This section of the site is all about buying experience against a variety of food, shops or a particular market or location.
Everyone is encouraged to contribute their reviews or opinions. To submit yours please click here.
Shopping experience
Latest contributions in this section ...
- 6 September 2010: Artesian food shops Around Worcester
- 18 August 2010: Penderyn Distillery – Welsh single malt
- 9 August 2010: New Quay Honey Farm, Cross Inn, West Wales
- 20 July 2010: Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly, London
- 14 July 2010: The Algerian Coffee Store, Soho, London
- 1 July 2010: Japan Centre, Lower Regent Street, London
- 11 June 2010: Dews Meadow Farm Shop, East Hanney, Oxon
- 13 May 2010: Tofu recipe for the Summer (Japan Centre)
- 3 April 2010: A visit to Balti Land in Birmingham (video-Guardian).
- 3 February 2010: Le Delice (French Boulangerie/Patisserie/Deli), Malvern
- 20 January 2010: Wing Yip – Chinese Superstore (Edgeware Rd Branch, London)+ online store. Wing Tai Chinese Restaurant (same place)
- 18 December 2009: Birmingham Frankfurt Xmas Market
-
17Nov
Location : Shop - Vickerage Rd, Maidenhead, Wolesale – Denmark Street, Maidenhead
Web address: http://www.italiancont.co.uk/
Date of visit: 17 November 2009
Opening hours: dawn till dusk , 7 days a week.
Telephone number: 01628 77011o
Summary:
Carmelo and his wife + relatives still manage this gem of a store in “north” maidenhead. It does not look much from the outside but ……..This is the retail outlet of Camelo’s vast wholesale empire (up the road) which supplies Italian Restaurants in the SE of England.
You can still get milk, potatoes and domestos here (similar to your local Indian shop) but then he also sell a range of goods that you cannot get anywhere else.
To start with, the deli will sell you a variety of Italian ham, cheeses, salami and polish meat products. You can also get fresh Italian sausages which when mixed (with the casing off) with minced beef makes excellent meat balls with your pasta. Check out the end bits of prosciutto (Parma Ham) as they make excellent stock.
He sells both fresh and dry pasta and you can get several sizes of spaghetti (normal to angel hair). There are also a great selection of olive oils.
His “off lisence” is another treasure trove – you can get XO brandy and Krug champagne but its his collection of Italian wine that is truelly amazing. He sells tignanello (Antinori) – a great Italian red that is rated by Parker at one of the great wines of the world at just over £40 a bottle – comapre with French first and second growth, this is a steal.
He also stocks a great range of grappa and beers. You can get the usual and unusual beers such as Cypriot and Mexican. In case you want to do cocktails, he also has a whole range of “support” ingredients.
In his frozen goods department, you can get bacallou croquets and octopus – by the way, frozen octopus is actually better than fresh octopus and its more tender.
He also socks a range of spices, fresh herbs and squid ink. You can also find diabetic (sugar free) jams and biscuits.
When in season, he sells Italian vegetables and fruits – white peaches, swiss chard, radiccio……..
Be nice to him – he is the one behind the till and you will get a discount on your beer or wine (by the case) and one of his expresso.
Eddie
