If ever I am at Penrith, Harris Farm Markets is always one of the stops I make. Their specials are amazing -- you can always find some amazing fruit and veggies at an affordable and competitive price. I have never had a problem with their produce either; it's always been fresh.

In addition to fruit and veg, Harris Farm Markets also offers a wide range of grocery, dairy products and bakery goods. My personal favourite would be the juices that they stock. Small bottles that cost approx. $3 elsewhere are sold for as little as $1, which is amazing in my opinion. Juices such as cranberry and guava which are rather expensive elsewhere can be bought in bigger bottles for a significantly lower price. The service is polite as you might imagine. Don't dismiss this place, they're really quite wonderful!

I had a hankering for kebabs after shopping at Blacktown Westpoint today. Unfortunately, I felt let down after a poor performance by Ali Baba.

I ordered the shaved beef with a side of salad and chips. When she handed me my small styrofoam container, I asked her if it was all in there. The server very abruptly said "Well, that's what you asked for." I found this irksome as I would have thought it good sense to separate the sides from the meat.

After my container, my disappointment escalated. There was an overabundance of salad with approximately ten chips. The salad was artless and tasted heavy-handed. It was white salad inundated with garden salad dressing and clunky pieces of tasteless tomato and cucumber. The chips were starting to become soggy from the salad dressing juice. The chips themselves tasted lukewarm, as though they had been fried quite some time ago. They seemed as though they were cooked in very hot oil as well -- they were rather brown on the outside, but tasted starchy and a little raw.

The shaved beef, which I presumed would save the day, tasted dried out and flavourless. The only thing positive about the meat was that it was portioned decently against the sides. Overall, the meal was unappetizing and not worth the money. I most likely wouldn't return to Blacktown Ali Baba in the future. Hopefully others will have better experiences.

Approximate cost: $8

K&M Driving School was recommended to me by a family friend, and after desperately wanting my licence, I decided to take her on board.

The instructor, Erin Kariakos, is a lovely woman, and incredibly patient as a teacher. I value this quality highly for driving instructors -- it is difficult to learn with impatient and temperamental people. As I built up my confidence and skill on the road, Erin took me from smaller, suburban streets to multi-laned roads with heavier traffic. She never pressured me to learn faster, and she didn't treat me like a child either.

As I was approaching the time where I wanted to take the RTA test, she began to take me on common test routes through Mount Druitt. She let me know what test instructors marked on (eg. stop signs, give way signs, checking mirrors, indicating left when exiting roundabouts, reverse parallel parking) and made me repeat these constantly until I was nothing short of proficient and perfect.

Her prices, unless they have changed, are $35 per lesson. I found this to be a competitive price as other instructors in the nearby Western Sydney area would charge close to $50 when I had called up. One drawback is the cost of hiring her car for the test. I wanted to drive in the car I had learnt everything in for the test, but it costs $100 to hire. On top of that, the RTA test booking is $50, so it does work out to be a little expensive.

I recommended Erin to a few of my other friends, and I understand that not all of them had a favourable driving experience with her. I, personally, thought she was fantastic. I do think it's all about finding the best fit with a driving instructor. Erin might not be that person for everyone, but she was for me.

Approximate cost: $35

Gleebooks is a pleasant nook tucked away into the city and holds enough books to keep one occupied for hours. The ambience is a comfortable, unobtrusive quiet that draws you in and does not disappoint.

They shelve a considerable range of titles, as you would expect from a decent bookstore. However, in my opinion, what sets Gleebooks apart from other places is that they hold events on a regular basis. The interior is split into two levels, and book signings are held upstairs. Once again, an unobtrusive method of entertaining customers without irritating the uninterested. The functions themselves tend to go over and beyond -- when I went to Melina Marchetta's book release event, drinks and food were served. It's the little things that nudge a business from 'good' to 'great'. As you can imagine, service was all around fantastic.

