Aussies - food/supermarket help!

[Mutley77]

Ok so I am starting to get acquainted with Australian supermarkets - don't shoot me but I am really missing Waitrose - in terms of the range and the free internet delivery service.

Anyway, there are a few things I can't find and wondered if I am being dense.

1. Teabags - tried tetley and they just don't taste right - I used to drink Waitrose own or PG Tips - any tips for a good equivalent, feel a bit soul-destroyed at the thought of buying all of the different ones to taste.
   
   
2. Creme fraiche - can't find it - is sour cream the best alternative or do they sell creme fraiche anywhere? It was a staple for us in England!
   
   
3. Bacon - what I have bought is already cooked so to re-grill or re-fry it doesn't seem to produce the right result. Can you buy raw bacon rashers?
   
   
4. Mayo - I bought low fat Kraft mayo and I am sure it is what English people would call salad cream (yuck!) - so I am now buying Real Full Egg Mayo or something but would ideally prefer a low fat version - any ideas?
   
   
5. Spices - the spices don't seem to have as much flavour as English ones (am I just being picky?!) - I think I bought Masterchef - is there a better brand?
   
   Ok that's all I can think of for now but any other tips and ideas would be great. So far I definitely prefer Coles over Woolworths but quite like the Supa IGA as well - where do others shop?

[chloeb2002]

blimey.. i just looked up aussie farmers .. wow.. expensive here in brisbane

[redvelvetpoppy]

I did an order with Aussie Farmers direct a couple of weeks ago ( am in Sydney) and was really pleased with it all - got the family fruit/veg box and a weeks groceries for less than $100.

I do my shopping all over the place now - Woolies/Coles/IGA/Supabarn/local shops & farmers markets...my shopping & cooking styles have changed since moving 2y ago. I remember really struggling at first & being a bit lost but have adjusted. I still haven't found a decent hoummus, unless it's a fresh one, the shop ones have such a long shelf life & I think it must be the preservatives that make it so foul.

DH is a yorkshire tea man but finds the Twinings & Nerada teas ok.

I've always cooked with sour cream rather than creme fraiche as I honestly didn't think there was much difference in the fat content when I made comparisons in the UK. Spice wise, I like the Gourmet Garden tubes of herbs & Master of Spices from Deli/grocers. I still think fondly of Sainsburys & M&S but you will adjust

[Mutley77]

Thanks ladies - I won't get round to the mayo imminently anyway (too lazy!) and I will check the link for seasonal stuff. Thank you for the mayo recipe I will keep it for after baby's arrival.

Just discovered Aussie Farmers Direct (they gave us a free voucher when we moved house) and they do a veggie&fruit box which looks reasonable value and is obviously seasonal - anyone with any experiences?

Couldn't see readybrek in Coles but there was a pot of creme fraiche - in the end I didn't buy it incase it was sweetened but it was nice to see it there

[lisianthus]

Yikes, yes, home made mayo is one of those dodgy foods for the upduffed. Sorry, forgot. Anyway, I use a variant of the Felicity cloake recipe from the Guardian, being to whizz an egg yolk with a good pinch of salt for about 30 seconds, then add a quarter tsp of English mustard powder. Then I drizzle sunflower oil in really slowly until it starts going thick (i think I use about a cup of oil total). At this point it is really thick, so I let it down with a combination of white wine vinegar and lemon juice, with some dijon mustard to taste. I use a stand mixer or a stick blender.

Not sure about the readybrek, as i tend to use rolled oats and then soak them/cook them slowly. I'll have a look when I'm at Coles next.

This might be a handy quick reference for seasonal stuff.

[Mosman]

I'm thinking of flying to Singapore just to sit in the airport and eat m and s food. That's how badly I'm missing it

[chloeb2002]

Yes I agree or one of the many slow release anti histamines :0)

[Longdistance]

They don't have Piriton, but use Phenergan instead.

[chloeb2002]

Ohhh and aldi sell Jaffa cakes now.. Yummy ones!
Two things that can't be bought here.... My favourite is metainium for nappy rash.. None here and I spend huge sums importing it! and a friend likes piriton and that's not here either.

[chloeb2002]

Just remember.. You shouldn't eat home made real mayo whilst preggers.. Whole raw egg. They heat treat the stuff in jars :0)

[Mutley77]

Great thanks for all those tips. Yes the delivery is only $8 but that is $32 a month and when I have "nothing else to do (!)" 3 days a week with both DCs at school I am too tight to pay for that when there is no reason for me not to go myself...

Now this eating in season is something I definitely think works better here as things actually grow in season locally. I am very dense though and can't work out what is in season when so is there an easy way to work that out (other than looking at what is cheap)? Or I guess going to spud shed where they primarily stock what is in season?

Is good to know what I can find in Coles as I think it is the looking that I find tedious when I don't know if what I'm looking for exists! So I have the kosher hummous, the creme fraiche and various teas to try on my list!

2 more questions - can I have the mayo recipe please lisianthus, sounds like a good idea?

Also, is there a readybrek equivalent as DD prefers her porridge totally smooth (over uncle toby's which is more like oat so simple IIRC)?

Thanks again.

