Feeling smug after returning from you Mediterranean holiday? Want to impress your friends with your…read morenew found knowledge of Italian or Spanish cuisine? Mediterranean Wholesalers is your one-stop shop for your fancy pants, post-holiday showing off dinner. A few things to note: 1. It is enormous 2. 90 per cent of the goodies are canned - tomatoes, olives, sauce etc. Which is quite funny on mass. 3. FRESH PASTA (needs to be capitalised) 4. FRESH CHEESE (also needs to be capitalised) 5. Heaps of European wines and beers are also stocked. 6. Please don't annoy everyone too much with your smugness and holiday snaps.

I just love the fact that a giant wholesaler of Italian foodstuffs exists less than a 5 minute bike…read moreride away from my house. Sometimes I feel the full brunt of my lucky life more than other times, and right now, I'm feeling full of love and gratitude for the Mediterranean Wholesalers. Having said that, this place also makes me feel guilty that my wonderful big brother bought me a pasta maker for Christmas (because he overheard me saying how much I wanted one - damn those Masterchef dudes) and that I haven't used it yet, not even once. I can't blame the Med Wholesalers for my slackness, but if you pop in and see for yourself the incredible variety of pasta lining their many shelves, it might go to explaining why I haven't felt the need to whip out the pasta maker. I mean, these guys are my pasta maker! There are also tonnes of great Italian cheeses, breads and other Italian condiments that when combined just so, will lead to full and happy bellies.

Crown Asian Supermarket located right next to Southern Cross Station in the basement level of…read moreSpencer Outlet is probably one of the best options in the area if you want to pick up some Asian sundries. After shopping at Coles just right across, it is a good place to get some ethnic groceries and treats that Coles does not offers. Selection is limited but the store itself is clean and well organized.

If you're cooking up a Mexican fiesta, don't reach for the big yellow boxes on the supermarket…read moreshelves - El Cielo is the way to go. Located in an industrial estate, this is where they produce their wholesale fresh tortilla products and there's a small window at the front for public sales. The location makes it a tad inconvenient, but you can also buy stuff online. I find shopping at the online store to be much cheaper. Not because there is a price discrepancy, but because they put out their fresh tortilla chips and salsas out at the store for tasting. Impulse buys are inevitable. The chipotle chilli salsa is my fav, and the green habanero sauce has a lot of kick. Oh yeah and the corn chips are perfect, not over processed. Definitely a winner if you're planning a taco party.

Just wow. We were looking around to get some Tortillas to make our own mexican and we came accross…read morethese guys in a web search. WE ARE OFFICIALLY FANS. Their tortillas are just awesome and really good value. You can also get some great salsas and beautiful REAL corn chips here as well. The worst thing about this place is getting there. Its in the back blocks of Port Melbourne... but its worth the trip.

They say Globalisation is bad but I say it's great! Who would have thought that in 2011 you'd be…read moreable to buy just about any type of Japanese snack, drink or grocery right in your neighbourhood. Gone are the days when Japanese migrants or travellers to Japan would stuff their bags with food and drink so they could relive or share their experience with loved ones. No more having to wait in line at Quarantine only to have your food confiscated because the ingredients were all in Japanese. Fuji Mart near Prahran Market has it all. Fresh, frozen, preserved, pickled, pasteurised, bottled, canned, boxed, shrunk wrapped, bubble wrapped, perfumed etc - whatever your Japanese grocery need, this power packed store will be able to deliver. Try your hand at cooking up a Sukiyaki meal or learn the art of sushi rolling. Indulge in some Japanese sweets - try the frozen Mochi or taste the weird but wonderful Choya (plum wine) I absolutely adore this store and since my first visit, I haven't been able to stop. They also carry a range of Japanese crockery, household items, homeware and decorative items so you no longer have to fly miles across the equator to say Domo Arigato Mr Roboto!

I love Fuji Mart. When I am looking for something different to cook for dinner, I can always come…read moreup with a delicious dish with ingredients bought from here. 2015 has been a year of Japanese cooking for me and Fuji Mart is fully stocked with authentic Japanese ingredients, whether it be tempura batter, panko breadcrumbs, soba noodles, speciality sauces or different meats to cook with. I especially love their Sake range too. Staff are really friendly and smiley and have been known to help me with the Japanese language too!