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Melbourne Shopping: The Most Eclectic Boutiques Of All. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Melbourne Shopping: The Most Eclectic Boutiques Of All

Melbourne shopping is some of the best shopping there is in Australia, especially for idiosyncratic fashion, jewellery and accessories. Designers are hand-making beautiful pieces while boutique owners are carefully curating eclectic collections.

While most visitors make a beeline for Bourke Street Mall and the posh GPO – the old General Post Office remodelled into an elegant home for luxury labels – the most interesting Melbourne shopping for me is to be found in the city’s eclectic boutiques, hidden away in antique arcades, gritty lanes and building basements.

What I love most about these Melbourne retail gems is that they offer up a carefully curated selection of clothes, jewellery and accessories, and each collection is unique, reflecting the taste and aesthetics of their chic owners, who can often be found in the store.

If I only had a few days in the city, these are the Melbourne shopping spots I’d want someone to send me – not to Bourke Street Mall. Aside from Australian department stores, David Jones and Myer, the pedestrianised shopping artery doesn’t hold much interest for foreign visitors, with pretty much the same global franchises you’ll find in the main street of any major city in the world.

Here’s where you should go instead…

The Best Melbourne Shopping Streets

Unusually for a big Australian city, Melbourne’s CBD (or Central Business District, which is what Aussies call city centres or downtowns) is where the best shopping is. In most other Aussie cities you’ll find the more interesting shops in the inner-city suburbs that skirt the CBD.

In Melbourne, Flinders Lane boasts interesting, edgy, indie shops; Little Collins Street is the address of some of the most interesting Australian designers such as Alannah Hill and Scanlan and Theodore; and Collins Street is home to international luxury brands (Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, etc), as well as shopping arcades such as the Block Arcade, Royal Arcade and Curtin House.

Melbourne Shopping: The Most Eclectic Boutiques Of All. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Unfortunately, the shopping in the Melbourne inner city areas is not nearly as good as it used to be, however, there are a few areas you should still definitely explore.

In the inner-city, worth checking out is Chapel Street, which runs through South Yarra, Prahran and Windsor, and is home to a mix of Australian designer boutiques as well as foreign franchises and luxury brands (at the South Yarra end).

Acland Street in St Kilda, Ormond Road in Elwood and Carlisle Street in Balaclava, are dotted with lovely accessories shops, gift stores, bookshops, and boutiques. I like Scout House at 125 Grey Street, St Kilda, for handmade and vintage homeware and Lulu at 322 Carlisle Street, which has handcrafted accessories by independent designers.

Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, parallel Smith Street in Fitzroy and Collingwood, and Gertrude Street, which connect the two, are all lined with interesting shops, such as Books for Cooks (233 Gertrude St), Polyester Records (387 Brunswick St), Queen Clothing (77 Smith St) for local designers, and Tomorrow Never Knows (415 Brunswick St), for local jewellery.

Melbourne Shopping: The Most Eclectic Boutiques Of All. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Rose Street Artists Market (60 Rose St, Fitzroy) has original clothes, jewellery, crafts, and arty objects made by local designers. If you have time and are happy to venture a little further afield, also try High Street and Beatty Avenue in Armadale, which boast beautiful stores, and High Street, Northcote, which is home to indie designers and vintage shops.

Back in the CBD, while malls like Melbourne Central can be skipped, worth a look for lovers of luxury items and high-end fashion is the GPO. While it has franchises you’ll find around the globe (Georg Jensen, Mandarina Duck, Pandora, Karen Millen, Camper etc), it also houses some of Australia’s finest designer labels – Leona Edmiston, Akira Isogawa, Lisa Ho, Sass & Bide, Zimmerman, and Dinosaur Designs. Built in 1864 in a neo-Renaissance style, the architecture is also splendid, although I’m not a fan of the glass shopfronts on the ground floor.

Melbourne Shopping: The Most Eclectic Boutiques Of All. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

But if you’re on a tight schedule and you’re after a truly unique souvenir, make these CBD treasures your priority:

Our Favourite Eclectic Boutiques in the CBD For Melbourne Shopping

Christine

This beautiful basement boutique, stocking an eclectic mix of Australian and international clothes, jewellery and accessories, is the kind of store a woman can lose hours in. Last year it was awarded Best Boutique in Australia at the Marie Claire Fashion Awards. Owner Christine sources her stock on her buying trips around the globe.

