Mugged

We like good deli things at our house: cheese, olives, that kind of thing - and Norton Street Grocer is close to where we live so we're lucky. Certainly on the pricey side, but it's a lovely shop. Thanks to last month's issue of Feast magazine, though, I've discovered a new-to-me-but-been-there-for-millennia deli - Lamia Super Deli, as it's grandly called. It's a little further away, but not that much so who's quibbling? Not me.

Lamia Super Deli certainly lives up to its name. You can barely see the Greek owners and employees behind the long counter as its stacked with stuff. Luckily, there's a few vantage points where they poke their faces round the side so you can speak to them. It's the olives I go for. We eat a lot of them in our house and after seeing a pic in the mag of huge tins of kalamatas and every other olive under the Athenean sun with the lids ripped off, I was there. No dainty upmarket decanting of the olives into little containers - and all the better for it.

Half the price of what I'm used to paying and no extra charge for the Greek music that's always tinkling away in the background. An elderly Greek customer was dancing when I walked in today. I kid you not. It's my new favourite haunt. Particularly as there are spectactular Asian supermarkets in the same strip. And here I was going into Chinatown when I needed serious supplies. Should give myself a face-palm, as the The Child would say.

Marrickville is close to where I live but it's another world away in atmosphere. It's like spinning a globe and jabbing your finger at it. You'll never know where you'll end up or what you'll find.

There is a connection to the mugs, if you were wondering. I popped into an op shop on the way back to the car, something I rarely do as central Sydney offers pretty slim pickings. Thought Marrickville might be different. Not much, to be honest, but there were these sweet little mugs twinkling at me from among the surrounding crud. I bought them to add to the picnic/camping basket but they seem to have found their way onto the kitchen shelf instead. At $1 each, I might have to go back and pick up the two I left behind.

Have a lovely weekend.