I rode past this shop many times thinking that they only sold frozen seafood, but it wasn't till I…read morewalked past that I noticed they also stock Asian groceries, and that much of the seafood comes in the form of frozen prawn dumplings and other delicious dim sum. Naturally, once I got clued up, I had to go in. It's a long, narrow shop lined with mid-height freezers full of large packets of prawns, scallops, mussels, fish, cockles and lots more seafood from various Asian countries. A sizeable portion of the freezer area is dedicated to dim sum and seafood variants like fish balls and fish cakes. They also stock non-frozen goods like noodles, chili and cooking sauces, cooking oil, preserved eggs, and cakes and buns. In a way, it's much like other Asian grocery stores but the emphasis here is on frozen seafood and fingerfood. I'm happy to welcome as many Asian grocery stores into the neighbourhood as possible, and it is even better when they have their own angle, like King's frozen offerings.

From the first glance around the shelves it's clear that Brunswick IGA is as independent a…read moresupermarket as they come. The tell-tale signs are all there; the comparatively cramped space the store inhabits, the slightly nonsensical layout of the isles and displays (with some exceptions; putting a huge tampon display next to the chocolate isle may not be as illogical as it first appears), the surplus of markdown stickers overtaking the shelves. The latter feature is one of Brunswick IGA's greatest assets, which boasts more specials each week than your pocket calculator could ever dare to comprehend in a quick trip to the shops. Indeed, the prices on the whole tend toward the lower end of the scale when compared to most other independent grocery stores, with a few items managing to compete with the giants of the industry. That said, there are cheaper places in the neighbourhood to purchase fruit and vegetables, but the quality is generally decent enough. The bottle shop is small but moderately priced, albeit located on the opposite side of the store to the car park. License restrictions also require that all alcohol be purchased from the counter on that side of the store, which can be slow during peak times. If you hit the store at the wrong time, the checkouts might be clogged with elderly folk insistent on paying in loose change. Still, the staff are mostly fairly efficient, despite the odd sour demeanour (though this phenomenon is hardly unique to this store). The store also boasts a fairly decent range of obscure and specialty food items catering to the multicultural nature of the area, from Greek through to Lebanese goods. My personal victory find was Harissa paste. One of the main downsides to is the early closing time of 9pm, which is occasionally ushered in a little earlier. On the other hand, it tends to open on most public holidays. On the whole, a Brunswick IGA is a convenient and reliable grocery store (though it couldn't hurt to double check expiry dates).

Not too shabby a supermarket. You have to be careful about the sale items, because I noticed a lot…read moreof expired or near-expired items in the dairy section, but otherwise it's got a good selection and decent enough prices. I wouldn't buy everything here since there's so many good markets nearby, but it's great for the basics.

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.

Cooking an Asian meal tonight?…read more Pick up everything you need at ARC Asian Grocers. This new Asian grocer next to Preston Market has everything you need for your next Asian inspired meal. The store is new and very clean, making it a pleasure to explore, and trust me you will want to. The staff are happy to help confused non-Asian shoppers wanting to try something different! The fresh food section has all the herbs you need as well as Asian fruit and vegetables, yes even the stinky Durian is here for your culinary pleasure! There are aisles dedicated to Korean and Japanese cuisine (get your sake here too) and every spice, sauce or ingredient you need can most likely be found here. The coolers at the back of the store stock everything from coconut water to extra firm tofu, and there is an aisle dedicated to desert items, yum! The variety here is fantastic but the counters can get crowded on market days and the fresh meat selection is very limited. That doesn't matter though as you less then a minute from the meat and seafood section of Preston Market. Come here if you want to be inspired, want a taste from home or if your Asian grocery needs are not being met at your local chain supermarket.

The biggest of the Brunswick fruit vendors, Russel's Fruit and Veg aka the Brunswick Market is a…read moregreat one for doing a big shop. It covers fruit and vegetables that are both in and out of season, and are priced to reflect this. There're some really great deals on the seasonal output, though like anywhere, you do have to hunt through the pile to get to the good stuff. Eftpos is available for purchases over $10, and there are a host of specialty meat stores and delicatessens lining the walk in through the mini-mall. It's geared to people buying in bulk but there're also some bargains to be had for the solitary shopper. It's always a good place to find stuff the other local fruit and veg shops don't have in store.

It's a little hidden, and you must journey through a strange land of foreign music and fresh cuts…read moreof meat, but for the price vs. quality equation Brunswick Fresh Fruit Market is a must. Just off a tram stop on Sydney Rd, you can be back in the city in less than twenty minutes.

Part of the Sparkly Bear (read: Barkly Square) complex, this is a large Coles stocking pretty much…read moreeverything you could want to find. It's tempting to use it as a one-stop shop but there's a superior bakery next door and beyond that is somewhere with a greater range of cheese, so do explore elsewhere for those. This Coles has a good international section which takes up an entire aisle, although each country feels a bit token. Checking out is usually pretty swift with a good number of self-serve checkouts available.

Looking for hipsters, great coffee, outdoor seating and a laid back vibe? Then this is the place…read morefor you! Had lunch here the other day and it was fab. We ordered the salad and the tofu banh mi. Both of which were fab. They had run out of hommus for the salad so they loaded it up with avocado instead. It was fab. Outdoor seating area is spacious and laid back. Perfect for Spring sunshine soaking over a coffee. Only negative: they didn't boot the smokers who were sitting outside next to us smoking their cancer sticks while we ate. But otherwise, this place is tops.