The only issue would be their prices. After the rise of internet shopping and e-books, actual bookstores like Gleebooks cease to be competitive in their prices. This is not just Gleebooks, but all actual bookstores across the board -- and understandably so, as raw materials and wages have costs that must be met. Nonetheless, despite their RRP prices, there is something inherently romantic about visiting a bookstore and strolling leisurely through their selection. Keep an eye out for their events displayed on their website, as you might be surprised. If you're in the city, Gleebooks is a place I'd recommend.

I have been frequenting this Salvo's for years, and probably more to come.

If you are willing to go through every item on their shelves (a cumbersome task as you might imagine), then you have a good opportunity to find some gems. This Salvation Army also has a 'colour tag' special; certain garments, according to the colour of their price tags, will be discounted to either $1 or $3. This is a fantastic deal, guaranteed if you can actually find something in those colours.

Books, however, are incredibly expensive nowadays. They have been gradually increasing their prices over the years, and have reached a point where sometimes musty paperbacks cost more than $5. This is steep considering their prices were once approximately $1-$2.

Service is somewhat questionable. Sometimes, there will be friendly cashiers ringing up your wares. However, other times the cashiers will be crankier, which I find irritating. I do, however, like their 'no plastics' policy, which discourages wastefulness.

As with any op-shop, there's no certainty that you'll be a winner, but the key is to keep frequenting. I have had the pleasure of unearthing some amazing products at a fraction of their retail price.

I confess, I am not a chocoholic. I understand that this might be some cause for concern... nonetheless, I am not immune to the charms of Max Brenner.

Their menu is a little steeply priced for my likes, considering their portions are not spectacularly large, and the flavours can become rather tiresome and repetitive. If I attend Max Brenner, I usually do so for their Belgian Waffles with chocolate sauce. Simple and homely, they are a delight to otherwise ordinary days, a dependable feel-good option. The chocolate sauce does not smother the waffle, but is enough to cover every bite taken.

Their Italian Hot Chocolate is also a great option. However, I would caution drinkers to allow for an ample amount of time for the drink to cool, as it burnt my tongue the first time. It is incredibly rich, however, and is virtually impossible to finish -- so upgrading to a large might not be necessary if you can only have your chocolate in measured doses.

As this is predominantly a chocolate cafe, I would caution cafe-goers to stay away from their coffee choices. Their flat white is horrendous, I'm sorry to say, and does not particularly resemble coffee. If you are perusing their menu, they have much better options.

Service depends on the day and time that you attend. If it's nighttime, be prepared to wait at least 20 minutes in the line - it can get tiresome and one occasion I even left the line. However, during lunch time their turnover rates aren't overwhelming and the wait periods aren't drastic. Staff have always been friendly and polite, so there's no issue with that.

I've decided that whether you consider the prices reasonable depends on how you value and rejoice in chocolate. As I have an ambivalent relationship with chocolate based products, I consider their prices to be a bit high. While their desserts are yummy, they are not necessarily mind-blowing. Still, it's a dependable place and not one that gets old too quick.

Approximate cost: $8

Basement Books is a little haven tucked away into the pedestrian tunnel in the heart of Sydney. Sometimes I'll make a trip out to the city just to visit this place, and it's never a wasted journey.

Basement Books is nothing short of fabulous considering their value. Their books are marked down to ridiculously low prices, putting RRPs to shame when in comparison. The downside is that they won't always have specific books that you might be looking for, and they can't order them in. But after a good, long browse, you simply can't go home empty-handed.

They have books from every notable genre - crime, thrillers, romance, classical, young adult, paranormal, fantasy, world, cooking - you get the point. If you're after a present for a certain someone, you will undeniably find something at a fantastic price.

The books aren't necessarily in an order that you might find at a place like Dymocks. Finding something might be difficult amidst the paper chaos. Having said that, that's the fun part of bookstores. If you decide to visit, make sure you have plenty of time on your hands. Bookstores are places of leisure and comfort. Don't rush the process.

Quaint little things: they have shopping baskets placed strategically at the store's entrance. It's as if they're psychic, knowing you're going to pick up enough to start your own library.

