Last time we came back from Australia, we filled our suitcases with Tim Tams and left our clothes behind.

Now we can go to la Tourtière Australienne whenever we’re craving some Aussie Tucker. We ate a steaming Steak, Bacon, and Cheese pie in the store, took a Butter Chicken pie for take away ($4.50 fresh, $4 frozen), plus grabbed a family-sized frozen Curried Vegetable and Sweet Potato pie for tomorrow’s dinner ($15). A delicious coconut-covered Lamington later ($2.50), and we felt like we’d clicked our heels and landed right back in Oz.

We even snagged a few packets of Tim Tams for our purse.

La Tourtière Australienne, 4520 Ave. du Parc, Montreal, 514-277-7437, 
www.tourtiereaustralienne.ca

If an apple of day keeps the doctor away, we've got an MD in Triple Jim's Crispy Organic Apple Chips.

Grown and manufactured in B.C., these tasty apple chips  are completely natural—and addictive. They make a perfect afternoon snack or post-dinner sweet treat.

Apples for dessert? Aren't you clever now.

Triple Jim's Crispy Organic Apple Chips, $3.99 (or 2 bags/$5 on sale now) at Whole Foods, www.wholefoods.com

Carrie Bradshaw said it best: “The only thing that I have ever successfully made in the kitchen is a mess.”

Just because we too store pumps in the oven doesn’t mean we don’t crave the odd home-cooked meal. In lieu of culinary duress, we’ve turned to Parentête, a delivery service of freshly made, individually portioned plates by chefanista Rose-Anne Gabriel. Wholesome recipes include turkey lasagna, sweet-potato shepherd’s pie, and tilapia in lemon sauce (from $8.50). 

For those of us parenting more than just ourselves, order up family-size portions (from $28) and kid-friendly meals like chicken fingers and pizza pot pie ($6). Menus change weekly and meals are never frozen so all you have to do is pop them in the oven (after you’ve removed your beloved Manolos, of course).

514-831-4431, www.parentete.com

In a perfect world, we’d buy all our produce directly from Farmer Fred. But we’re city gals and grocery store shopping is oh-so-easy.

Finally, a convenience store has opened bringing organic, farm-fresh goods en ville. Aside from Quebec-grown basics like apples, tomatoes and lemons, L’Autre Choix Mini Marché carries hard-to-get veggies. We went wild for the small Italian eggplants ($2.75/lb), salty sea beans ($32/kg), and mind-blowing selection of mushrooms like shitake ($30/kg), pied-de-mouton ($35/kg) and girolle ($41/lb). 

This tiny basement shop also stocks handy staples such as organic Upton sunflower oil ($9.75) and tinned Worthington meat substitutions (from $5.50), perfect for keeping on hand when vegan pals stop-in for supper.

Now who says country living is better? 

L’Autre Choix Mini Marché, 330A Victoria Ave., Westmount, 514-369-1888.

Beware: Do not show up to see Julie & Julia on an empty stomach or you may run out in search of beef bourguignon before the second act.

Nora Ephron’s feel-good film seamlessly jumps between two stories: Julia Child learning to cook in randy post-war Paris, and Julie Powell, a hapless pencil pusher who decides to cook all 524 recipes from Child’s iconic book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Meryl Streep’s turn as the late chef is perfect enough to make us forget the unfortunate Mamma Mia, but the real star is French food, prepared and eaten with gusto. Watching Ms. Child fry butter with great erotic fervor made us commit grave diet crimes on our way home from the theatre. 

Guilty as charged, and bon appetit!

Julie & Julia, opens today at the Scotiabank cinema, 977 Ste-Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-842-5828, www.julieandjulia.com

Trips to visit family across the pond have typically ended with a five-pound weight gain and a suitcase full of treats.

Since discovering that Mrs. Bridge’s British Bakery imports traditional English foods, our favorite treats are a mere mouse click away. We’re stocking up on scrummy nosh like chocolate Flakes ($1.59), McVities’s digestive cookies (from $3.55) and Rowntree fruit pastilles ($4.99). 

We admit this discovery hasn’t done much for our figure, but Sunday mornings of Eastenders and Hob Nobs and it’s just like being in Bucks County. 

Mrs. Bridge’s British Bakery, 416-661-8663, www.bestbritishfoods.com

November’s grey, rainy weather is no excuse to be a downer.

Take a cue from the English and brighten your spirits with a serving of bona fide pub grub at the Burgundy Lion. While we were tempted by old-school favourites like the Sunday Roast dinner ($20) and Bangers & Mash ($13), we ordered the Little Burgundy Fish & Chips ($16). We swooned over the crispy batter, the generous portions and the side order of mushy peas. It’s definitely worthy of a newspaper wrap.

Cheerio!

Burgundy Lion Pub, 2496 Notre Dame W., 514-934-0888, www.burgundylion.com

You’re longing for a fall picnic at Parc Lafontaine, but who wants to waste a sunny minute rummaging through the fridge for food?

Make a stop at Monsieur Pinchot where $10 will net you a sandwich on fresh crusty baguette, your choice of dessert pastry, and refreshing lemonade. This charming boulangerie also features a wide array of decadent cheeses, just-baked breads, artisan pizzas and almond paste-filled croissants that are perfect for enjoying in the great outdoors.

Just don’t forget to bring a pillow for that post-feast nap by the pond.

Boulangerie Monsieur Pinchot, 4354 Brébeuf, Montreal, 514-522-7192.

Watching your favorite chefs on the Food Channel is one thing, but when it comes to re-creating the dishes at home, you’re all thumbs.

Get a little coaching by signing up for a cooking seminar at Ateliers & Saveurs. Choose an on-site course about finding the best produce at the Atwater Market, or learn how to cook (and eat) gourmet brunch for your next Sunday rendezvous. These informative classes will bring out your inner Nigella quicker than you can say “soften the butter.”

Ateliers & Saveurs, 444 St. Francois-Xavier St., 514-849-2866, www.ateliersetsaveurs.com

If your munchkin turns up his nose at your homemade baby food (who doesn’t hate mushy carrots?), maybe you need a refresher from the culinary site www.weelicious.com.

With simple, fun recipes (that can be done with one hand) complete with video demonstrations, you’ll be getting them to order seconds in no time.

Parental advisory: the woman behind this site is a former model. You don’t need to look like her to cook like her!

www.weelicious.com