We love Westfield Bondi Junction. Thank you Mr Lowy. I particularly love the Harbour Room food court, so stylish. Today the Fabette’s & I shared prawn fried rice from Ginger & Lime. Sublime more like it, we bought seconds. Mini-Me Fabette waxed lyrically over the ‘scrambled egg’ in the fried rice. I reminded her I had added that to my version. No response from her other than to continue to praise the culinary talents of the chef embodied in the plate before us. Then Teen Mstr Fab and I discussed how it was made. Why was mine a culinary nightmare v their culinary equivalent to winning the World Cup? Sauces? It had rice, peas, corn, omlette. So did mine. Flavour was better. Was it the wok v frypan? I was determined to buy ingredients that would, not replicate Ginger & Lime’s version, but improve mine. I decided oyster & fish sauces were required.
So off to Woolworths we went. I knew I needed more rice, hence the theme. I discovered Sunrice rice is sourced from many places around the globe. I purchased the Sunrice Pour and Store long grain 1.5 kg pack, as it was the only rice that was Australian grown. Sorry the medium grain wholegrain brown rice 1 and 2 kg are Australian grown. Sunrice organic 750g, USA grown rice packed in Australia. Sunrice basmati 1 kg, from Pakistan. Sunrice long grain 2 kg, from Thailand. Koala rice (a Sunrice owned brand – I went to their website) long grain 2 kg from Thailand. Homebrand 1 kg from Pakistan.
I went to the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia’s website to discover more about the Australian rice industry. Australia exports 85% of its rice, the remaining 15% is sold here. According to the RGA website, rice is Australia’s third largest cereal grain export, and the ninth largest agricultural export. The website also states the “Australian rice industry generates more than $500 million from value-added exports annually“. Maybe rice is imported to make up shortfalls in the domestic market. Afterall, if there is a commercial agreement to supply x amount of rice, you have to, or be in breach.
I’m really not sure how Australia’s free trade agreements are benefitting us. And others are questioning it as well. It’s not my area of expertise, nor do I want to come across as discriminatory. I suppose it’s strategically important, but I really think Australia generally gets the sucker end of the deal. My opinion based on little other than basic observations and reading the business sections of the newspapers.
Ok that’s my serious side over with. I really could go another plate of that fried rice, without having to share with the children 🙂 Here’s the contents of my receipt – check out how I am resolving MY fried rice dilemma. PS “10 cents off per litre fuel saving has been added to your everyday rewards card” is on the bottom of the docket. Eeek the moral dilemma!!
Woolworths Bondi Junction 12 June 2010
Woolworths brand toilet paper 24 pack $14.99
Woolworths lite 3L milk $3.59
Coca cola 12 cans pack $9.98 (3 more teen boys coming over on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday. Apparently normal people drink coca cola)
Home brand oven chips 1 kg $1.99
Sunrice 1.5 kg pour & store long grain rice $4.59
Crisco peanut oil 750ml $5.72
Doritos corn chips 200g $2.99
Kettle chips 200g $2.99
Asian Home Gourmet Fried Rice seasoning 50g $1.69
Lee Kum Kee sichuan spicy beef stir fry 120g $1.85
Lee Kum Kee San Choy Bao 100g $1.72
Lee Kum Kee Teriaki beef 100g $1.85
Sensodyne toothbrush $4.90
Home brand cat food 400g 0.89 cents (teens are going fishing)
Home brand sugar 1 kg $1.37
Heinz baby basics sticky fingers 30 pack wipes $2.89 (apparently the fish will leave the boys with smelly hands…)
Can opener $3.55 (so I don’t have a stinky can opener returned to me)
Red onions $3.78 / kg
Brown onions $1.22 / kg
SPC baked beans 4 pack (220 g tins) **special 2 for $6.00** (regular $3.69 each)
Bush’s Fresh Meats Bondi Junction 12 June 2010
Riverina Blue beef strips $19.99 / kg
Sunland Pork marinated American Ribs $25.99 / kg
Guerilla Grocery Choice Australia 