north st. deli

Fast · Fresh · Delicious

Day 429 Blow me

I dragged myself to the gym yesterday, sweated my demons out then headed to Tesco for some spinach to accompany my meatballs waiting for me at home. I was red in the face, tired and the wind was blowing me in every direction. At the checkout the guy behind the counter asked me why i’m smiling. Next time I’ll match my face to my mood I guess.

Salads:

Med veg lentil

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Courgette · tomato · parsley + lemon pasta

Spring salad dressed with feta + seeds

Sandwich: Bresaola, Parmesan + ricotta cream + tomato

Day 428 Blinded

A while back I had an obsession with the real housewives of Beverly Hills, i’ve moved on to something new. Love is Blind. I nearly cried yesterday but then I remembered i’m a full grown man and I kept it together. Unfortunately I have an addictive personality so I’m binge watching and the gym has gone on the back burner.

Salads:

Cauliflower, potato + chickpea curry

Cumin roasted carrot rice

Aubergine, tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato + rosemary

Day 427 Kill them

I’m a little worker ant today but I’m doing one of my least favourite duties. Being a savage. No really, it’s true. This bitchy life is not for me, it’s all an act I swear. However when someone or something really gets on your Nelly, you must verbally beat them until death.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Sumac + chive rice

Vegetable ragu pasta

Paneer + bean curry

Soup: Spiced lentil + tomato

Sandwich: Fennel salame, Fontina cheese, chilli relish + tomato

Day 426 Sad but happy

I’m well rested and ready for a new week. The weather is miserable but I’m in good spirits. I’m hoping this week will be filled with less drama. I’m just waiting for the days where I can rise from slumber and see the sun rather than darkness. Happy Valentine’s day.

Salads:

Veggie curry with mung bean

Peshwari rice (contains nuts)

Mushroom ragu pasta

Chicken + tarragon braise

Soup: Potato · leek + dill

Sandwich: Roast beef, camembert cheese, onion relish, Tomato + mustard

Day 425 Summary

Yesterday was intense. At breakfast I had to play the role of a therapist. Lunchtime we had to chase down two boys trying to steal Stella’s bike (thank you to the customers that helped) and at night, Casa Micky turned into a barbers shop. A lot happened but this is a brief and somewhat kosher version of what went down.

Salads:

Chickpea · Jerusalem artichoke in a mushroom braise

Savoy + leek rice

Leek · black olive + tomato pasta

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Sandwich: Parma ham, Ermesender cheese, jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 424 Boys only

Biting your tongue is a great skill to posses. However when it comes to certain political conversations that skill can suck it, I have something to say. Yesterday a customer told me ‘a woman shouldn’t use that word but it’s okay if a man does’. There’s a multitude of points I could use to destroy this statement but the shortest response I can find to do so is the word he told me not to use… He’s a cunt.

Salads:

Paprika peppers + white beans

Chilli + lemon rice

Beef + pork ragu pasta

Panzanella with Turkish cheese

Soup: Cumin roasted potato · kale + lentil

Day 423 New things

I cried with laughter for hours yesterday. It was comedy night at my favourite pub. I’m not a fan of pub culture but in the spirit of trying new things I’ve been frequenting establishments a bit more and I’ve found one place that is just like my living room. Perfect.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Kale + pumpkin seed pesto pasta

Soup: Spiced lentils + tomato

Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, Cheddar cheese, Tomato relish + classic coleslaw

Day 422 I work

If you come in the morning you’ll be use to the sight of me in the sandwich section absolutory slaying the scene. I love when one of my lunch time honey’s come in and seem genuinely surprised at the sight of me ‘doing work’ I think many think i’m just some mouthy child behind a counter…

Salads:

Curried lentils

Indian spiced rice

Roast squash + rosemary pasta

Paneer + chickpea stewed thing

Soup: Tuscan tomato with rosemary

Day 421 Sunny days

You know in Disney and Pixar movies how a character will look at a view and recall fun times spent there and then it fades to reality which is usually a little sadder. Well that’s me walking through the park. I look at a spot and recall summers past and then get smacked by the current cold winds. Sad.

Salads:

Thai spiced squash + black eyed beans

Ginger + crispy shallot rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

BBQ jackfruit rice noodle salad

Soup: Mild vegetable madras

Sandwich: Roast lamb, Goats cheese, Minted yogurt, onion relish + tomato

Day 420 High

It’s day 420 #blazeit I’ve had a great week but it started with a small cut in my mouth. Due to the extensive banter and laughter it has become larger and i’m now in a bit of pain. My smile like look as if I’ve had botox because i’m trying not to move my mouth too much.

