Juno and Sons

Terry Higgins knows exactly where to go find the right ingredient. She spent 17 years working for Rockpool – starting as a waiter at the now-closed Rockpool in The Rocks then managing Rockpool Qantas, before becoming one of the directors of Rockpool Dining Group.

The fruits of this honed experience are on shelves for all to see at Juno and Sons, her friendly neighbourhood corner store. Casting an eye over the collection feels like peeking into a chef’s larder. Every corner holds an mosaic-like arrangement of hard-to-find items from here and abroad.

There’s a selection of Byron Bay-made sauces from Geokoji – think a signature shoyu (similar to soy sauce) that’s been aged for 12 months. Ora King salmon, raised in New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds then smoked in Victoria’s Bellarine, is sold as a fillet or decadent dip. Bread from Urban Ferment, by Gary Armstrong – one of Rockpool’s former head sommeliers – arrives hot each morning. There’s olive oil from Australia, Spain and Italy. And a central table displays fresh produce, ranging from Spanish garlic to unusual seasonal fruits.

Tying the curation together is the fact that Terry, who prefers to go by her first name, tasted every product before stocking it. She only sells what she loves to cook with, and is on hand to give tips and suggestions.

This chat can be done over coffee, thanks to the retro coffee machine. Little Marionette is poured till close, and there’s giant house-made biscuits, plus cake of the day by the slice. It might be a blueberry, yuzu and yoghurt cake or a Basque cheesecake carrying a tangy sour cherry syrup.

At lunch, a toasties made with ingredients from the store are available. The Everyone’s in Europe has slices of manchego cheese and La Boqueria Morcon spicy salami topped with romesco sauce. And then there’s the Ora King smoked salmon, which is layered with Meredith goat’s cheese and zucchini pickles from Melbourne’s Acide.

Diners may pull up a stool inside or rest on the windowsill bench seat outside. On a clear day, it’s tempting to head to Rushcutters Bay Park, just two minutes’ walk away.