HIGHPOINT shopping centre has opened a new fresh food market that is a veritable feast of choice and quality product at very reasonable prices. Such a place needs to be explored.
Enormous shopping centres are rarely associated to good fresh food, there’s a culture around them that readily disconnects us from where our food comes from — the bright lights, the airconditioning, the music — I was wary at first but delighted to find a well-designed area with earthy finishes, that’s easy to navigate and and has helpful service in each shop.
There’s an instant buzz as you walk into the central area with the food outlets surrounding the open space. High windows allow in natural light, and while there is a big-name supermarket over one side, it’s the other shops that got our attention.
Melbourne Fresh Meats and Poultry is a thoughtfully designed shop with halal meats on one side including good quality beef and lamb. It sells cuts like Asado beef ribs, and offal such as ox livers and lamb hearts, while there are classic cuts like beef rump and lamb cutlets. There’s a separate section dedicated to pork, also reasonably priced with lots of pork belly as well as the less-fatty loin and leg cuts.
Fish Pier has an enormous glass cabinet of fresh whole and filleted fish, and shellfish with a takeaway counter filled with deep-fried goodies.
A good delicatessen is included in the mix. Called, Yes it’s Fresh, it’s a name they can stand by as they sell quality cured meats, cheeses, antipasti and sausages both local and imported.
Grab some dumplings and noodles at Yahweh Asian Grocery and then immerse yourself in the fresh fruit and vegetable shop that has interesting and intensely fresh produce that’s every colour of the rainbow. From capsicums and mangoes, eggplants to onions, it’s an exciting and vibrant new market at Highpoint and one that is absolutely worth exploring to start to get you reconnected to where your food comes from.
