Day 1085 Let's party 'til we die

So we’ll have to endure another 4 years of the orange man on the other side of the Atlantic, big woop. Look at our government, it’s not much better. The trouble with the left is that it’s constantly evolving for better and for worse but it provides an uncertainty that many can’t get on board with. Conservatism on the other hand, hasn’t changed its tradition and values since partying began. And it’s genius too. Values and traditions that benefit the few and convince the rest that they too one day be able to sit with the twats of the round table.

Salads:

Black lentil + roasted cauliflower

Ginger + turmeric rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Roast squash + ginger

Day 1084 Catch me if you can

I am aware that there was no blog yesterday. I had only one thing I wanted to write about and I couldn’t find the way to word it. I will speak in tongues… you all live on one of the most expensive roads in Clapham each house boasting ample gardens. Shutting down the road so your children can play on gravel is a joke. Meanwhile the kids that live on the council estate are told they can’t play ball on the small amount of grass that they’re allotted. You use the council as a plaything.

Salads:

Med veg chickpea

Lemon + parsley rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Chilli CON carne

Soup: Indian spiced cauliflower + potato

Sandwich: Chorizo, Chilli pecorino, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1083 Take me home

I’ll be honest I don’t want to be here. I want to be at home. I’ve done the fun part, catching up with the people, finding out what’s on the agenda for the weekend. Now I have to work the Friday lunch shift with Mad and it is sure to drive me insane. If you see me looking displeased in the corner it’s because I am.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Sweet chilli + chive rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Sandwich: Speck ham, Fontina cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1082 The walk to happiness

I had one of the funniest dinners of my life yesterday, if you haven’t been I suggest you try Caminata in Balham, top notch nosh. The deli dog is feeling better today and the overall vibe in the deli is immaculate. So good infact that when a nemesis of mine came in their venom has no effect on me. Hazar!

Salads:

Moroccan spiced lentils

Leek and dill rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Soup: Indian spiced spinach + potato

Day 1081 Mad world

What an interesting morning filled with fun characters and gripping conversation. Wrong day for it as we are really up against it but what am I suppose to do? Tell my custom to be less entertaining? No chance! I’ve really been enjoying doing the prep this week, it’s been so peaceful in my head but the life that surrounds me has been more chaotic than usual.

Salads:

Chickpea + aubergine

Lemon + herb rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Sandwich: Parma ham, Manchego, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1080 I'm not being weird, you're being weird

Much better day today, until that thing happened that i’m not allowed to talk about or even acknowledge. Anyway…today will be fine, everything is fine.

Salads:

Braised white beans

Spinach + herb rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Sweetcorn, ginger + chilli

Day 1079 Bartholomew doesn't like black pepper

The weekend was great and it’s been a quiet morning. We’ve still managed to be frequented by some of the stereotypes of Clapham that we all love to hate. I am perplexed how some parents allow their children to operate, you have to live with that, and that thing would just rain misery on my life. But each to their own…Thank God.

Salads:

Beetroot goulash

Red pepper rice

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Croutoned carrot + chickpea salad with dill + pecorino dressing

Soup: Tomato + basil

Day 1078 I have to stop

I have to make some changes in my life that I don’t want to but I have to, as if life doesn’t suck enough already. It’s been so busy this morning I already feel like i’ve put in a whole shift but I still have a solid 8 hours left which of course i’m trying not to think about. Here’s to the freakin weekend.

Salads:

Sriracha roasted sweet potato + chickpea

Rainbow rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Sandwich: Spicy salami, Gorgonzola, Caramelised onion relish + tomato

Day 1077 Why are you like this?

I have happily let the day run away from me because I was enjoying my morning. My heart is filled with fuzzy feelings that’ll soon be squashed by the general population. Joking I am, but I do find whenever I’m in a good mood (which is a rarity as we all know) I get extra angry when someone soils it. Not only are you repugnant but you’ve drawn me away from an infrequent happy place. Hence the added rage.

Salads:

Five spiced veg + black beans

Kimchi rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Squash + rosemary

Sandwich: Chorizo, Pecorino cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1076 Stay calm

I had a strange day yesterday. I couldn’t chill, my brain was just going on and on, words were constantly leaving my mouth. I genuinely pissed myself off. I will try and not get side tracked today, I will stay on my quiet path and remain composed.

Salads

Black lentil curry

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Tomato + french bean pasta

Braised veg + halloumi

Soup: Potato, cauliflower + hint of turmeric

Day 1075 New saga

I used to play sous to the chef, I would stand in the corner, prep veg and my mind would wonder. I would create these fantasy worlds in my head while I butchered the broccoli, some of the sagas still continue to this day. Inevitably, as I grow older, new trains of thoughts start, these ones have more adult themes and truth be told, they suck. If I prep for too long there’s the possibility of a derailing.