Exquisite buys include couture jewellery by Robert Goossens of Paris, who has supplied gorgeous glistening pieces to Coco Chanel, Christian Lacroix and Dior, among other designers. For winter, which is about to begin Down Under, she has cosy covetables like Marie Mercié bear ears hoods, Etro multi-toned wrap cardigans, Philip Treacy leather pork pie hats, Christine lambskin driving gloves, and Robert Clergerie leather riding boots.

Christine’s suggestion for a quintessential Melbourne souvenir for fashionistas? A vibrant silk scarf by iconic Melbourne designer Christopher Graf. She has a huge assortment. The candy-coloured box alone, pictured above, is worth buying the scarf for!
181 Flinders Lane, Melbourne christineaccessories.tumblr.com

Lord Coconut

Light-filled Lord Coconut is one of those lovely, idiosyncratic stores that Melbourne does so well. Hidden away on the fourth floor of historic Carlow House, it would be impossible to stumble upon it, but visit once and you’re guaranteed to become a regular customer.

A project of love for owner Mark Boldiston who changed careers to start his handsome store last year, Lord Coconut specialises in contemporary, handmade, Australian-designed jewellery for men, by Australian designers such as Cath da Costa, David Parker, Mark Coulston, Puneet Jodhka, and Toby Horrocks.

The charmingly old-fashioned display cases feature handsome and often quirky limited-edition cufflinks, tie bars, lapel pins, rings, bracelets, broaches, pendants, watch boxes, and other objets d’art. Terence loved Justin Siow’s Blue Bug cufflinks and the Deeana Michela fob watch with delicate cog inserts (pictured above), while I was smitten with Fiona Griffiths’ Hula Girl Travel Token Ring,

My Friend Romeo’s moose lapel pins and Beth Croce’s Anatomical cufflinks. Each of Mark’s 30 or so jewellers, designers and artisans also make bespoke jewellery. Chat to Mark about your dream cufflinks and he’ll see what he can do. Mark also has an online store (click here), so let him know you read about Lord Coconut on Grantourismo and he’ll offer you a discount.
Suite 3, Level 4, 289 Flinders Lane, Melbourne www.lordcoconut.com

Lenko

In her beautiful boutique in the historic Cathedral Arcade – make sure you look up and check out that glass ceiling – bubbly designer Dana Lenko, who can often be found behind the counter, showcases a kooky combo of idiosyncratic Australian and overseas labels for women and men, as well as her own cute designs.

Expect to find anything from her original collectible t-shirts and limited edition, handmade Animal Sweaters – the designs for which are crowd-sourced; the latest collection includes appliqués of a lobster, pigeon, sea otter, chameleon, and dachshund (last year’s featured a hedgehog, rabbit, flamingo, panda, and honey badger) – to the fun, faux fur Spirit Hoods that everyone is wearing in Melbourne right now, which were flying out of the store when we dropped in.

Don’t miss Lenko’s small but playful collection of jewellery, which changes frequently, from handmade Toto Geo clay and silver jewellery to Brass Mafia’s skulls and brains, inspired by traditional friendship necklaces.
Shop 5, 37 Swanston Street, Corner Flinders Lane & Swanston St, Melbourne www.ilovelenko.com

Alice Euphemia

Next door to Lenko, Alice Euphemia is another lovely, idiosyncratic boutique with an eclectic collection of fashion, accessories and jewellery from all over Australia and New Zealand. Like Lord Coconut and Lenko, much of the jewellery consists of handcrafted limited edition pieces, with many being one-offs.

Look out for fashion by Carly Hunter (the long, drape dress is divine), Kahlo (the Liberty St Cape is a winter must), Christopher Esber (check out the Magyar dress), Ellison (love the smart Lila shirt dresses), and – my favourite – Romance was Born (for their colourful, tribal-inspired Tee dresses (mini) and Tent dresses (maxi)).

Of the jewellery, the bone rings and claw broaches by Julia deVille jewellery caught my eye, along with Kim Victoria’s massive Mountain Rings and Peta Kruger arty broaches. I was also pleasantly surprised to see the colourful silk scarves of another Australian fashion icon Jenny Kee in store – another quintessentially Aussie souvenir for you.
Shop 6, 37 Swanston Street, Corner Flinders Lane & Swanston St, Melbourne www.aliceeuphemia.com

Kimono House

Take the old-fashioned elevator upstairs to Kimono House where you’ll find a little piece of Tokyo in the heart of Melbourne, along with the shop’s lovely owner Leanne O’Sullivan. Be warned: time spent browsing the Japanese delights on display here might have you heading straight to the nearest travel agent.