Salads:

Chickpea + pepper ragu

Rainbow rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Broccoli + polenta cheesy bake

Soup: Roast squash + tomato

Day 419 Empty

Quite stressed today. Usually I love this feeling but today feels different, almost like I’m missing something that I know i’ll never find. I don’t mean to sound like an inspirational quote instagram page. Maybe I feel this way because I’m without my Portuguese lady. The silence is deafening.

Salads:

Peri peri cauliflower with split peas

Lightly indian spiced rice

Mushroom pasta

Chicken + potato warm concoction

Soup: Tuscan med veg

Sandwich: Bresola (cured bee), Provola cheese, Spicy peach relish, tomato (there was a miscommunication this is today’s special)

Day 418 Give yourself a pat on the back

I went for a cheeky Nando’s yesterday. It genuinely was cheeky because I try and have the mindset of a somewhat normal human being by that I reward myself with fun outings later in the week as a form of reward for making it through this testing life.

Salads:

Aubergine + black bean in black bean sauce

Miso + edamame rice

Fregola with a roast pepper ragu

Baked pasta

Soup: Chickpea · tomato · chilli + garlic

Sandwich: Bresola (cured beef), Provola cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 417 Formaggio

Yesterday didn’t exactly go smoothly but this morning I was greeted with 2 kilo’s of Comte and that’s put me in a great mood. I really am a food addict. Diamonds and gold are nice but get me a kilo or Gorgonzola and I might just shed a tear.

Salads:

Moroccan lentils

Sumac + preserved lemon rice

Chorizo ragu pasta

Roast vegetable panzanella

Soup: Velvet mushroom

Day 416 Let's munch

I ate so much this weekend but I regret NOTHING. I like going on what my family now call ‘food pilgrimages’. This is where I walk to multiple food shops and enjoy a day of heavy eating. London has a huge offering and I won’t get to taste it all but I cover a lot of ground on my walks.

Salads:

Beetroot goulash

Spinach + herb rice

Leek · black olive + tomato pasta

5 spice tofu chow mein noodles

Soup: Lightly spiced broccoli + potato

Sandwich: Mortadella ham, cheddar, Branston pickle + tomato

Day 415 Box of chocolates

I understand that you never know what mood the staff will be in when you’re going to the deli. In a normal setting, it wouldn’t be something to consider because the staff are always nice and relatively normal. I like to think we’re not too strange and maybe some people enjoy the ‘banter’.

Salads:

Med veg lentil

Rainbow rice

Pea · spinach + cashew pesto pasta

Crab + potato salad

Soup: Mild vegetable madras

Day 414 My bed is calling

I like Thursday’s but I am struggling today. Did I have a mad one last night? No. Gym and too much gaming means I am suffering today. I had to peel myself out of bed this morning after denying that it was time to wake up. I need something or someone to come through those doors and wake a sister up!

Salads:

Thai spiced split pea + sweet potato

Sweet chilli + sweetcorn rice

Roast vegetable ragu pasta

Soup: Cumin roast parsnip + potato

Sandwich: Chorizo, Ermesenda cheese, Sun-dried tomato + fresh tomato

Day 413 Duck, duck, pheasant

After work Mother and I had a bonding session where we plucked pheasants. It was highly educational, I never did dissecting in biology. Dinner was delicious and Moose enjoyed the giblets. I am by my lonesome today so I need to get energised.

Salads:

Chickpea curry with winter root veg

Ginger + turmeric rice

Courgette · tomato + basil pasta

Chicken ragu pearl barley

Soup: Sweet potato · ginger + tomato

Sandwich: Pulled lemon chicken, Cheddar, Red cabbage, Tomato + chilli relish

Day 412 It's all fun and games

There are pros and cons to working in a local deli. If you get white girl wasted in the local boozer your actions might come back to haunt you but a pro is that you get gifts from the custom. Today I will receive some freshly shot pheasant. How fun.

Salads:

Roast pepper + white bean

Lemon + herb rice

Roast squash + tomato pasta

Leek · spinach + potato bake

Soup: Lightly spiced red lentil

Day 411 Beef

Before Christmas one of my long standing customers got arsy with me and hadn’t returned since. In the pub on Friday he offered a hand shake to ‘solve’ the bitterness. I don’t know if this is super gen Z of me but that doesn’t cut it I can’t forgive until the dispute is solved.

Salads:

Five spic veg + aduki beans

Ginger + shallot rice

Broccoli · chilli + garlic pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato + mushroom

Sandwich: Mortadella ham, Fontina cheese, spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 410 First done now the rest

I have a year planner above my computer and it’s so daunting. It shows the entire year ahead, so much room for activities, failure and good times. My goals for the year is to get behind the wheel and obtain an alcohol license. The two things don’t sound good together.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Chicken ragu pasta

Paneer + bean warm salad

Soup: Roast squash + rosemary

Sandwich: Speck ham, fontina cheese, onion relish + tomato