Salads:

Med veg chickpeas

Spinach + herb rice

Roast squash + rosemary pasta

Roast vegetable salad with goats cheese dressing

Sandwich: Speck ham, Chilli pecorino, spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1074 Changing roles

We will be Nelly-less for 2 weeks so I become the sous. It’s been super busy this morning between prepping and making sandwiches. I’ve gone into robot mode. This being said, I don’t have the time for a quick quip this morning. I will probably have to start thinking about the blog ahead of time. Rather than just word vomiting the thought in my head when my hands touch the keyboard.

Salads:

Peri peri cauliflower + split peas

Roast pepper rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Mushroom salad with croutons + cheese dressing

Sandwich: Pulled pork, Kimchi slaw + sriracha mayo

Day 1073 The lights are on but nobody's home

I made myself an Italian hot chocolate this morning and ate it with a spoon because she was thicc. I can’t say I’m very present on this Friday, I’m just a body in the room, a character in the background. I want to be, at least today I do, but that seems like an impossible dream.

Salads:

Mild vegetable curry

Rainbow rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Sandwich: Garlic salami, Brie, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1072 Another day

I have suffered a heavy case of ‘all the days fading into one’ this morning. I could have sworn I wrote the menu and expressed feelings, exposed some of the creepy corners of my mind that would be best kept to myself but alas the blog was blank. I got lost in explicit my DMs and heavy hitting discussion with my general public. And there was a little bit of puss too…

Salads:

Thai coconut curry

Lemon + herb rice

Cauliflower + pumpkin seed pasta

Chicken, Chive + potato braise

Day 1071 Caffeinated conundrums

I have had a great morning, lunch rush is looking tasty and I have a fun evening planned. I don’t even think the insulting heckles from the chef will move my positive mood! It’s been a really busy morning, it seems Clapham is slowly realizing that we do the best + cheapest coffee on the block…only took 20 years. I love (most of) my morning crowd and I’m worried some newbie that thinks they have a great personality will come in and ruin what we’ve made…

Salads:

Med veg + borlotti bean

Spinach + herb rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Soup: Moroccan spiced veg

Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, Provola cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1070 Change of tone

Hello my sweet petals. Sorry for the miserable post yesterday, everything I said was true but not the best thing to read at the start of your week. Today I will keep it fun and light hearted, let’s talk about something positive…i’m thinking, i’m thinking…nope! Can’t think of anything, we’ll try again tomorrow!

Salads:

Moroccan spiced chickpea

Sumac rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Broccoli, potato + miso

Day 1069 Happy Monday

I think you can only be happy if you’re ignorant. I could go out for dinner and get a quick dopamine hit for a pretty penny (or use hard drugs but one is trying to cut down) but when the experience is over and reality kicks in, and you look past the end of your own nose, this world is well and truly fucked. Genuinely there is nothing we can do about it, we’re way too far gone.

Salads:

Coconut lentils + roast squash

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Soup: Carrot, orange + potato

Sandwich: Parma ham, Manchego cheese, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1068 Hej!

My brother and I went to Ikea yesterday. We had a very amicable and enjoyable time, I’m so proud of us! It was interesting to find out that a lot of the deli custom (or more than I was expecting) are not Swedish warriors. The flat pack paradise is not what furnishes their abode. Does the name Billy and Kallax mean nothing to you?!

Salads:

Roast peppers + chickpea

Carrot + dill rice

Chicken ragu pasta

Soup: Spiced tomato + lentils

Sandwich: Garlic salami, Pecorino cheese, Tomato + spicy peach relish

Day 1067 I'll take what I can get

I had a great evening which is a surprise because Mother Nature came pounding down on me like a ton of bricks. Sometimes being a civil member of society can be a bore but if you keep your head down and stick to the rules you might just be rewarded in the most unexpected fashion. Xièxiè!

Salads:

Braised white bean + mushroom

Spinach + herb rice

Roast squash + rosemary ragu pasta

Roast pepper + crouton salad with ceaser dressing

Soup: Spiced broccoli + potato

Day 1066 For why?

Another leisurely morning fades away in to lunchtime mania and I have nothing on my mind. That’s obviously a lie, I have many things on my mind but nothing that I’d like to share because I think my mind is being unreasonable. I start trying to convince myself of the reasons to be reasonable and before you know it the time window that I had to show reason has gone. Oh well, maybe next time.

Salads:

Black lentil + cauliflower curry

Peshwari rice (no nuts)

Tomato, courgette + rosemary pasta

Soup: Broccoli, pea + potato

Sandwich: Mortadella, Provola, jalapeno relish + tomato