In Melbourne, if Vic Mart is closed, go to the deli at 293-297 Lygon St (intersects Faraday St.) called King & Godfree ( tel: 613 93471619) for parma ham. Never buy parma ham and - Hub says I'm too fussy - bacon, ham and such from Coles or Safeway to bring home to Malaysia. The quality stuff is only available at delis. Of course if you eat there, Coles or Safeway bacon is okay.
This shop carries a lot of wines, liquors and aperitifs. In fact, this is probably a place you'd go to to get your special bottle of wine (wonderful service: you just tell the guy what you are eating/serving and your budget and he'll take you on a tour. Wish they allow some wine-tasting too) and buy some cheese and ham on the way out. I wanted so much to get a beautiful bottle of limoncello but reluctantly had to put it back because of the restrictions on liquids in carry-on luggage. This is the shop where I can get dried and ground porcini. They have a good selection of the finest hams and cured meat, and cheeses from the best producers around the world. Chocolates too, but not a big selection.
I fell for the tin ('fruits') although I'm not into country style. Wanted to leave behind the panettone (after all, that's just bread with raisins, so no big deal?) that it held inside but am so glad I did bring it home because the panettone was SOOO delicious - soft, moist, smelling of candied orange peel and raisins. I had black coffee with it, and each time I thought : make sure to buy this again next year! It came all the way from Milan, Italy. If you live in Melb, run King & Godfree's and see if they still have it. It was only about A$21/US$18/RM60 but now it's probably half price or less. The little packets are dried porcini.
In Brisbane, CL directed me to this wonderful deli in Eight Mile Plain called Plenty. Plenty has plenty (couldn't resist that) of quality foodstuff (even more than King & Godfree) mainly from Europe. You can buy almost anything European here. We had a blast tasting their wide range of quality olives, stuffed with blue cheese or anchovies etc. Prices are higher than supermarkets, but hey, these are quality kalamatas. The surprise is, the shop is run by a Malaysian couple from KL who only took over about 2-3 months ago. A premium European deli owned and run by Chinese-Malaysians is so unexpected. As if to widen my mind, I went into a large Asian grocery store in Harbour Town, Gold Coast and the white guy at the cash register spoke China Mandarin perfectly. So to all those Chinese-Msians who smugly proclaim their lack of Chinese-speaking skills - "Wo bu hui jiang Chinese" and speak with a strange English accent when they speak both English and Mandarin, listen, while people struggle to understand your Chinese, and your English, non-Chinese people are speaking perfect Chinese! We Malaysians speak so many languages but none of them well, do we. Just listen to our politicians and lawyers. Enough said.
This shop carries a lot of wines, liquors and aperitifs. In fact, this is probably a place you'd go to to get your special bottle of wine (wonderful service: you just tell the guy what you are eating/serving and your budget and he'll take you on a tour. Wish they allow some wine-tasting too) and buy some cheese and ham on the way out. I wanted so much to get a beautiful bottle of limoncello but reluctantly had to put it back because of the restrictions on liquids in carry-on luggage. This is the shop where I can get dried and ground porcini. They have a good selection of the finest hams and cured meat, and cheeses from the best producers around the world. Chocolates too, but not a big selection.
I fell for the tin ('fruits') although I'm not into country style. Wanted to leave behind the panettone (after all, that's just bread with raisins, so no big deal?) that it held inside but am so glad I did bring it home because the panettone was SOOO delicious - soft, moist, smelling of candied orange peel and raisins. I had black coffee with it, and each time I thought : make sure to buy this again next year! It came all the way from Milan, Italy. If you live in Melb, run King & Godfree's and see if they still have it. It was only about A$21/US$18/RM60 but now it's probably half price or less. The little packets are dried porcini.
In Brisbane, CL directed me to this wonderful deli in Eight Mile Plain called Plenty. Plenty has plenty (couldn't resist that) of quality foodstuff (even more than King & Godfree) mainly from Europe. You can buy almost anything European here. We had a blast tasting their wide range of quality olives, stuffed with blue cheese or anchovies etc. Prices are higher than supermarkets, but hey, these are quality kalamatas. The surprise is, the shop is run by a Malaysian couple from KL who only took over about 2-3 months ago. A premium European deli owned and run by Chinese-Malaysians is so unexpected. As if to widen my mind, I went into a large Asian grocery store in Harbour Town, Gold Coast and the white guy at the cash register spoke China Mandarin perfectly. So to all those Chinese-Msians who smugly proclaim their lack of Chinese-speaking skills - "Wo bu hui jiang Chinese" and speak with a strange English accent when they speak both English and Mandarin, listen, while people struggle to understand your Chinese, and your English, non-Chinese people are speaking perfect Chinese! We Malaysians speak so many languages but none of them well, do we. Just listen to our politicians and lawyers. Enough said.
Plenty's bratwurst beats those from the supermarkets and butchers, by far, very far.
Plenty is at Shop 12a, Cnr Warrigal & Padstow Roads, Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane. 7 days a week, 8 am - 6 pm, tel: 07 3841 4900
So much of good stuffs Down Under isn't it? Reading your post on Melbourne makes me really miss that place.
