
Find gourmet food, wine and hampers at Urban Providore
Sometimes opening the door to a real-life, human world store is infinitely more satisfying than opening a browser window.
Urban Providore in Fyshwick has collected much of the gourmet goodness created in and around Canberra and arranged it beautifully under one roof. Stepping inside is a foodie's dream come true: open the door and you are walking right into a gourmand's heaven.
My quest to find a gift for a pizza lover leads me to a storefront fragranced by lavender and herbs bursting generously from their pots. A pomegranate just starting to fruit dangles like a jewel and tomatoes and berries are lolling lazily in the sunshine. The door swings open to a warmly lit room, cosy and inviting. My first glimpse reveals salamis stacked on a shelf, a fridge of cheese, honey, jam, sauces, bags of salt, and a beautiful cellar of wine. I begin to look closer and spy biscuits, fudge, spices and more (they even create salami bouquets!!).

Find gourmet food, wine and hampers at Urban Providore
I'm casting my eye over the picnic baskets when two storekeepers greet me warmly. I explain that I'm looking for a hamper which isn't in stock. No problem! Let's make something now! They look gleeful at the prospect of helping, of sharing their knowledge of their products and making this both a good purchase but also an experience. They banter, joke and work all while generously including my toddler in a trip to the herb garden, a pirate hunt and a tour of the chocolate shelf.
As the hamper comes to life, I realise they've listened to what I wanted. They've created a delicious hamper happily, generously sharing information about the food they've included along the way. Shops like Urban Providore are the perfect example of just why stepping through some doors is a lot more satisfying than clicking through a website (although if you can't make it to the store, you can order from Urban Providore
online). Urban Providore really is a brilliant little shop with a great big heart, a must-visit when you're on the hunt for treats for yourself or a present that your loved ones will actually like!

Gourmet food, wine, hampers and gifts at Urban Providore