north st. deli

Fast · Fresh · Delicious

Day 1170 Inflated

We need some kind of French style revolution because these prices are getting too high. Services are getting worse and quality of life is diminishing. It’s hard to tell in London because there’s such a variety of lifestyles and tax brackets but one things for sure. You can’t have the rich without the poor. The high costs come about because people don’t want to be self sufficient or they don’t want to work as hard as the rest so they want a quick fix. But at what expense?

Salads:

Braised many beans

Lemon + herb rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato + rosemary

Day 1169 Still full from the night before

I’m still full from yesterday, but I got lost in a hot pot vortex and I couldn’t stop eating! So I’m feeling a little docile this morning but I have plenty of work on the menu to zip me up. I have to make a few boring calls today, perfectly fitting for a tedious Tuesday. Can’t wait for the long Easter weekend, I wanna be able to get outside and enjoy the sun while it lasts.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced chickpea

Sumac rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced spinach + tomato

Day 1168 As good as it gets

I wish a week of bad luck to the trio that parked their lime bikes outside out front door. I had a proper weekend. Laser tag, gardening, hike in the Surrey hills and great food... of course. I’m heading into this week on top form and it looks like we’re going to have perfect London weather! The blossoms are blossoming and the city is looking it’s best, carpe diem my people, carpe diem!

Salads:

Mexican beans

Indian spiced rice

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Soup: Mild vegetable madras

Day 1167 Can't wait to be hot under the collar

March is coming to a close and we’ve had a taste of spring, a reminder of how good weather can really change the mood of this island. The simple pleasure of being outside. I intend to make the most of whatever warm weather this country might get but I must be conscious to not indulge in the plethora of paid for entertainment available. It takes years to create savings but mere moments can desecrate them.

Salads:

Lentil curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Med veg lentil

Sandwich: Speck ham, Smoked mozzarella, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1166 Such is life

You can’t have good without the bad. I treated myself to a massage yesterday (shout out to Thai Blossom Wandsworth), I was in a state of utter bliss as I pottered back to my car, took out my key and dopped it…in a drain. Peak. I was kindly chauffeured home by my friend to get my spare. Problem solved. Got home, checked on my garden, the foxes had dug up my crops, I replanted, I think they’ll survive. Ended it all with a sexy sandwich made by yours truly and I slept pretty. Life.

Salads:

Thai coconut curry with squash

Spinach + herb rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Soup: Roast squash + oregano

Day 1165 To dream the impossible dream

I was too busy sleeping this morning to remember to wake up on time. I love dreamland, there was a point last year when I was so enamoured by my dreams I was napping whenever I could in the hopes of experiencing a whole new world. I’d guess because my brain is always doing over time i’m nearly always guaranteed an entertaining dream, sometime I even speak when i’m in slumber, no surprise there.

Salads:

Med veg lentil

Rosemary + lemon rice

Beef ragu pasta

Soup: Spiced sweet potato + tomato

Day 1164 On my mind

Most of my day is spent thinking about food. This makes sense as I work in a food establishment but I liken everything to food, my joy relies heavily of the meals I eat. I found myself in an irritated mood yesterday and I realised it’s because I skipped lunch, can you imagine?! The card machine went down and I was too busy trying to fix it that my lunch window closed. While some might resort to a snack or quick bite I forgo the occasion because food should be savoured not just devoured!

Salads:

Black bean + aubergine

Crispy tofu rice

Roast squash + rosemary pasta

Soup: Sweetcorn, ginger + tomato

Day 1163 Mood to mindset

Another dreary start in London but I’m feeling content. The slightly warmer weather last week reminded me of the small joys that summer brings and though this week is set to be grey, my mood is not. There will always be tedious tasks to execute, the difference is the state of mind. The difference between my mood now and the same time last year is night and day. It might forecast grey skies, but the sun is shining in my head. Blessings.

Salads:

Mushroom cacciatore

Spinach + herb rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Bean, tomato + spinach

Sandwich: Parma ham, Provola piccante, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1162 And the list goes on

And we’ve made it to the end of the week, what a peaceful week it was. The spring clean was productive and very dusty, i’m no where near finished. There’s always going to be something else that needs to be done, life moves fast and tasks accumulate and fester. I have a long list yet to conquer but i’m noting them down and getting through them, finally.

Salads:

Harissa spiced white beans

Spinach + herb rice

Roast vegetable pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Day 1161 Spring clean

With Spring creeping in it’s time to get cleaning. Bits and bobs have a way of accumulating and at this point I could open a second hand shop with the amount of odds and sods we have lying around. This evening I will start the very necessary cleanse. We can’t move forward and evolve if we have to manoeuvre around all the trinkets of our past.

