Local food and drink directory

 
Backyard Honey
Category:
Products:
Honey, bees wax and apiary services
Local outlets:
30Kerr65 Expresso Bar, Fitzroy
Acorn Nursery, Surrey Hills
Alimentari, Collingwood
Alimentari, Fitzroy
Balwyn Fruit Supply
Balwyn Heights Fruit Supply, Balwyn North
Blood Orange Foodstore, Hawthorn East
Boccaccio SUPA IGA, Balwyn
Chatham Food Store, Surrey Hills
Classic Fruits, Canterbury
Coltivari Fruit and Vege Store, Camberwell
Coles Local, Surrey Hills
Coombe Yarra Valley Providore, Coldstream
Dineamic Food, Camberwell
Flowers of Canterbury, Canterbury
FoodWorks Mont Albert
Glenferrie Gourmet Meats, Hawthorn
Hawthorn Common, Hawthorn
Honey Thief Bakery Cafe, Blackburn South
IGA Blackburn
IGA Blackburn North
Kew Organics
Leo's Fine Food & Wine, Heidelberg
Leo's Fine Food & Wine, Kew
Piedimonte’s Supermarket & Liquor, Fitzroy North
Pure Bread Bakery, Surrey Hills
Renaissance IGA, Hawthorn
Reunion Cafe Dining, Surrey Hills
Salzano Delicatessen, Balwyn North
Strawberry Point Fresh Food Market, Forest Hill
The Common Good, Hawthorn
The Craft and Co, Collingwood
The Green at St Columbs, Hawthorn
The Organic Union Fruit and Vegetable Store, Surrey Hills
The Something Different Shop, Hawthorn
Toscano's Kew
Toscano’s Richmond
Wattle Park Green Grocer, Box Hill
Zimt Patisserie Café, Mont Albert
Township/suburb:
Surrey Hills
Municipality:
Boroondara
Notes (in their own words):

Backyard Honey's raw, local, multi-floral and varietal honey is hand-harvested, unheated, cold extracted and permeated with local pollens. It retains all the beneficial nutritional and medicinal properties often lost in pasteurised commercial honey. Each harvest's colour, smell and consistency may be a little different as the foraging of bees is neither within the apiarist's control nor inclination. Some harvests may crystallise, which simply means that the bees have gathered pollens more likely to turn the honey solid. If you prefer a liquid honey, gently warm the crystallised honey on a sunny windowsill or in a warm bowl of water, remembering that temperatures higher than 40°C will reduce the honey's therapeutic properties.

The Backyard Honey ethos is simply to provide an effective and efficient service to ensure sustainable, healthy and mindful communities.

Backyard Honey beekeepers are qualified to provide apiary incursions to complement education programmes and have worked with many schools and Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden programmes. Their bee incursions are tailored to complement and/or extend the curriculum and include a fully enclosed perspex beehive, apiary equipment, bee suits, wax and propolis and pure, raw, unheated honey tastings. Backyard Honey incursions provide a catalyst for enquiry-based learning across the curriculum for both young and old. Phone them to discover more.

Read an interview with erstwhile owner Peter Dyer.

Balam-Balam Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Carlton North
Municipality:
City of Yarra
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is open to the public.

The Balam-Balam community garden comprises a number of communal plots, a market garden, herbaceous border, hot house and indigenous bushfood garden. The garden supplies produce to the local Community Grocer market held weekly at the Carlton public housing estate and to migrant and refugee students at Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre studying English.

The garden includes a community compost hub where you can contribute your food scraps to be recycled into nutrient-rich compost for the garden. Ask them for a food scrap container if needed. During business hours, enter via the back gate and deposit your scraps directly in to the compost hub. Outside business hours, place contents in the green bin (you will need to contact them to get the code to the lock).

Enquire about buying a bag of compost for $5 and seedlings for your garden grown in the Balam-Balam community garden when available.

BANSIC Food Hub
Township/suburb:
Heidelberg West
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

The BANSIC Food Hub provides food assistance to residents of southern Banyule who are struggling with food security. Clients are provided with a range of groceries, such as fresh produce, eggs, meat, pantry items and bread, all free of charge.

The hub is open from midday to 3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Members of the Banyule community who are in a financial crisis can access their service by ringing them on 9459 5959 to request a food parcel. The food parcels can be accessed generally every 2 weeks for eligible clients.

The hub's supporters include SecondBite, Foodbank, Aldi, Woolworths and Sustainable MacLeod. SecondBite, Foodbank and Aldi donate non-perishable pantry items, fresh fruit and vegetables. Woolworths in Heidelberg donate eggs. Sustainable Macleod donates locally grown vegetables.