Leanne has been travelling to Japan since 1989 – she lived and worked there for five years – and spends roughly two months of each year there sourcing exquisite Japanese silk and cotton textiles, kimonos and obi – new and vintage – Japanese craft kits and supplies, patterns, and paper crafts.

Melbourne Shopping: The Most Eclectic Boutiques Of All. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

She also has beautiful accessories such as purses and shoulder bags made in Japan from the pretty fabrics. Leanne also offers classes and workshops in traditional and contemporary Japanese handicrafts, including Japanese patchwork and quilting, Shibori resist dyeing, Sashiko pattern transfer, Ikebana flower arranging, kimono dressing, and tea ceremony.

Leanne also has some fascinating Japanese CDs tucked away, if you like what you hear in the store. Check her website for details to see if something’s on while you’re in Melbourne.
Room 7, 2nd floor, Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne www.kimonohouse.com.au

Retro Star

Vintage lovers should head downstairs to the first floor for Retro Star, Australia’s largest vintage clothing store with over 10,000 pieces of clothing and accessories.

The massive space is divided into different eras, with the 1940s through to the 1980s, being the specialty, so you can expect to find anything from floral cotton frocks with full skirts from the 1950s through to fur-trimmed hippy jackets from the 1970s to disposable fashion from the 1980s, from plastic flouro bangles to studded double belts.

Melbourne Shopping: The Most Eclectic Boutiques Of All. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

In one room, dedicated to music and streetwear – think band t-shirts, biker boots and leather jackets – I fell in love with the denim jacket covered in buttons (pictured above) that took me back to my New Romantic-loving teenage-hood. Sigh…

And the prices are still reasonable too, making this a great spot for budget travellers to shop for original wearable souvenirs.
1st floor, Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne retrostar.com.au

Design A Space

A short stroll away on Manchester Lane, Design A Space is the spot to head for interesting fashion, accessories and jewellery by independent young Australian designers.

Modelled on the kind of concept store typically found in Europe (see these design shops in Berlin, for example), designers can rent a dedicated space – a rack, a shelf, a section of a display case – to display their wares, saving them money on high rents, a huge saving to a designer just starting out.

The shop was showcasing pieces by over 70 independent Aussie designers when we visited, and designers are rotated on a regular basis so you always find something different. There would be few places in Australia where you’d find such an abundance of creative products under the one roof. I especially loved the jewellery.

When you visit, look out for the lovely Bamboo ring and Lotus earrings by Long Silver Thread, designed in Melbourne but inspired by the designer’s travels around Asia, Bilingual’s unisex rings comprised of interlocking rings, and the funky plastic earrings by Do I Know You.
20 Manchester Lane, Melbourne www.designaspace.com.au

The Junk Company

We visited The Junk Company when we went to shoot vintage queen Danielle Pumo’s portrait (click here for her Melbourne vintage shopping guide), but I was so taken with this store, I had to go back for a better look.

Two minutes walk from Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market, this two-storey treasure trove is crammed with all kinds of vintage collectibles – furniture, décor, clothes, shoes, accessories, jewellery, keepsakes, glassware, ornaments, kids toys, antique cameras, vinyl records, old trunks and luggage… if you remember it, it’s probably here.

For a cool souvenir, check out the kitschy Australiana (I’m sure my Nanna had some of this stuff on her mantelpiece), from ceramic kangaroos to emu napkin holders.
583 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne www.thejunkcompany.com.au

A big thank you to Fiona Sweetman – we visited many of these gorgeous stores on her Hidden Secrets Lanes and Arcades tour – a brilliant introduction to Melbourne shopping. While you might too if you do Fiona’s tour, note that itineraries vary so you may visit very different stores. 

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About Lara Dunston

A travel and food writer who has experienced over 70 countries and written for The Guardian, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Feast, Delicious, National Geographic Traveller, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, DestinAsian, TIME, CNN, The Independent, The Telegraph, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, AFAR, Wanderlust, International Traveller, Get Lost, Four Seasons Magazine, Fah Thai, Sawasdee, and more, as well as authored more than 40 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, DK, Footprint, Rough Guides, Fodors, Thomas Cook, and AA Guides.

