Fundamental Food Store

A BIG thumbs up to Dennis who helped me over the phone yesterday… yes, they had what I needed in stock and off I went to collect it… unfortunately I was not met by Dennis but another girl behind the counter who was rude. Sometimes people just treat you like you’re their worst enemy and you’ve never actually met before… thats how I felt. Keep Dennis… ditch the blonde behind the counter. Besides that, I love Fundies… the café, the selection of foods… its your one stop shop for all things healthy and I just like being in there and soaking up the goodness of the place. We are lucky to have a shop like this in Brisbane.

If you’re a fiend for wholesome, organic, all natural and über-​healthy noshes, then Fundamental Food Store (or Fundies as it is known locally) is the place for you. Attached to the equally popular Fundies Café, this is a grocer where you can walk the aisles finding everything health wise your heart (or food allergy) desires: a great gluten free range, 100% cocoa, coconut oil, sprouted bread, a pretty decent natural skin care range and that’s just the beginning. I seem to find something more each time I visit. The staff are always ready to answer any questions you may have and just being in the store makes me feel healthier!

Fundamentals Food Store is actually a Go Vita health shop in disguise. They are listed on the Go Vita website, however they are branded as Fundamentals.
When I spoke to the staff about this, they said they all receive the same stock from the same suppliers, but Fundamentals has focussed a bit more of the food side of things.
They have two staff members who are trained Naturopaths, who you can ask for health advice without any appointment or cost.
Fundamentals Food Store is the shop side of things, while Fundamentals Café (or Fundies) is an actual café eatery.
There is also the Fundamental Health Clinic out the back, where they specialise in Japanese Acupuncture and Oriental Massage and is by appointment only.

This store, locally known as «Fundies», has been a favourite of the local Paddington community for a good decade now, at least. Paddington embraced «green» eating (at least in a public commercial sense) ahead of the suburbs and I remember moving to Paddington and thinking this store very modern and forward. Now, I think it’s alright, but it falls prey to the Paddington Curse: it’s too expensive.
Fundies probably could, in part, justify its prices for organic products back when the idea of selling organic food was in its infancy. But the spread of organic food stores makes it hard to explain away still-​high prices in a store that is no longer unique. There are even organic food and health products in Woolworths and Coles, and though of course these supermarket giants stock only a proportion of Fundies’ range at least what they do stock is just moderate-​level expensive.
The shop assistant was friendly to me the last time I came in. Unfortunately I made the mistake of revealing my ailment («I’m run down,» I told her, pathetically) and she spoke with me at extensive length about all the products I should be taking. In the end, I felt so guilty taking up so much of her time that I even bought some of the stuff. I can’t say it helped me much — but then I didn’t keep it up like you’re supposed to.
In the mean time, I think I’ll just stick with echinacea and olive leaf extract for my organic needs — and I can buy them from my local chemist.

Since this place originated in my hometown, of course I have to give them a bit of a rap. Bias aside, this is a great place to pick up all your organic and natural food needs. The Paddington location is the only one in Brisbane, is pretty big and full of only the very best produce that your body will love you for.
Along with their range of packaged food, serve yourself nuts and grains, and organic fresh produce, they offer a decent sized organic skin care section. The prices are reasonable too; I was excited to purchase a bag of dried apple for a little over $ 2. I also made the impulse purchase of a naturally made honey lollipop; it was interesting and I could certainly taste the difference between that and a Chupa Chup — perhaps there are some things in the world that should not be made naturally.

Fundies doesn’t have a long menu of complex dishes. It doesn’t have a beautifully outfitted café with fancy furniture. The thing about Fundies is that it doesn’t need any of those things.
As a carnivore, I was always slightly put off by the idea of a café inside a health food store, thinking that the food would be bland and inferior to my other favourite cafes. Then I did a vegan month, and decided to check it out. I was completely blown away by this little place. The store is fantastic, stocked with everything anybody with dietary requirements could ever imagine. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, coeliac, or just a health nut, Fundies is a must-​visit. Of course, there are other health food stores in Brisbane, but the best part is when your shopping is done and you sit down for a bite to eat in the small, unassuming café. I ordered the scrambled tofu, something I had always thought sounded horrible, but is actually amazing. The flavours were big, and the sides of wilted spinach and tomatoes were the best I’d tasted. I then shared a slice of vegan chocolate tart with my friend, which we both agreed was one of the best desserts we’d tasted.
So, carnivore or not, Fundies is definitely worth a visit. You can stock up your pantry while you’re there and have a delicious (and cheap!) breakfast or lunch while you’re there. It’s a good reminder that sometimes, simple food is the best.

In an age where convenience, fast and refined foods, preservatives and chemicals have defined our eating habits (and our ever expanding waistlines) Fundies represents what food shopping should be.
Providing the locals with a professionally run health food outlet for many years, offering nutrient dense whole foods and fresh organic fruits and vegetables, Fundies is a Paddington favorite.
Often I come across a health food recipe that details an array of items not normally seen at your local supermarket and I now know that it is more than likely to be stocked here. What I love most about this store is the overarching community vibe that surrounds the place and its employees, it makes you feel welcome and part of something special.

Fundies, as it’s locally known, is Paddington’s health food one stop shop. They stock all the standard dry goods, but it’s their organic fruit, veg, dairy and frozen sections that are really impressive. They also sell items such as tahini, peanut butter and olive oil by weight, making it heaps cheaper than buying from chain stores.
In addition, Fundies has a great range of organic skin care and household items, and is a distributor for Eden seeds (heirloom seeds). Try the organic chocolate, my husband is addicted to it.
The adjoining café does healthy juices and lunches, and not so healthy (but delicious) Byron Pies. These pies have the most amazing buttery pastry and their ratatouille is the best vegetarian pie I’ve ever had. You can buy frozen ones for home from the food side of the store, and as far as I can tell Fundies is one of the only stockists in Brisbane. Be warned, addiction may ensue.