Bayswater North Food Swap
Category:
When:
1st Saturday of the month, 10-11am
Township/suburb:
Bayswater North
Municipality:
Maroondah
Notes (in their own words):

There is a community garden at the location.

Organised by Outer Eastern Permaculture Swap.

Bedford Park Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Ringwood
Municipality:
Maroondah
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is open to the public.

Click here to read an interview with Jess Ness.

This project began as a dream of the manager at the Central Ringwood Community Centre when she spied an empty unused sunny patch of grass that begged to be filled with plants and people. This site used to be a skateboarding park that was filled in and left.

In 2022, the garden had to be dismantled to make room for some road making equipment but is now being re-developed.

As well as space for vegetables and fruit trees, there are also community composting facilities and a community worm farm, both built from reclaimed materials.

They sometimes run workshops and classes at the garden. See their Facebook page for details.

Bee Rescue – Heidi Honey Hurstbridge
Products:
Raw honey, creamed honey and honeycomb. Hay fever, sinus and pollen asthma remedy. Chai tea and bees wax candles.
Local outlets:
Farm gate honesty box (during daylight hours only)
Township/suburb:
Hurstbridge
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Their honey is unheated and is without added rice or corn syrup. Seasonal varieties may include Grey Box, Messmate, Yellow Box, Red Gum and Manna Gum. The honey comes from hives which are migrated from Eltham and around the Green Belt, Yarra Valley to central Victoria, plus honey from rescued hives across Melbourne.

They also offer creamed honey, honeycomb, and a highly sought after local honey remedy for hay fever, sinus and pollen related asthma (see testimonials). Plus chai tea and bees wax candles.

Finally, as Bee Rescue, they also rescue bees across Melbourne from pest controllers.

Belleview Farm
Products:
Eggs
Local outlets:
Farm gate - Saturday & Sunday, 9am-5pm.
Kinglake Produce and Artisan Market
Township/suburb:
Park Orchards
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

Located on a scenic hillside with a beautiful view, Belleview Farm is a small boutique farm selling free range eggs. Their birds are raised and tendered to on the farm and Belleview Farm takes pride in their welfare. They ensure that the birds are fed a nutritious, vitamin-enriched diet including seeds, grains and canola. The farm is pesticide-free and chemical-free.

Bellfield Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Bellfield
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is membership-based.

The garden was incorporated in 2014, and is entirely run by volunteers. It was established at its new location in 2022.

The three main aims are:

1. To develop an open space community fruit and vegetable garden for individual community members and community groups who want to engage in, and learn about, sustainable gardening practices.

2. To provide a meeting place for individual community members and groups to develop a community gardening identity.

3. To promote the Bellfield Community Garden within the Bellfield neighbourhood, and across the Banyule council area and neighbouring council areas, and to form strong community partnerships to enhance and influence the success of the garden.

Ben’s Bees
Category:
Products:
Honey and beeswax products
Local outlets:
Honesty hut, 20 Perth Street, Blackburn South
Township/suburb:
Blackburn South
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

Ben's Bees sell raw honey - honey that has not been treated in any way. It is taken from the hive in frames designed to hold honey, spun with centrifugal force, drained through a fine sieve to remove any wax particles, and bottled.

They also sell candles, beeswax, soap, hives, bees and clothing.

Their services include bee & swarm removal, beehive pollination and European wasp removal.

Benny’s Berries
Products:
Strawberries and jams
Local outlets:
Toscano's Kew
Yarra Glen Craft Market
Township/suburb:
Kilsyth
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Benny's Berries are well known for their fresh strawberries. In addition, their jams include blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, mixed berry and spiced fig with pear and walnut. These jams are cooked in small batches ensuring minimal cooking times, enhancing the fullest flavours and colours. They are made from a traditional classic family recipe using all natural ingredients sourced from the Yarra Valley. The philosophy is to keep it simple (only 3 ingredients are used) and natural, the way our grandmas use to make it.