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Comments

  1. Lord Coconut says

    May 16, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    Thanks for the kind words about my little store.

    As mentioned in the article I’m happy to offer your readers 10% off any online purchase before 30 June 2012. We offer free delivery within Australia and a flat $15 fee for international deliveries. To take advantage of the discount online use code GRAN upon checkout.

  2. Lara Dunston says

    May 16, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    No worries – we loved your shop!

    And thanks for the discount for our readers :)

  3. Amanda @ Adventures All Around says

    May 29, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    Melbourne really is so much fun to shop in… It may be a gorgeous Aussie city, but it also reminds me of European cities. Such a stylish bunch down there.

  4. Lara Dunston says

    June 10, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    Agree, it’s a fab shopping city, though we’re discovering some delights here in Sydney too now. Where Melbourne’s most interesting shops are in the CBD, in Sydney they’re in inner-city suburbs like Surry Hills and Paddington.

    Thanks for dropping by!

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Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check o Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check out our seafood recipe collection, especially if you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with a fish focused meal in the Southern Italian tradition, transformed by Italian-Americans into the Feast of the Seven Fishes, or like Australians, who celebrate Christmas in the sweltering summer, feast on seafood for Christmas Day lunch, we’ve got lots of easy seafood recipes for you.

Our recipes include a classic prawn cocktail, blini with smoked salmon, a ceviche-style appetiser, and devilled eggs with caviar. We’ve also got recipes for fish soup, seafood pies and pastas, salmon tray bake, and crispy salmon with creamy mashed potatoes.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/seafood-recipes-for-christmas-eve-and-christmas-day-menus/
(Link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas if you’re celebrating!! 

#christmas #christmasfood #seafood #fish #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #grantourismo #grantourismotravels #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you’re still looking for food inspo for Chris If you’re still looking for food inspo for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meals, my smoked salmon ‘carpaccio’ recipe is one of dozens of recipes in this compilation of our best Christmas recipes (link below). 

The Christmas recipe compilation includes collections of our best Christmas breakfast recipes, best Christmas brunch recipes, best Christmas starter recipes, best Christmas cocktails, best Christmas dessert recipes, and homemade edible Christmas gifts and more.

My smoked salmon carpaccio recipe makes an easy elegant appetiser that’s made in minutes. If you’re having guests over, you can make the dish ahead by assembling the salmon, capers and pickled onions, and refrigerate it, then pour on the dressing just before serving. 

Provide toasted baguette slices and bowls of additional capers, pickles and dressing, so guests can customise their carpaccio. And open the bubbly!

You’ll find that recipe and many more Christmas recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/best-christmas-recipes/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas!! X

#christmas #christmasfood #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #salmon #smokedsalmon #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels 
#xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I sh If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I shared a collection of recipes for homemade edible Christmas gifts — for condiments, hot sauces, chilli oils, a whole array of pickles, spice blends, chilli salt, furakake seasoning, and spicy snacks, such as our Cambodian and Vietnamese roasted peanuts. 

I love giving homemade edibles as gifts as much as I love receiving them. Who wouldn’t appreciate jars filled with their favourite chilli oils, hot sauces, piquant pickles, and spicy peanuts that loved-ones have taken the time to make? 

Aside from the gesture and affordability of gifting homemade edibles, you’re minimising waste. You can use recycled jars or if buying new mason jars or clip-top Kilner jars, you know they’ll get repurposed.

No need for wrapping, just attach some Christmas baubles or tinsel to the lid. I used squares of Cambodian kramas (cotton scarves), which can be repurposed as napkins or drink coasters, and tied a ribbon or two around the lids, and attached last year’s Christmas tree decorations to some.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/homemade-edible-christmas-gifts/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Yes, that’s Pepper... every time there’s a camera around... 

#christmasgiftideas #ediblegifts ##christmasfoodgifts #foodgifts #giftideas #homemadegifts #christmasfood #ediblegiftideas #hotsauce #chillisauce #sriracha #pickles #homemadepickles #recipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood 
#blackcat #blackcatsofinstagram #picoftheday 
#christmas #christmastree #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas #cambodia #siemreap
This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’ This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’s perfect if you’re just back from the fish markets armed with luxurious fresh crab meat. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and very, very moreish.

