Have you ever tried salted egg-flavoured seaweed? If not, Yuejian “Johnny” Xue, owner of Johnny’s Fruit and Veggies and Asian Supermarket in the Lyttle Eat Street neighbourhood, thinks it’s about time you expanded your taste buds’ horizons.

We may not be able to travel to our bucket list destinations at the moment, but there’s no reason why we can’t send our taste buds on a journey of discovery!

Located in the Lyttleton Centre (across the way from the Red Cross Op Shop) Johnny’s Fruit and Veggies lays claim to stocking some of the “weirdest fruit and veggies” in Bendigo. 

But don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a place to get fruit and veg. In 2021, Johnny decided to expand into the grocery market. With his extensive background working in hospitality, Johnny also now stocks a fantastic range of Japanese and Korean inspired grocery items that represent his cultural heritage and love of Asian food in general.

So, what are Johnny’s top 10 flavours he recommends for those wanting to discover the wonders of Asian flavours? Let’s count them down:

10.       Fresh or frozen Durian and its desserts. Challenge yourself!
9.         Fresh mangosteen 
8.         Fresh lychee 
7.         Dragon fruits 
6.         Hottest chilli
5.         Mochi and Daifuku
4.         Dumplings and wontons 
3.         All sorts of buns 
2.         Asian desserts 
1.         Tassie Cherries at the moment – No.1 recommended!

All of these delights are available for purchase at Johnny’s, so be sure to pop in and take your taste buds on a trip they’ll never forget! If you’re not sure how to prepare any of the foods he has in stock, don’t be shy to ask for advice. 

For more info and to see the latest arrivals in store, visit: facebook.com/bendigojohnnysfruitnveggies