Billy van Creamy
Category:
Products:
Gelato and sorbet
Local outlets:
Own shop
Various festivals and community events
Township/suburb:
Fitzroy North
Municipality:
City of Yarra
Notes (in their own words):

Billy van Creamy's ice cream is made with a simple philosophy. It is based on the idea of home style cooking. The creaminess doesn't come from any secret ingredients, synthetic stabilisers or emulsifiers, or in fact anything that you wouldn't find in a regular pantry at home; rather, it simply comes from balanced recipes made with organic milk, fresh cream, raw sugar and free range egg yolks. They make everything from scratch using real, whole ingredients. This means roasting and grinding organic nuts, making honeycomb, jams, coulis, caramels in their own kitchen. Their aim is to bring people the childhood joy of eating ice cream but with some adult sophistication in flavours that aren't based on the body's reaction to sugar, rather the perfect balance of flavour and texture.

Billy van Creamy are committed to reducing their impact on the environment, which is why they use as much recycled or recyclable packaging as they can. They support organic and ethical farming to reduce the impact that their supply chain has on the environment. They also support the local art and culture scene, which is where the art in their shop comes from.

Bizzy Beehive Australian Honey
Products:
Honey
Local outlets:
Laurimar Quality Meats, Doreen
M n M Fruits, Coburg
Moxie Cafe, Whittlesea
The Flying Tarts Bakery, Kinglake West
Notes (in their own words):

Bizzy Beehive sell raw, unpasteurised honey, including orange blossom and wildflower. The precise flavours of the raw honey depend on where the bees collect their nectar and pollen so every jar is distinctive.

Blackburn Food Swap
Category:
When:
1st Sunday of the month, 10-11am
Township/suburb:
Blackburn
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

Not held in January.

Blackburn North Community Cupboard
Township/suburb:
Blackburn North
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

Grab food for your cupboard or leave something to share.

Free for everyone.

Fresh food donations are welcome. Please do not leave items that need to be refrigerated. Non-perishable food pantry staples can be donated to the food pantry inside the building.

Blackburn North Food Swap
Category:
When:
4th Saturday of the month, 10-11am
Township/suburb:
Blackburn North
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Blue Bay Cheese
Products:
Dairy products, including soft and hard cheeses, yoghurts and kefir
Local outlets:
Heathmont Farmers' Market
Leo's Fine Food & Wine, Heidelberg
Notes (in their own words):

Cheeses and yoghurts are made by hand following traditional family recipes, which have been continually improved over the years. No chemicals, no preservatives, non-animal rennet are used, and the cheeses are suitable for vegetarians. Cow's milk produce: natural yoghurts and kefirs/probiotics, quark-soft cheese, bries and blues, hard cheeses/vintages - cheddar (tasty), romano, gruyere, tasty gouda, fettas. Goat's milk produce: kefir, chevre, marinated fetta, haloumy, tasty cheese (caprino), chevre with dill.

Bolton Street Deli & Liquor
Category:
Local brands sold:
Marisa's Kitchen
Vincent Testa's Honey
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Bolton Street Deli & Liquor provides a full range of groceries, from condiments and bread, through beverages and honey, to chocolate and wine. They also sell a wide range of cheeses, meats, dips and homemade produce in their deli section. Gluten-free and organic products are available.

They are THE major stockist of local food products in North East Melbourne, with products from around 20 local producers.

They also serve coffee, breakfast, snacks and lunch from 7am daily (8am on Sundays). Some examples of food options include soup, pasta dishes and moussaka.

Bomba Wood Fired Pizza
Products:
Vegan and vegetarian pizzas
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Notes (in their own words):

Everything made from scratch, Bomba Wood Fired Pizza offers a mobile food catering experience selling gourmet vegan and vegetarian friendly wood fired pizza at events and functions around Melbourne. Fully equipped with a mobile wood fired pizza oven, 4x4 Kombi van and collection of antique & rustic decor, they offer a classy, fun, delicious and unique catering experience for your special event.

Their ingredients are fresh, locally sourced and organic where possible. For example, at markets, they source their veggies from other stallholders. They use 100% dairy free mozzarella style vegan cheese.

They are also available for catering at private events, birthday catering, party catering, wedding catering, corporate events, family fun days, sports events, expos, car shows, charity fundraisers, cultural events & more!

Botanikos
Name:
Products:
Botanically infused simple syrups and shrubs
Local outlets:
Local outlets:
Heidi Makers Market
Township/suburb:
Wonga Park
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

Botanikos makes a wide range of botanically-infused simple syrups and shrubs as cocktail or mocktail mixers. Each is made with fresh, local or Australian ingredients and each is infused with the flavours and aromas of various plants and herbs.

The simple syrup flavours include rosemary, thyme, lavender, bergamot, hibiscus, rose garden, lemon, lime, bitter orange, marmalade, indigo, chocola, salty pete, passionfruit and dragonfruit.

