Flemington Fresh Centre is an old fashioned greengrocer on Racecourse Road. The range of fruit and…read morevegetables here is so fresh you'll want to live on salads! Compared to the nearby supermarket, Flemington Fresh Centre offer far better value for money and service; you even have the option of phoning ahead to place an order for pick up, or having a standing weekly order with the store. Another advantage of shopping at this local grocer is that there's a greater emphasis on produce that is currently in season - you won't end up paying astronomical prices for fruit that's been flown in from the other side of the world because it's the wrong time of year for Australian growers.

This is one of those delis that I absolutely adore. None of those big named products happens to be…read moreon sale here. This is sort of one of those places where you visit to grab a spread for a party, or even for a small get together. The other thing is that, like a lot of places, they also do coffee and tea, and the tea they served was quite nice. It was a shame that they didn't have any loose leaf tea available for sale.

Provata is the absolute perfect add-on to a shopping village that contains Coles. They are so…read moreideally suited, you'd be forgiven for wondering why Coles hadn't yet bought them out. Provata is a delicatessen in the traditional sense of the word. Stocking your usual suspects like cheeses, dips and other moreish nibblies they also have a sensational range of 'that other ingredient in this recipe I want to try that I have no idea where to get' type stuff. Persian fairyfloss, vanilla icecream made fresh with actual vanilla beans, tomato paste with anchovies, blue corn chips... you get the idea. Whilst you'll find many other stores like it around, it's that it's perfectly placed next to an incredibly popular Coles supermarket that makes it just right.

Rusty Fox is seriously smooth sexy little cafe. Complete with stunning mystical art work, 5Senses…read morecoffee and my all time favourite Dr Martys Crumpets. This spot has all the things a great cafe has. Interesting decor, great coffee and a slick menu. Also a nifty spot to grab some delightful artisan style bits and pieces as a gift for that foodie friend who you really do love. There is a small courtyard out the back with limited seating. Be warned there is a hidden area that takes deliveries and is possibly used as storage. So a bit loud and intrusive at times. Typical of the area the staff are knowledgable but a bit on the hipster side. But when the food is this nice and the art work so magical you can forgive.

Great food, good coffee, top shelf cakes. They're running a…read morepretty tight ship at the Rusty Fox. Cafe culture is getting a bit out of hand in Melbourne but the Rusty Fox is keeping the quality high. Fresh choice ingredients and knowledgeable, skilled staff always help to keep you in my good stead. The deli takeaways are also very tempting and equally appetising. Between the Premises and the Rusty Fox, Kensington punching above it's weight in the cafe wars!

Five reasons why Little Saigon is the shizz nizzle…read more.... 1. Free samples of delicious tropical fruit in winter. There's nothing like biting into a creamy custard apple or juicy papaya in winter. Instant mental transportation to the fair and dreamy isles. 2. The cheapest avocados in the western world. Last week I bought 12 perfect avocados for 7 dollars. This should be enough to make you drop everything and run to Footscray but if it isn't, I give you number 3.... 3. Stuffed tofu (legendary) 4. Those little Vietnamese crepes with minced pork and fish sauce. I like to bring them to work and annoy all my sour puss co workers with their delicious stank. 5. Bags of limes for 2 dollars. It's constantly margaritaville at my house now.

This is one of the great market experiences of Melbourne. Vietnamese sellers yelling out "$1.99"…read moreand monotone sounds just to get attention. There are Fruit samples to try in abundance and the hustle and bustle of people pushing through the crowd. This is one of the best places in Melbourne to get super cheap fresh veggies and fruit, plus harder to find Asian ingredients (that are not stocked elsewhere). Go in the late afternoon on Saturday or Sunday for some bargains and the big push and shove of eager shoppers!

Footscray park!!! Best kept secret in town. Bring a rug,…read morepicnic, plenty of free exercise equipment and a bicycle repair shop on weekends!!! Boating, rowing! No crocodile s!

I frequent many markets and Footscray market is one of the cheapest in town, hands down. If you're…read morean adventurous cook, lots of sometimes hard to find produce is available too. Live crabs, pork belly and Asian herbs and spices. Be prepared for crowds.

Charlie's shop is the real deal. Great meat and Maltese specialty items. In 20 years of going here…read morenever had a bad cut

I'd be pretty damn happy if I lived in this village and this was my local store. Sure I might not…read moredo my full grocery shop here, but if I were looking for quality ingredients for a dinner party or some unique items for my pantry then I would be here all the time. There's a small fruit and veggie section as well as a nice range of wine, but what I loved most of all was the compact deli right down the back, complete with neon diner lights spelling out DELI. Like moths to the flame, charcuterie lovers will be drawn down here for fine cured delicious things.

Every good neighbourhood needs a gourmet grocery store and this is it for Yarraville. Whether…read moreyou've got dietary restrictions or just looking for products of higher quality or less jammed full of sugar and preservatives, this is where you'll find it. In addition to a good range of meat and everything you need to throw together a meal, they also sell wine and have a cute deli section. Being just a short stroll from Yarraville Gardens, this would be a wise pit-stop to stock up on cheese and charcuterie to prep a picnic.