[idlevice]

I remember finding powdered cinnamon tasting slightly less sweet & I never found bacon the same as UK bacon except at one cafe that did a mean bacon sarnie. You will adapt after time. I have been back in the UK for a year & really appreciate the supermarkets & Ocado but sometimes I miss the Aussie supermarkets as I would be in & out in a flash whereas here there is so much stuff to browse it can take much much longer if I'm in a wafty mood!

[shellybr]

All the Coles and Woolies around the Northern Suburbs have PG Tips in the british section. There is also a large british store up in Joondalup. For Bacon look out for PJ O Loughlins Irish Bacon, it is usually in the pork section in Coles it is made by an Irish butcher so it is more of what you are used to.

[differentnameforthis]

chloeb2002 Maybe it is me then, as they taste very different to me..

[StupidFlanders]

If you don't want to pay for delivery, the Coles near me does parcel pick up and I pay online and wait in the car so collect on the way home from school. The woolies near me makes me go inside to collect. It's only $7 delivery isn't it?

[lisianthus]

Ther's a few branches of Fresh Provisions about. There is one in Mt Lawley too, if that's closer.

Tea- I like Twinings Assam Bold as it's nice and strong, but will try Nerada now! Thanks for the tip.

Hummous- found a nice one in a kilo container in the kosher fridge section in Coles. Can't remember the brand, but it was the only one in a kilo container. The DC won't eat the hummous I make .

Not sure about the bacon thing. I love Australian bacon as I really missed proper crisp bacon rind when I lived in the UK.

You can get normal unsweetened creme fraiche in Coles, that's where I buy it. Childrens' snack creme fraiche such as Fruche cups is sweetened, but the plain stuff isn't.

Not sure about mayo, as I make my own. Sorry. it's pretty easy to make though, perhaps you could try making a low fat version?

Re the Spud Shed, it is fabulous and cheap, but as with most Australian vegetable/fruit places, you have to buy stuff that is in season to get quality produce. Spud shed is even more so that way.

[Lamazeroo]

In my opinion the best tea in the world is Australian - Nerada. I actually get it sent over to me here in the UK! It's absolutely lovely; try some the next time you're in the supermarket.
Also, if you're SOR try Rossmoyne IGA. A tiny place in a boring out-of-the-way suburb, but the best non-Waitrose in Perth, in my opinion.

[Mutley77]

Ok thanks for the tips on hommous - another one resolved - hadn't even thought about the hommous until you said it but knew I hadn't enjoyed it here.....

We are not particularly near either Claremont or Safety Bay (5 mins SOR) but Claremont not too far from Cottesloe where we go regularly, and I thought the shops looked nice so will pay that one a visit next time.....

[chloeb2002]

Hommous is easy to make..Jamie Oliver has a good recipie

[LandOfCross]

I don't like Spud Shed. It is cheap, but the quality is really bad.

If they are nearby, I would recommend a visit to Maibu Fresh in Safety Bay or Claremont Fresh Provisions.
Both have quality fruit and vegetables and stock Gourmet Cookies' Hommus, which is delicious.

[chloeb2002]

The best foods mayo I emailed unilever and asked as the package is similar and to me tasted the same. They informed me it was the sand product. They own Helmanns... Well unilever own hand the world don't they?

[Longdistance]

Spudshed is amazingly cheap. We sop there for fruit, veg, and meat.
Cheeses, and such can be really good value too.
I only buy sauces (like mayo) in Coles, and jars of sauces from there. You can get spices in Spudshed too.
You can get cucumbers for 99c when they're $3 in Coles, so I think it's worth it.

[Mutley77]

Yep I have heard of spudshed - is it worth a trip - I thought it was just cheaper rather than a different variety?

Ok so I am sticking to full fat mayo and sour cream. I am in fact losing weight since arriving here despite being pregnant, as is DH, so I assume the general diet and lifestyle is healthier (one plus point!)

I've just embraced hilo milk for cooking and the kids as I drink skimmed myself and Brownes Skinny seems to be ok - although irritating it is in a carton not a bottle!

And yeah why is the hummous so horrible??

Online coles shopping definitely no free threshold here - although Aussie Farmers Direct gave me a free $30 voucher so perhaps I will try placing an order with them - any rec's other than the semi-skimmed milk anyone??

Totally agree on the TV - but we have a VPN too - and to be fair ABC and SBS do quite a lot of UK TV. And I miss my friends - don't have any to go shopping here with yet - how long does that take??

My mum and dad are coming in six weeks which will be great - and I am def going back to England with the kids next year just to get a fix - I think for me that will help rather than hinder.

But yes - is nice to be in the equivalent of Oct half-term and spending the morning on a beach 15 mins drive from home - I will try and be positive!

Is next delivery really free???? That's great, it is 3.95 in UK, how does that work? DH just ordered an Autograph work wardrobe from M&S on the recent free delivery and I got some bed sheets - will def do that again.

Thanks guys, you have cheered me up and I have at least resolved some of my queries - the teabags being crucial!!!

[Longdistance]

Mutely, if you're in Perth, have you not yet discovered Spudshed.

Google it.

[differentnameforthis]

Full fat mayo, whether whole egg or not WILL NOT taste the same. It tastes like vinegar! Honestly, it won't match your expectations as it will be nothing like what you are used to.

[differentnameforthis]

The one in woollies made best foods.. Blue and yellow label.. Made by unilever.. Is Hellmanns in a different jar

You sure? I just tried both (I use best foods for mixing/cooking etc) and they taste NOTHING alike at all!