When I moved to my new 'hood earlier this year, more than one person told me "Oh, you'll be able to shop at Fairview Green, they have a really good Foodland there". It's true, it is one of the high-end Romeo's Foodlands and boasts an impressive deli section, a huge selection of antipastos, cheeses and luxe platter ingredients, smoked salmon and nibbly things. They stock speciality ranges of nice foodie gifty things like Maggie Beer products and a large range of T2 teas. I was also impressed with the large self-serve selection of lollies and chocolates. Apparently there are nuts, dried fruits and bulk grainy things too somewhere amongst the choc-covered honeycomb and lolly snakes. You don't get pick and mix in my old 'hood, where "self-serve" largely equates to "dacking a block of Cadbury's and sauntering out swigging from a can of Mother you also haven't paid for". Interestingly, and conveniently, they also have an in-house café which does a variety of breakfast and café selections with regular changing specials and a tempting display case of sweet treats. Add this to the big bakery section right alongside and you have danger, Will Robinson, danger! You can also pick up a takeaway coffee from here (should you not be mystifyingly off coffee at the moment) and place it in the specially-designed coffee holder on your trolley as you complete your shop. It's busy on a weekend when full of customers who can best be described as ditherers. It doesn't matter what random item you're after; a potato peeler, a can of three-bean mix or a carton of Zymil skimmed milk, somebody will be standing in front of it making a big life decision. If you can come during the week, you'll have an easier time of it and the lines won't be as long. I don't often do a full shop here as I find the baby selection isn't as large or competitively-priced as the bigger chains but it is an excellent spot for top-up shops and a weekend brunch. read more