Central Grocery, Ground floor (directly opposite train station), Melbourne Central, Melbourne
Central Grocery is one of the great little gems in Melbourne Central. To those who regularly catch a train from Melbourne Central - 'down the sea of escalators' - it is most likely they've stopped by at least one or twice and thus have a fair idea of just how great the stock is in the store. Yet, for those who haven't yet - or haven't in a while - may the following give a good insight.
Before you even enter the store proper, you will pass Central Grocery's specials display. Think of this like the front garden of someone's house for there are things that can be picked - and they sure are tasty. While specials, by default, change from time to time, seaweed bites have been seen amongst other assortments within the front bay. If you have yet to buy a pack, they are in effect seaweed chips and many a solid accompaniment if you're seeing a movie upstairs at the cinemas - or even just to munch on the train trip home. Yet, while seaweed chips are typical of what's on offer at Central Grocery, it is still just scratching the surface.
Throughout the shelves and aisles - and even across the front counter - of Central Grocery you can find most anything to concoct a good and authentic Asian dish at home. Though the author is not a certified starred-chef in the kitchen, you can recognise various useful things like black sesame seeds, dried Japanese mushroom, and other goods could have when it comes to drumming up a dish for dinner.
Rare Hubba Bubba 1
Rare Hubba Bubba 2
...and rare Hubba Bubba 3: The Root Beer variety.
Yet, while the aisles hold the substance, the drinks fridges perhaps hold the greatest attractions. While Melbourne is full of folks who have done many amazing feats, the author is yet to hear of someone who has ever tired all of the drinks on offer in this store.
Some drinks you may recognise and have seen before...
...yet almost certainly they'll be some you see for the first time.
In sum, this store certainly warrants a call by, whether you're close by; or whether you need come from afar to visit. Central Grocery, a one-stop-shop for rare candy, drinks, and much more, in the heart of the Melbourne CBD.
[Note: While this store is a good one, management of Central Grocery refused a request to take photos inside the store itself. Therefore the proceeding are photos of items sold to the writer by Central Grocery, before being photographed elsewhere].
