Thomas Dux Grocer

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[ADVERT]WeekendNotes is about things to do. So why am I writing about a supermarket?

Well the thing is, that like many people, I have to spend an inordinate amount of time shopping for food to feed a family and it gets really boring.

Especially when you end up at the same old supermarkets such as Coles or Woolworths. (Aldi is another story but like many people I am still waiting for one to open in my vicinity.)


Despite living near gargantuan local supermarkets the variety of goods on the shelves tends to be diminishing. Plus it is a real forage to find real food; things like juice that doesn't come from concentrate or decent chocolate or organics that are not priced through the ceiling.

Which is why it was a delight recently to shop in a Thomas Dux store. I was disappointed to later learn that they are owned by the Woolworth's giant but I am still going to recommend them because they at least provide a new and almost charming shopping experience.


The Thomas Dux focus is on new and interesting products rather than the same old stuff you get in your local supermarkets.

Buying on special some of their prices can also be excellent. I soon loaded my shopping basket with goods I don't normally have access to such as blood red organic orange juice, huge banana passionfruit, yoghurt dipped (rather than smothered) sultanas, chicken sage and pistachio chipolatas, wafer thin Peckish rice crackers, potato salad (made with fresh herbs and real egg mayo) and so on

Thomas Dux stocks a number of goumet labels such as Saskia Beer, Maggie Beer, Simmone Logue, Herbies, Ornella, Phillippa's, Rowie's, Sweet Kiss and Yael's to name a few.


These things are pricey but my theory is that if you buy one such product every now and again they can enliven your cooking for weeks. For example I use Maggie Beer's ver juice which has totally reinvented salads in our house.

The supermarkets layout is open and inviting. Instead of feeling trapped by aisles there a lots of little stations where the food is appealingly laid out.

For those after-work-rush-mode there are artisan-style freshly baked breads, a huge array of cheeses and antipastos and lots of healthy pre-prepared meals to go.


Unlike in regular supermarkets there is an emphasis on healthy and nutritious food so there is a huge selection of organic, gluten-free, preservative-free, dairy free and free-range foods. These are easily identififed by especially coloured tags.

On Saturdays the stores become a bit of a foodie meet-up with lots of new products to sample and growers and suppliers visiting so they can provide shoppers with new recipes.

As anyone who subscribes to my articles will know I am into saving money on groceries. Please read my articles on saving money with Aldi and general tips on how to cut your grocery bill.


But I must say Thomas Dux's specials are excellent and you can buy some choice gourmet produce that has a few days left before its use-by date at a fraction of the cost of the original price.

So this food store will not break the budget if you shop wisely and at the same time it may add some inspiriting new ingredients for people caught up in the what -in the hell- I- going to cook tonight rut.

There is possibly a Thomas Dux near you. See list below. If not it is worth the drive just to have a very different shopping experience.

VICTORIA

Armadale
Black Rock
Glen Waverley
Port Melbourne
Richmond

NSW
Crows Nest
Hornsby
Lane Cove
Mona Vale
Paddington
Surry Hills



#shopping
#richmond
#port_melbourne
#glen_waverley
#family
#fair_trade
#delicatessens
#black_rock
#armadale
%wnmelbourne