Simon Johnson sale, Alexandria

I like to spend my Saturday mornings in bed. Under the covers. Blissfully warm and preferably asleep until midday. I call it my weekly banking, a catch-up on all those late nights spent eating. And blogging.

Few things will get me out of bed early on a Saturday. Food is one of them. Sales are another.

A food sale? Ahhh.... now we're talking.

After hearing Pig Flyin wax lyrical about the annual sale by Simon Johnson I came along for the ride. Our ride got us to his premises at Alexandria at 7.40am. The sale started at 8am and already there were a dozen people in the queue, one guy particularly prepared with a camping chair, coffee and Saturday newspaper.

It didn't take long for us to get inside, the warehouse area behind the normal retail store that was piled high with excess and reduced-to-clear stock. Many of the prices were phenomenal, both the original prices (180g of fudge for $18.15?) and the sale prices (reduced to 91c!).

There were giant tins of olive oil, packets of squid ink pasta, bottles of Simon's own pasta sauce, Jamie Oliver chopping boards and the best bargains amongst the products use-by or close to expiry dates.

It was hard to wipe the grin off my face, although concentration was required, especially in the polite scrabble on the bargain table as trolleys ground to a halt in a traffic jam of meandering customers.

I was impressed to see that samples were offered for certain products, as if the bargain price wasn't convincing enough. Pig Flyin came away with an impressive haul of Texturas powders and me....? I had a trolley filled with booty of my own.

The damage: $148.91

The saving: $478.67




What $148.91 bought me:

Le Lingue Piemontesi al Rosmarino $3.49 (was $23.25) x 2
Simon Johnson large salted capers 1kg $10.00 x 2
Simon Johnson wild onions in balsamic 290g $2.50 (was $12.95)
Bottlegreen aromatic sweet lime cordial 500ml $1.65 (was $11.00) x 3
Duchy Originals organic ginger cordial 500ml $3.30 (was $16.50) x 2
Duchy Originals organic strawberry and mint cordial 500ml $3.30 (was $16.50) x 2
Duchy Originals organic cranberry sauce with port $1.57 (was $15.75)
Il Dominio mais marano (polenta) 1kg $2.50 x 2
Farina di castagne chestnut flour 500g $4.37 (was $17.50) x 2
Tracklements strong horseradish and cream $2.50 (was $19.95)
Tracklements sauce tartare concentrate $2.50
Sommariva green olives in salted water 400g $5.00 (was $21.75) x 2
Jamie Oliver speed peeler $3.21 (was $13.95)
Jamie Oliver easy garlic peeler $2.20 (was $6.29)
Duchy Originals organic Darjeeling tea 20bags $2.56 (was $10.25)
Marie Claire Dark chocolate 70% with roasted coffee pieces 900g (12x75g) $5.50
Marie Claire Dark chocolate 70% 900g (12x75g) $5.50
Orange peel cantucci 250g $2.36 (was $15.75) x 6
Venchi Italian chocolate tin: extra bitter with chilli pepper, extra dark with Piedmont mint, and milk with natural vanilla $10.35 (was $34.50)
Panettone 1kg $8.25 (was $55.00) x 3
Burnt Sugar original crumbly fudge 180g $0.91 (was $18.15) x 3


The Simon Johnson sale is held once a year. You'll have to wait 51 weeks for the next one.


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Simon Johnson Providores’ Market
24A Ralph Street, Alexandria, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 8244 8220

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.30pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday Closed