Our crab omelette recipe was one of our 22 most popular egg recipes of 2022 on our website Grantourismo and it’s no surprise. It’s appeared more times than any other egg recipes on our annual round-ups of most popular recipes since Terence launched Weekend Eggs when we launched Grantourismo in 2010.

If you’re an eggs lover, do check out the recipe collection. It includes egg recipes from right around the world, from recipes for classic kopitiam eggs from Singapore and Malaysia and egg curries from India and Myanmar to all kinds of egg recipes from Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, USA, Australia, UK, and Ireland.

And do browse our Weekend Eggs archives for further eggspiration (sorry). We have hundreds of egg recipes from the 13 year-old series of recipes for quintessential egg dishes from around the world, which we started on our 2010 year-long global grand tour focused on slow, local and experiential travel. 

We’re hoping 2023 will be the year we can finally publish the Weekend Eggs cookbook we’ve talked about for years based on that series. After we can find a publisher for the Cambodia cookbook of course... :( 

Recipe collection here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio):
https://grantourismotravels.com/22-most-popular-egg-recipes-of-2022-from-weekend-eggs/

If you cook the recipe and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either in the comments at the end of the recipe or share a pic with us here.

#recipe #recipes #eggs #eggslover #breakfasteggs #WeekendEggs #egg #breakfast #brunch #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #lookingforapublisher #writingacookbook  #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angko I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angkor Archaeological Park, home to stupendous Angkor Wat, pictured, celebrated 30 years of its UNESCO World Heritage listing. 

That’s as good an excuse as any to put this magnificent, sprawling archaeological site on your travel list this year.

While riverside Siem Reap, your base for exploring Angkor is bustling once more, there are still nowhere near the visitors of the last busy high season months of December-January 2018-2019 when there were 290,000 visitors. 

Last month there were just 55,000 visitors and December feels a little quieter. A tour guide friend said there were about 150 people at Angkor Wat for sunrise a few days ago.

If you’re looking for tips to visiting Angkor, Siem Reap and Cambodia, just ask us a question in the comments below or check Grantourismo as we’ve got loads of info on our site. Click through to the link in the bio and explore our Cambodia guide or search for ‘Angkor’. 

And please do let us know if you’re coming to Siem Reap. We’d love to see you here x

#siemreap #cambodia #asia #travel #instatravel #traveldeeper #slowtravel #localtravel #experientialtravel #exploremore #neverstopexploring #goexplore #igtravel #angkorwat #angkor #temple #temples #angkorwithoutcrowds #unesco #unescoworldheritagesite #unescoworldheritage #archaeology #archaeologicalsite #traveladdict #beautifuldestinations #beautifulplaces #travelgram #wanderlust #picoftheday📷 #grantourismotravels.
Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky, flavourful and succulent chicken thighs that are fantastic with steamed rice, Chinese greens or a salad, such as a Southeast Asian slaw. 

The chicken can be marinated for up to 24 hours before cooking, which ensures it’s packed with flavour, then it can be cooked on a barbecue or in a pan.

Terence’s soy ginger chicken recipe is one of our favourite recipes for a quick and easy meal. I love the sound of the sizzling thighs in the pan, and the warming aromas wafting through the apartment. 

It’s amazing how such flavourful juicy chicken thighs come from such a quick and easy recipe.

Recipe here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio): https://grantourismotravels.com/soy-ginger-chicken-recipe/

If you cook it and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either here or in the comments at the end of the recipe on the site or share a pic with us x 

#recipe #recipes #chicken #soygingerchicken #asianfood #southeastasianfood #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #cookingtime #recipe #recipes #comfortfood #foodblog #food #foodstagram #healthyfood #instafood #healthy #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re mak Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re making with my market haul from Psar Samaki in Siem Reap — all for a whopping 10,000 riel (US$2.50)?! 

Birds-eye chillies thrown in for free! They were on my list but the seller I spent most at (5,000 riel!) scooped up a handful and slipped them into my bag. She was my last stop and knew what I was making.

My Khmer is poor, even after all our years in Cambodia, as I don’t learn languages with the ease I did in my 20s, plus I’m mentally exhausted after researching and writing all day. I have a better vocabulary of Old and Middle Khmer than modern Khmer from studying the ancient inscriptions for the Cambodian culinary history component of our cookbook I’m writing.

