Online Ingredient Sources in Australia & New Zealand

[Snadra]

So, I thought I was rather good at google searches, until today when a newspaper article mentioned an online store for organic products, and I realised I'd never come across them, despite recently searching for a few of the ingredients they sell. Aaargh!

So, I thought it might be useful if there was a running list of food websites that do online sales.

Here's a few to kick us off, I hope you'll keep adding to the list:

Totally Local: http://www.totallylocal.com.au/

Sells products from the Orange, NSW district, including wines, cider and spirits, venison, goat, nuts and preserves.

Honest to Goodness: http://www.goodness.com.au/

Organic & Natural products.

Herbies Spices: http://www.herbies.com.au

The online face of Ian Hemphill's spice store in Rozelle.

[nickrey]

Great idea.

Some of my go to sites are:

Fireworks Foods

For Mexican Food Supplies

RedSpoon Company

For molecular gastronomy bits and pieces

Melbourne Food Ingredient Depot

For various supplies in molecular gastronomy and other food ingredients, including bulk

Feather and Bone

For producer to you meat supply

[Snadra]

Thanks Nick.

I'm on the mailing list for Feather and Bone, but haven't ordered from them. I could get deliveries to my office in the city, but the logistics of then getting it home on a 1hour train trip has put me off ordering. Glad to hear it's worthwhile though! My single experience with Fireworks Foods was great, and I will definately be ordering from them again.

Here's a couple more:

Pariya Foods: http://www.pariyafood.com/

For specialty iranian ingredients. Rather pricey, but nice if you're after persian fairy floss.

Santos Trading: http://www.santostrading.com.au/

For bulk organic and natural foods (I've had great experience with grains and pulses).

Pine Tea & Coffee: http://www.pineteacoffee.com.au/

I haven't purchased online from them, but have purchased tea from their shop in Castle Hill (Sydney).

Froz Berries: http://www.frozberries.com.au/

I haven't ordered/purcased from them, so they're not necessarily recommended. Their range is not huge, but given their prices and available products (they have frozen rhubarb, sour cherries, cranberries and asparagus which I haven't generally seen at the shops) I thought they were worth including.

[lesliec]

Great idea to have a directory for us Australasians.

Our eG colleague Brianenome has a 'Where do you find that' page on his Foodology site.

In NZ, Souschef is great for all manner of things - they've recently added equipment to their range.

And I've ordered successfully from RedSpoon Company in Sydney (on Nick's list) - prices were good, and he had a few things I hadn't been able to find elsewhere. Dispatch time to NZ was good too.

[Snadra]

Thanks lesliec! Which reminds me of this NZ site.

Tastes from Around NZ: http://www.tastesfromaroundnz.co.nz/

I came across them when I was searching for the georgian cheese sulguni, but have not used them (not being in NZ!).

[Sentiamo]

Some online sites I have used......

http://www.davis.co.nz

A huge range of mostly Asian products. We have a branch in my city so I visit rather than order online.

http://www.medifoods.co.nz

Mediterranean foods, specialising in Italian

http://www.belmondo.co.nz

Mostly Italian with gorgeous vinegars/tuna and a great selection of Franchi Italian vegetable seeds. Got some San Marzano tomato seeds for coming season.

http://www.mexifoods.co.nz

Great range of Mexican foods. Fire roasted chipotle tomatos, jalapenos and Poblanos! Mexican flours etc.

http://www.ashore.co.nz

Pates/terrines/confits plus much much more.

Great idea to table these sites, and I must go check out the Aussie ones!

Edited July 21, 2010 by Sentiamo (log)

[lesliec]

And we mustn't forget my favourite destination on a Saturday morning - Ontrays. The site doesn't appear to have online ordering (yet) but they'll look after you on the phone, and the shop itself is a place you must visit if you're anywhere near Petone. Tell Steve I sent you!

[Shalmanese]

Simon Johnson: http://www.simonjohnson.com.au/store/default.aspx for all of your ridiculously overpriced but esoterically essential foodstuffs.

[Miranda]

Hi there, new to eGulllet {how could I not know about this site}, but not to online shopping!

Santos Trading: http://www.santostrading.com.au/

For bulk organic and natural foods (I've had great experience with grains and pulses).

I agree. Good for spices, and good price for Iranian wild figs and miso and such.

I've also had good experience with Fireworks for Mexican, and Melbourne Food Ingredient Depot for a lot of things I am sure I did not really need.

www.freshcitrusdirect.com.au is a new site where they pick the citrus for you and send it [but only in Vic, and SA, so far]. No waxed skins and fruit that smells like it should. $50 for 15kg. Just got my first order, so preserved lemons are about to be made.

http://australherbs.com.au/ is another great source of a large range of herbs, spices, etc

Haven't had much luck sourcing quality meats for delivery in Victoria.

www.thetruffleman.com.au if you really need to, or can afford to, buy caviar, jamon, foie gras and truffles. I've yet to yield to temptation!

http://vanillaplantations.com.au/ for vanilla beans etc [a kilo works out to about 60c per pod]

And, of course, colesonline.com.au, where all the chefs shop!

That's what springs to mind at the moment. Unless you want or need to know that I get my coffee from www.mycoffeeshop.com.au

This is the one I buy: Name: Private Label Mandheling Coffee Beans

Description: This is the coffee for people who want the best. With its rich dark chocolate flavour, Private Label Mandheling coffee is amazing - both black and with milk. A strong coffee blend that will not disappoint, espresso the way it should be! $37/kg

Oh, and then there's

http://www.ashboltfarm.com/ for elderberry and elderflower cordial/syrup. An absolute delight!

cheers! Miranda

Edited July 23, 2010 by Miranda (log)

[Snadra]

Welcome to eGullet Miranda and great finds!

