy the cool, or swim in the creek. Go for a weekend l and explore the towns before ski season. Enjoy the changing seasons. Yackandandah Pub for lunch, potter around the quirky shops. Yackandandah Pub If you want to head further into the mountains, Mitta Pub has delicious food and you can swim in the creek which is cold and possibly the cleanest water in mainland Australia. Also a lovely drive is to head to Mt Hotham (ski resort - book carefully, avoid school holidays and be aware of snow chain regulations - they check and fine you $$$) and drive through to Omeo. This is true “Man From Snowy River” Country. (It was filmed here.) You can see how the countryside changes from thickly forested to vast plains almost instantly and it’s amazingly beautiful. Mt Hotham to Omeo All of these old towns are rich in history by Australian standards - Good and bad and visiting is a great way to learn about everything that happened, from exploration to the Gold rush, to our shameful history with our indigenous people.

The French patisserie is Agathe' and their Pandan croissant is amazing...actually everything they make is amazing.

@windmill26 Yes! That’s the one!!! I arrived quite early and had to wait for a friend. I was pottering with a coffee and couldn’t go past the freshly-cooked Chouquette. Crispy, flaky, cinnamon heaven on a crisp Autumn morning. Utter heaven. I live in Brisbane now and miss seasons so much.

Wow Fraaahnces, thanks for taking the time to post all those links! Have saved them all.
There seem to be loads of French-style bakeries here - so it's good to have one singled out.
And yes, it's not hard to find a good coffee here! I wonder what coffee shops do differently in Aus / NZ?

You've made me nostalgic for the staple brekkie of my days in Melbourne, a chocolate scone from Baker's Delight.

And yes, it's not hard to find a good coffee here! I wonder what coffee shops do differently in Aus / NZ?

It’s the influence of Italian migrants, post-WWII, so they use Italian-style espresso. Start with excellent beans and generally make it a lot stronger. The water is hot, but not enough to burn the coffee. Also, for milky coffees, make sure the milk is warmed/frothed correctly and not scorched.

If I was walking into an Australian supermarket right now
-stop at the entry bakery for a cheeseymite scroll
-Deli counter for these little mini pepperami type things
-plain ridged ruffle crisps
-Tim Tams (all the flavours as they've probably added new ones since my last trip)
-Cherry Ripe bars. As many as I can carry
I would then spend far too long in the dip section. Red Rock dips are delicious, highly recommend beetroot, feta & balsamic and the bright orange cashew and something one.
Ditto everyone else about the sausage sizzle, you can't miss it!

I am eating that Red Rock beetroot and feta dip right now, with a glass of Margaret River Chardy. It is bloody delicious! 😃

@aprilshowers2015 yes! Red Rock dips are delicious. Australia does dip well (though I confess when I'm back in the UK I love a tub or two of Tesco cheese & chive).

@aprilshowers2015 is this the one you mean? https://www.redrockdeli.com.au/products/dips/roasted-red-capsicum-pecorino-cashews-basil-dip-chips

That's it! Delicious!!

Agreed!

@alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 sounds bloody perfect! Enjoy!!

If you take a trip along the great ocean road, stop into the pie shop in Lorne. The Scallop pie is just perfection! My cousin would drive from Geelong to Lorne on the regular to pick them up! Lorne Golf Club does (or at least did a couple of years ago) a great parmi.
Oh and the Corio Roadhouse from Melbourne to Geelong for a jaffle!