[frootbat]

Ok so we've been here 3 months and have found all the weird and wonderful 'foreign' ingredients we like to cook with (shrimp paste, miso, spices etc.) some of them in surprising places.
What we're now hankering for is some more 'normal' food. What we haven't yet found in our explorations is a single decent deli of the kind that will sell you ham off the bone, cheese cut to your liking etc. Or a fishmonger. There's certainly plenty of fish around but the chippy only sells fresh what they'd fry themselves. Hubby was wondering the other day where one would find fresh crab, or squid with its bits still attached, rather than frozen 'tubes'.

I'd love to know whether I'm hankering after something that doesn't really exist. We're on the North Shore by the way, shop in P&S Albany, Takapuna Foodtown and the F&V shops out Hobsonville way, and we're looking forward to trying those sausages from the butcher in Devonport which are nestled in our freezer.
So come on people, what have we missed?

Thanks

[dusk]

theres a big fish market in auckland viaduct which should certainly be able to provide most of your fresh seafood needs, it even has a shuttle bus (not that I think that runs up to the shore, I jsut see it sometimes on my way through the CBD)

there's several little deli's around the north shore - devonport/cheltenham beach ( a french deli, lovely but a little expensive) and janssens in browns bay spring to mind, I think most of the big supermarkets have some kind of in-store deli, but if you've been there they may not be what you are looking for?

[Ngeru]

Okay, North Shore: there's a parade of shops on Greville Road, on the way to P&S. Has Oceanz Fish Shop - a fish and chip shop and fishmongers. It has every kind of fresh fish, lobster, shellfish etc fresh and frozen. You can even choose a piece of fish and have it cooked for you if you want.

Next door is the Tofu Shop - a fabulous Asian grocery store. Fruit World, Bakers Delight and The Mad Butchers are alongside too.

At Brown's Bay there is Jannsens Deli - mostly butchery stuff, English and South African style. It's easily mistaken as a warehouse, because it doesn't look like a shop from the front. It is just along the road from Foodtown,

http://www.janssens.co.nz/

If you're in town there's the http://www.elliottstables.co.nz/ with the fabulous Kapiti cheese Shop.

I'll keep thinking!

[Ngeru]

How could I have forgotten this one; in Milford Shopping Mall outside of Countdown , sort of open plan place that mingles in the the bit of food court. It's lovely!! Cost megabucks mind, like $6 for a pie.

http://www.nzfarmco.co.nz/our-products

There's also a French bakery in Milford High Street I keep meaning to try.

[grady bunch]

New World Albany has a good deli counter, nice Olives! Yeah Jansens, French Bakers La Tropezienne in Browns Bay do good croissants etc....

[Ngeru]

Also a couple of farmers markets.

One at Britomart every Saturday

http://www.cityfarmersmarket.co.nz/

and http://www.albanyfarmersmarket.co.nz/ every third Saturday of the month, there's usually some signs up round there to remind you near the time.

If goats milk products are your thing there's a goat farm behind the shops off Oteha Valley Road http://www.crescentdairygoats.com/index.html often has a blackboard sign by the roundabout advertising Goats Milk.

[andrewp]

http://www.fredsfinefoods.co.nz/

Try it try it, you may like it ;)

(sorry - 3 yo has just discovered green eggs and ham)

[JandM]

LOVE that fish market Dusk mentioned.

[frootbat]

Thank you all for your most helpful suggestions - am going to print this screen off to help us on our food seeking travels - am sure we will enjoy checking them all out!

[straff]

Nosh in glen innes or greenlane (http://www.noshfoodmarket.com), proper deli, proper food, not cheap mind but will slice everything fresh for you! mmmm

[Leo]

I know this thread pertains to food shopping in Auckland... :)

However, I couldn't help but wonder if some of our friendly forumers may recommend any good places in Christchurch where one may procure fresh seafood (eg. local fish, shell-fish, abalone?, etc.) at reasonable prices? ;)

[nickiware]

I know it will sound weird but the chicken sausages, all the sausages at Janssens are wonderful. I really struggled to find decent sausages when I first arrived. Why put cheese in a sausage? They really are worth paying a bit extra for. The fish shop on Greville road is great, I found the fish counter in P&S Albany good for fish, not too keen on cooking shellfish though, those big mussels scare me!