[debbster]

Does anyone know of any online stores that sell Japanese food, ingredients and kitchen supplies?

Thanks.

[nickrey]

The Chef's Armoury has an on-line store that sells some food, ingredients and kitchen supplies.

Other on-line shopping sources include Ibicha Junction and Kei's Kitchen

[debbster]

Many thanks. I've just placed an order with Ichiba Junction.

Edited August 18, 2010 by debbster (log)

[Snadra]

This is more by way of an online equipment source, however I think it's worth including anyway.

Redback Trading Company

I haven't ordered from them, but as far as I can tell they are one of the few sources of north american style preserving jars (ie Ball, Mason) with the two-piece lids, as opposed to the Quattro Stagioni with one-piece lids that you generally see here (if you are lucky enough to see them at all), or the Fowlers Vacola (which also seem to be fairly rare). They also sell some ingredients for meat curing, pressure canners and the beautiful Weck preserving jars.

[nickrey]

Wow, finally a local source for curing salt. No more having packages opened by customs because they seem "suspicious."

[Miranda]

There's also

I bought some smoking powders and chips from Redback in summer and the chap phoned soon after I placed the order to check whether the chips were suitable since I was getting the powders, so that was good customer service.

Was just trying to source curing salts on Sunday, as it happened. So here are some results.

http://www.mistygully.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=350

Their range of products are enticing. Yet to buy anything, though so can't comment.

Then there's these Queensland blokes:

http://www.countrybrewer.com.au/category6_1.htm

Pure sodium nitrate. 50g $8.00 the store also has cheese and yogurt cultures and starters

And the ever reliable MFCD whose products are manufacturing food grade quality.

http://www.mfcd.net/store/product.asp?pID=741&cID=10

NaNO2 50g/$33.50 NaNO3 125g for $33.50

At the stage of about to take the plunge into the Chacuterie adventure, just getting over the fear of food poisoning problem.

[nickrey]

All those alternatives! All those seem to have appeared since I first embarked on my curing salt quest. I know I checked MFCD and they told me it wouldn't be available for around 12 months. Many thanks for the update.

Just be careful on quantities if you are using pure sodium nitrite in curing. A little goes a very long way and it is poisonous if used incorrectly. Most of the recipes that are commonly available using curing salts, which contain lots of salt in addition to the active ingredient.

Edited September 28, 2010 by nickrey (log)

[Miranda]

"Just be careful on quantities if you are using pure sodium nitrite in curing. A little goes a very long way and it is poisonous if used incorrectly. Most of the recipes that are commonly available using curing salts, which contain lots of salt in addition to the active ingredient. "

Thanks Nick, I am aware of that. Have settled for the premixed curing salts. Just seemed easier.

By the way, do people know that you can get real WASABI from New Zealand from:

http://www.wasabi.co.nz/

[Snadra]

Nice one Miranda, which reminded me, I came across a few more suppliers the last few days (I have not tried them):

Tasmanian Wasabi: http://www.shimawasabi.com.au/

Organic Garlic (from Bellingen): http://www.melodycreekorganics.com/buy-organic-russian-garlic.html

Organic Garlic (from Tenterfield): http://www.rochfordorganicgarlic.com.au/

[Miranda]

Nice one Miranda, which reminded me, I came across a few more suppliers the last few days (I have not tried them):

Tasmanian Wasabi: http://www.shimawasabi.com.au/

life gets better by the day!

[Snadra]

It's been a while since we've had any additions to this thread, but it's near the top of my mind, as we are moving to a rather remote area of NSW early next year (that's official too: it's on the ATO list of remote areas!).

I came across this supplier today:

Hindustan Imports: http://www.hindustan.com.au/ They seem to have a very wide range of products.

If you have come across any more recently, please let me know!

[andiesenji]

I've purchased specialty items not available here in the US from Vick Cherikoff

I registered on the website some two years ago and get periodic emails reminding me of seasonal items.

I just got an email on Nov. 23 with a discount code.

In the past I have purchased ground wattleseed, the Bluegum smoke oil, Alpine pepper and Lemon myrtle sprinkle.

I've been extremely pleased with everything, especially the wattleseed.

[Snadra]

Nice one Andie!

Midyim Eco: http://www.midyimeco.com.au/

I came across this company mentioned in a SMH article about tapas. They were only mentioned as a supplier of pimientos de pardon, but when I emailed to be added to the mailing list it turns out they grow quite variety of european peppers. I haven't ordered and don't know what their prices are like, but they seem very friendly. It's great to have access to a hard-to-find product!

[nickrey]

Here's a few more:

Salt Meats Cheese. It has Old Bay for those who want to try it.

Lario fine foods for Italian foodstuff.

Ball Mason Australia for Ball Mason jars and accessories.

Butcher at home for butchering and sausage making supplies.

Brookvale meats for Sydney meat deliveries (check out their spanish meat and grocery supplies).

Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder for cheese.

There's a few to go on with.

[michoutim]

Hello!

Right now I am very much into dim sum. I want to learn!

I had trouble finding wheat starch in Australia to make the translucent dim sum. Wheat starch is gluten free. I ended up finding it here:  http://www.buyasianfood.com.au/_products//DriedFood/Flour/CockBrandWheatFlour454G-60-2730-.aspx

Hopefully, that will avoid you loosing lots of time to find this item, wrongly named ¨wheat flour¨ (amidon means starch in french, but if you type wheat starch in google you will never find out, took me time!

Let's see how my see through dim sum come out!

I hope it will help some people on this forum!