Salads:

Peri peri cauliflower + split peas

Ginger + lemon rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Soup: Spiced spinach + tomato

Sandwich: Napoli salami, Taleggio cheese, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1160 Sun is shining

I heard a whisper that the sun might make an appearance for the next few days and apparently she’s bringing some heat! I went to check out this rumour and saw a lot of raindrops due for next week. Let’s take in these rays while they’re here. We all know too well that the good times don’t last long. In saying this, we’re 3 months into this year and i’m still chipper! Harah!

Salads:

Black bean + sweet potato curry

Rice salad

Spring green pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced sweet potato + ginger

Day 1159 Maybe you're the asshole

If you are the type of person that parks their lime bike across the pavement so that it impedes the pedestrians I hope you have an awful day. I hope no one is kind to you and that you are surrounded by people that look out for number one. Selfish people, because you are a selfish person. Genuinely help me understand why I must be kind to a person that sees no issue with parking their rented bike across the pavement? Scum.

Salads:

Beetroot goulash

Carrot + dill rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Broccoli, chilli + garlic

Sandwich: Milano salami, Raclette cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1158 Monday rush

I feel like I watched a ton of desperate housewives this weekend but i’m only on season 3! The week ahead is not looking very entertaining. I enjoy Monday’s because the chores of the week have no yet unveiled themselves but today, that is not the case. The ‘to do’s’ are piling up so I need to get a head start. Now i’m one of you, to hell with Monday’s.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced chickpea curry

Sumac rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Soup: Indian spiced vegetables

Sandwich: Speck ham, Pecorino cheese, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1157 Manners maketh man

Manners are so much more than just please and thank you. It’s the way you carry yourself, the demeaner you perpetuate to the people around you. We stereotype as a way to protect ourselves, constantly convincing your mind to trust the person that stands before you. But many of those people who we convince ourselves to trust deceive us, with the surface level manners that are please and thank you.

Salads:

Black lentil curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Beef ragu pasta

Veggie pasta bake

Soup: Mild vegetable madras

Day 1156 Long live the Big Smoke

The weather is giving misery but London is built for this. It’s easy to get consumed by such a large city. There’s so many people and they’re all on the go but when I get to travel to other cities I find I fall in love with London again. There’s so much green space, there’s always something to do and if you slow down a little, you’ll find there is community. You just need to find it.

Salads:

Chickpea + squash curry

Lemongrass rice

Tomato, french bean + basil pasta

Soup: Med veg

Sandwich: Spicy salami, Gorgonzola, Onion relish + tomato

Day 1155 Old vs new

We will have a newbie behind the counter today, I hope we make a good first impression. Who knows what’ll walk through that door (customers that is). I had a great check in this morning with my Turkish babe from down under. Life moves faster than we expect. Whenever I think i’m stagnant, a good with her will always remind me of what I was vs what I am now. The glow up is crazy.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Red pepper rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Spiced chickpea + mushroom

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

Day 1154 Another Tuesday

It was one of those mornings where I had no desire to hop out of bed but i’m here and i’m proud of myself. I finally got round to writing up my review of Bubala which is now on the blog. Pardon my poor grammar. I gave Moose a trim yesterday, which is always chaotic, he’s not the best client so he’s looking a little choppy but luckily he’s still got personality!

Salads:

Ginger + turmeric chickpea

Leek, black olive + tomato rice

Smokey aubergine pasta

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Sandwich: Pastrami, brie, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1154 Bon weekend

We’re home safe and sound from the far off land of France. It was a successful weekend i’d say. We felt like we were away for longer than just one night. The main attraction being food, the weekend consisted mainly of cafe hopping. Ideal. It really solidifies to me that the British food market needs to up it’s game, we don’t care about food enough and when a provider does care, they slap a heavy price tag on it.

Salads:

Braised red peppers + white bean

Spinach + herb rice

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Soup: Mild vegetable madras

Day 1153 Mini backpack moment

When in school, a teacher told us tales of how she’d travel whenever she could. She encouraged us to go forth and discover the world with the promise that the education would be priceless. Spontaneous weekends away are always on my mind but i’ve always made excuses (and a world wide pandemic shut boarders for a long while). My mystical Dragon came to me with a want to get out there, so we’ll be in France this weekend. Hopefully it’s a bon voyage!

Salads:

Black bean in black bean sauce

Oriental rice salad

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Soup: Spiced tomato

Sandwich: Bacon, Cheddar, Onion relish + tomato

Day 1152 What is a sponsor?

I’ve been watching desperate housewives, one of them is struggling with alcohol so she has a sponsor. Inevitably said sponsor becomes her friend, this always seems the case with any show you watch (with this subject matter). Of course they do, because a sponsor is just a friend, a confidant, someone you confide in that is separate to the rest of your life. Someone who comes to you with an open heart and a common knowledge that it’s easier to numb yourself with vices rather than facing troubles head on. Sad that some people don’t have that.

Salads:

Five spiced aubergine + black bean

Pink ginger + crispy shallot rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Soup: Leek + potato