The books will be a little worn sometimes - there might be marks on them, or the pages might be slightly bent. However, if this is the price you pay for otherwise fantastic books, so be it.

The service is usually good. Sometimes the staff can be a little irritable, but I've also had the pleasure of meeting and chatting to some delightful workers there. I recommend this place highly. It might be far from organised, but it's easy to fall in love with.

Approximate cost: $5

A group of friends and I decided to visit San Churro Penrith after leaving Hoyts one drizzly night. My friends had claimed that churros were delicious, and as a long Spanish donut virgin, I welcomed the opportunity to try something new.

For a Monday night, the cafe was virtually empty. Given that, it still took the waitress about five minutes before she came to greet us. After we decided on what we wanted to eat, the waitress came to take our orders. I ordered the "Bubbaccino", an amusing sounding drink that I was curious to try, as well as Churros for 6. My friends ordered their milkshakes and then we waited.

To reiterate, the place was not packed therefore one would assume prompter service. I might not have minded the wait that day, as I was neither hungry nor impatient (as I was chatting with friends), but on another day, long waits could easily be found as tiresome.

When the waitress returned with our drinks and churros, I noticed that she had not given me my bubbaccino. I waited for another 5+ minutes until I checked the receipt and realised that it was not even on there. Despite the fact that my drink was the first item that I mentioned while ordering, it had not been written down and therefore I never got it. I was greatly disappointed in this, and did not bother to hail her back down for it.

The churros themselves were vastly unappetizing. Thinking they would taste like doughnuts, it was an unwelcome surprise to find something that essentially tasted like deep fried potato chips. The only things that made eating these churros possible were the caramel and liquid chocolate as supporting condiments. After eating them, my stomach felt uncomfortably unsettled as well.

I can only state that Chocolateria San Churro is not particularly eloquent through their food. This, combined with my missing order makes this an establishment that I am not necessarily eager to visit in the near future.

Approximate cost: $10

If I'm ever wandering around in Blacktown and I feel hungry, there's not even a question of where I'm going to end up. Hooked on Kebabs is a hole-in-the-wall sanctuary that provides delicious comfort food.

I could describe their kebabs, but why bother? They're fantastic, as one might imagine. However, the outstanding dish of the day is always, without a doubt, their pides. I have had pides all throughout Sydney and this is the only place that seems to understand flavour. A tendency for pide makers is to stuff the Turkish bread with meat and cheese. Hooked on Kebabs actually takes the time and effort to season the meat with herbs and spices. The bread isn't packed to the brim in a way that results in messy eating. They also go light on the cheese, so it doesn't overpower the flavour of the meat. They also add onion and capsicum to the seasoning, making it a mouthwatering takeaway dish instead of a sub-par stomach filler.

Service is pretty decent, even when they're slammed. Not really a place I'd eat in though, because it can get messy quickly due to their high rates of turnover. One thing that irks me is that they never cut something exactly in half when we ask - it's not that hard to do! However, that's just not an issue in light of their pides. Furthermore, they're reasonably priced as well, at a bargain $5 for each pide.

If you think you know good pides, I dare you to try this! Absolutely wonderful, probably the only good place to eat on Main St, Blacktown.

Approximate cost: $7

If you're looking for a tasty, filling lunch while shopping, then this is probably the best option inside Mt Druitt Westfield.

Their kebabs are delicious. Pressed in the good ol' grill until the bread is crunchy, this kebab is one of the best that I've tried. Beef is a safe option, and even with a simple salad of lettuce, tomato and sauce, this never fails to please.

However, I would probably stay away from their pides. While I am a fan of pides in general, the ones from Ala Sultan are clunky and flavourless. Once again, filling - they're not sparse with their meat and cheese - but there is nothing tasty about them that makes you want to come back for another bite.

I would heartily recommend their kebabs to anyone. Juicy beef/lamb with a generous salad, this place can easily become a safety net for fast-food in Mount Druitt.

Approximate cost: $8