ReplyDeletenever notice the shop, i used to lived in the suburb just next to 8Mile Plains. now i learnt it from you, must try. at least i may try my madarin with the shop keeper.
ReplyDeletehey jim, try d bratwurst n tell me what u think. lucky u, wish i could be there.
ReplyDeleteok i will definitely make my time to try it. could you plesae tell me first what is bradwurst? is it good for vegetarian? what it should cook with ? maybe i can check it with the shop keeper.
ReplyDeletejim: bratwursts r German sausages n i'd serve it for breakfast with eggs n toast. oh no, it is not vegan food, it is made of either beef or pork. i like d pork ones bc we r deprived of pork sausages here. ya, ask d shopkeeper. he might rember me :0 tell him i blogged his shop.
ReplyDeletehie,
ReplyDeletehave a quick question about australia if you could help me with?
Just wondering about the myths of bringing food into the country? can i bring homemade chilli paste sealed properly into Oz? can i bring homemade sealed items as long as they dont have meat/dairy items?
i am told u can as long as u declare them. but u're right, dairy products n fruits aren;t allowed. i know ppl who brought in frozen black pomfret! my girl brought in pineapple tarts (surprising, tt has eggs n butter) last year. but pls ask ivy of precious pea--she'll know better. i'll also direct this Q to my aus readers for u.
ReplyDeletedepends on ur luck. (in fact you're not allowed)
ReplyDeleteI remember last time I bought my thai chilli paste, i put in my hand-carry paper bag, and I was holding my paper bag while the customs check my boxes of food in front of me. They didnt notice, so, u get what i mean?
denise is quite rite about luck. but to me not the bit about whether you are found or not. but who found it.
ReplyDeleteif you can pack it like commercially packed with seals and stickers. chances are high you can get through. my mum send some salted foochow vegi packed like home in container only. Verdict : XX. when i brought i packed same item in properly sealed bag and put some sticker on it: we got through. but i also believe in who checked u. some are more lenient than rest.
nee: d Q is, did u or ur mom declare the food item, bc i'm told tt if u do, it's usually allowed thru.
ReplyDeleteIf you're not sure just declare. You may find this link useful http://www.daffa.gov.au/aqis/travel/entering-australia/cant-take . For herbs and spices, you must declare for inspection (Special import conditions may apply).
ReplyDeleteThe customs officers are way more particular on wet items, things like maybe ground powder items sealed well and declared are 100% allowed. But wet items, even if still very well packed and declared have very low chances of being allowed. It really depends on your luck and how nice your customs officer is. They are more aware of homemade items as we cant guarantee them the exact items and of cause would they believe everything we say!
ReplyDeletethanks for the replies. I always hyper ventilate when queuing up to the custom checks. Sometimes they'll let me bring my bottle of home packed raw honey in, yet sometimes they'll confiscate my seemingly innocent instant noodles. I;m always confused as to what i can bring. And i think you guys are right it all does come down to luck. I just hope when i attempt to bring my ah ma's homemade curry paste through the next time, they'll let it pass. Otherwise, I'll be making a huge scene at the airport. sobs* heartbreak*
ReplyDeleteNod. It is all depends on luck. I brought coffee from Vietnam (already opened) and they allowed me to bring in but retained my banana chips which properly sealed. Confuse...
ReplyDeleteWhat I know is they usually very strict on spices. My friend's experience - the officer took out the spices (especially curry/ chili flovour) from the instant noodles he brought in.
Good luck mate.
If following AQIS guidelines, it's NO. But if you happen to get a 'nice' custom officer just tell them its frozen chilli paste they will let you thru. I brought in sambal belachan frozen pack with layers and layers of ziploc, buble packs and papers he let off.
ReplyDeleteCan't give an exact answer, but my housemate did try to bring her home-made chilli paste back from malaysia before, and she got it thru. Then for my mum, she brought Tom Yum Paste for me two weeks ago, and she got it thru as well, and she did declare at the custom. Do not hand carry it, as i think we're not allow to hand carry liquid stuff anymore e.g water, chilli paste.
ReplyDeleteI think it is disgusting that people are suggesting you try to smuggle items through customs by hand carrying it instead of declaring. It's no joke, Customs and Quarantine have to seize some items because they endanger the Australian environment and farming industry. If you choose not to declare, you are breaking the law, and if you choose to conceal your prohibited items, you will at some point be caught and you will be prosecuted, fined and potentially imprisoned.
ReplyDeletehi terri,
ReplyDeletejust curious but how does it work the other way? Would you hand carry the sausages or pack them in your
luggage?
ian: u mean when i go from aus to msia? i always hand carry because if i check them in, they might stink up my clothes. also, i imagine the heat in the cargo area may damage the meat. it's ok to bring meat items into msia. so far i've not been stopped even when they check.
ReplyDeleteaha.. thanks terri for the insight!
ReplyDeleteam going the deli on sunday to do some hunting.. :)
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ReplyDeleteSo much of good stuffs Down Under isn't it? Reading your post on Melbourne makes me really miss that place. BagsAlot
ReplyDelete