Casa Iberica

Address: 25 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
Tel: 9419 4420

Casa Iberica isn't a restaurant per se, but it does supply exceptional produce and for that reason it is mentioned here. For anyone seeking Spanish ingredients / cookware, this should undoubtedly be your first stop. Upon entering the store, one's attention is immediately captured by the wagon wheel sized paella pans dominating the wall. Next to it hang legs of jamon and strings of chorizos. The smell of salt cod permeates the air, and the aisles are filled with paprika, olives, anchovies and other great food.

However without a doubt the most popular section of the store is the deli area located in the back of the store. If you come here on a weekend it is not uncommon for the store to be packed with crowds of locals doing their weekend shopping. Perhaps most heartening is the fact that Spanish can be heard to be spoken between the owners and the customers, surely a positive omen.

Food not to miss at this store include the jamon (Australian $50/kg, Spanish $70/kg, jamon iberico de bellota $230/kg). Pay the extra for the Spanish stuff...it's worth it! Much sweeter and with a more complex taste then the Australian jamon. Also I would suggest lightly frying the jamon, just a few seconds on either side on medium heat to bring out the flavour and aroma. Serve that with olive oil and a few slices of toast and there you have the makings of a very tasty but expensive breakfast.

Another recommendation are their Portuguese custard tarts (3 for $4.50) - the best in Melbourne. If you know of better, I would love to hear about it. These are far superior to their yum cha counterparts in that the pastry is not dry and crumbly, and also their filling is sweeter and more custardy.

Last but not least are their chorizos which are reputed to be the best in Melbourne. I find their small chorizos too fatty for my liking, however having said that the one's they use for sandwiches are magnificent and I would recommend you try putting one in a sandwich with green olives and cheese. It is also possible to put anything else they sell in the deli into a sandwich, however I have not, as yet had the pleasure of doing so.