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?

[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.

[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?

[differentnameforthis]

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

[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.

[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!

[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.

[chloeb2002]

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

[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.

[Longdistance]

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

[chloeb2002]

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

[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

[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.

[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

[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

[chloeb2002]

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