So when one seller totalled my purchases I thought she said 5,000 riel but she handed back 4,500 riel! The sum total of two huge bunches of herbs and kaffir lime leaves was 500 riel.

Tip: if visiting Siem Reap, use Khmer riel for local shopping. We’ve mainly used riel since the pandemic started— rarely use US$ now as market sellers quote prices in riels, as do local shops and bakeries, and I tip tuk tuk drivers in riels. I find prices quoted in riels are lower.

Psar Samaki is cheaper than Psar Leu, which is cheaper than Psar Chas, as it’s a wholesale market, which means the produce is fresher. I see veggies arriving, piled high in the back of vehicles, with dirt still on them — as I did on this trip. 

The scent of a mountain of incredibly aromatic pineapples offloaded from the back of a dusty ute was so heady they smelt like they’d just been cut. More exotic European style veggies arrive by big trucks in boxes labelled in Vietnamese (from Dalat) and Mandarin (from China), such as beautiful snow-white cauliflower I spotted.

Note: the freshest produce is sold on the dirt road at the back of the market.

#cambodia #siemreap #foodwriter #foodblogger #foodphotography #igfood #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #instadaily #picoftheday #market #siemreapmarket #psarsamaki #marketfresh #vegetables #healthyfood #marketshopping #traveltips #foodtravel #culinarytravel #localtravel #cooking #cookingtime #curry #homemade #currypaste #grantourismotravels
My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recip My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recipe makes tender meatballs doused in a delightfully tangy-sweet sauce, sprinkled with crispy fried shallots, with carrot-daikon, crunchy cucumber and fragrant herbs. 

The dish is inspired by bún chả, a Hanoi specialty, but it’s not bún chả. No matter what Google or food bloggers tell you. Names are important, especially when cooking and writing about cuisines not our own.

This is an authentic bún chả recipe:  https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-bun-cha-recipe/ You’ll need to get the outdoor BBQ/grill going to do proper smoky bún chả meat patties (not meatballs).

My meatball noodle bowl is perhaps more closely related to dishes such as a Central Vietnam cousin bún thịt nướng (pork skewers on rice noodles in a bowl) and a Southern relation bún bò Nam Bộ (beef atop rice noodles, sprinkled with fried shallots (Nam Bộ=Southern Vietnam) though neither include meatballs. 

Xíu mại= meatballs although they’re different in flavour to mine, which taste more like bún chả patties. Xíu mại remind me of Southern Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.

In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, home to millions of Khmer, there’s bánh tằm xíu mại. Bánh tằm=silk worm noodles. They’re topped with meatballs, cucumber, daikon, carrot, fresh herbs, crispy fried onions. Difference: cold noodles doused in a sauce of coconut cream and fish sauce. 

Remove the meatballs, add chopped fried spring rolls and it’s Cambodia’s banh sung, which is a rice noodle salad similar to Vietnam’s bún chả giò :) 

Recipe here: (link in bio) https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-meatballs-and-rice-noodles-recipe/

For more on these culinary connections you’ll have to wait for our Cambodian cookbook and culinary history. In a hurry to know? Come support the project on Patreon. (link in bio)

#recipe #recipes #vietnamesefood #cambodianfood #asianfood #southeastasianfood #ricenoodles #rice #noodlebowl #meatballs #igfood #igfoodie #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #writingacookbook #writingacambodiancookbook #patreon #patreoncreator #grantourismo
It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour matches the furnishings of our rented apartment. So, no, I did not colour-coordinate the interiors to match our cat’s eyes. 

I keep getting DMs from pet clothing brands wanting to “partner” with Pepper and send her free cat clothes and cat accessories. Although she did wear a kerchief for a few years in her more adventurous fashion-forward teenage years, I cannot see this cat in clothes now, can you? 

#pepper #blackcat #blackcats #blackcatsofinstagram #blackcatsrule #blackcatsmatter #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #catlover #catlovers #catlove #catoftheday #catphoto #catpic #catpics #cambodiancat #cambodiancatsofinstagram #catlife #catloversclub #catoftheday #catgram #catstagram #cats_of_instagram #catphotography #catsofig #catsoftheworld #catsofinsta #cats🐱 #siemreap #cambodia

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