Shrubs are sour drink mixers made from apple cider vinegar, spring water, sugar, fruit and indigenous herbs (such as strawberry gum, lemon myrtle, pepperberry, anise myrtle, cinnamon myrtle and rivermint).

The business has a commitment to sustainability. Ingredients are local where possible, as are the bottles, labels and packaging. They minimise waste and any remaining waste products are composted.

Box Hill Community Gardens
Township/suburb:
Box Hill
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is allotment-based.

The gardens were established around 30 years ago on council land. There are 34 plots, 3 of which are standing plots. Most people grow vegetables for their own use. At present, there is a long waiting list about approximately three to four years.

Box Hill South Urban Harvest
Category:
When:
3rd Saturday of the month, 11am-12.30pm
Township/suburb:
Box Hill South
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):
Brunswick Neighbourhood House Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Brunswick
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is membership-based but is open to the public whenever the neighbourhood house is open (Mon-Thur 9am-4pm and Fri 9am-midday).

The garden is a communal garden which comprises a mixture of raised and wicking beds. It is a place to meet neighbours and have a chat. Everyone is welcome.

Bulleen Art & Garden
Category:
Local brands sold:
Township/suburb:
Bulleen
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

Bulleen Art & Garden (BAAG) is a nursery which specialises in edible, indigenous and low water use plants. As such, it has a large range of herbs, fruit trees and veggie seedlings. All of its seedlings are either Certified Organic or grown using Low Environmental Impact Practices.

BAAG hosts a monthly veggie swap on the 3rd Saturday of the month. It also runs regular sustainable living and gardening classes.

BAAG's landscape supplies yard specialises in soil mixes and mulches. It also has an art gallery, called the Bolin Bolin gallery.

BAAG is located along side the Yarra River. It is committed to helping to improve the local parks and has been actively revegetating the site in collaboration with Parks Victoria and the Friends of the Yarra Valley Parks for many years.

Bulleke-bek Park Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Brunswick
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is open to the public and membership is free.

The garden is in the new Bulleke-Bek park near Anstey station. In a small community park in a high-density neighbourhood, the garden is a space for the many local people who live in apartments to cultivate a little bit of green. It comprises around six wicking beds and a food forest, initially established planted in 2020. The harvest is for anyone and everyone in the community. The garden is open and there is substantial foot traffic, with children visiting from the playground close by and Brunswick folk passing through the park on their way to Sydney Road.

They meet once a month to discuss planting and projects, to share a cup of tea or coffee and the results of our home baking projects - see their Facebook page for dates and times.

Folks often garden or harvest between meetings, and their garden aspirations include: enjoying the park; linking up with other community groups; growing their gardening knowledge; engaging with council to understand and provide feedback about food security and community gardening in Brunswick; imagining a composting future for their high-density community; and what their food forest might look like in a few years' time.

Buna Reserve Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Heidelberg West
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is becoming membership based, but membership is free. Any members of the public are welcome to attend working bees and other events and go into the garden whenever volunteers are there.

The garden comprises a number of raised beds. It is a safe and harmonious place for community to come together to learn and share gardening and other skills and develop friendships. Its main aim is to grow more than enough food so that they can share it with our community; for example, they share produce with the Aboriginal Foodshare at Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place.

They follow permaculture principles and crop rotation as much as they can. They are also interested in syntropic-agroforestry principles, mimicking nature and utilising nature’s services as best they can. They seed save and there are 6 compost bays. Often they will share some food and a cuppa together as well. Some local play groups are involved and sometimes they organise events.

The garden is open to everyone on Thursdays, 3.30-5.30pm. Anyone is welcome to visit the garden when it is open and lend a hand or just enjoy the space, and if you are keen to be more involved then please enquire about becoming a volunteer!

Bundoora Park Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Bundoora
Municipality:
Darebin
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is allotment-based.

What: The garden is located within the Bundoora Park Farm. Within the farm, there is a fruit orchard including an urban farm with chooks and bees. The farm also supplies tools, water and manure.

Who: There are garden plots available for rent to the general public. Annual fees are $79 for a raised plot and $105 for a standard plot. There is a waiting list for these plots.

Buttermans Track
Category:
Products:
Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Sangiovese
Local outlets:
Township/suburb:
St Andrews
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Buttermans Track is the brand name for the wines made and sold by Queenstown Vineyards. They use a wild yeast (rather than sangioyeast), and thus have a natural fermentation. All of their wines are produced from their estate-grown fruit. They have been growing grapes for 25 years and making wine for 10 years.

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