I went to be at 7pm yesterday. I woke up at 2am watched some TV and drifted back to slumber. I feel much better. With the sun out I’m feeling inspired to go out on my bike after work but I need to pump my tires, this is a skill I don’t have so I tend to go to Halfords for a pump. Bit extra?
Salads:
Mediterranean chickpeas
Parsley · garlic + lemon rice
Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta
Feta dressed panzanella
Soup: Carrot · cumin + potato
It’s another lonesome Wednesday. I’m feeling relaxed but that’s not exactly a good thing because when I’m not catty and a little insulting many people think there’s something wrong with me. You might not like a passive aggressive being but I make it work. You look forward to my snide remarks, I know you do.
Salads:
Peri peri cauliflower + black eyed beans
Pumpkin seed + spinach rice
Courgette · mint · basil + tomato pasta
Teriyaki tofu noodles
Soup: 5 spice red lentil + tomato
Sandwich: Roast beef, Fontina cheese, chilli relish + tomato
In the early 1900’s in America there were water wagons that dampened the streets to reduce the dust in the air. If you were on the wagon it was a slang to say you’re drinking water but if you had fallen off the wagon it was a way of referring to you drinking more alcohol. That’s the story behind ‘falling off the wagon’. You’re welcome.
Salads:
Moroccan spiced lentils
Sumac + preserved lemon rice
Chicken ragu pasta
Roast vegetable panzanella
Soup: Aubergine · tomato · ginger + lemongrass
My weekend was surreal. When I saw my first live concert, my brain struggled to accept that I wasn’t watching pixels on a screen. I was actually there. A similar feeling came over me at the Chelsea match yesterday. 23 years of watching that perfectly green grass on TV and I can confirm, the grass is greener on the other side.
Salads:
Smokey beetroot + pinto beans
Spinach + dill rice
Leek · olive + tomato pasta
Curried white bean + paneer
Soup: Tuscan tomato
Sandwich: Pastrami beef, Smoked mozzarella, onion relish + tomato
I’m going to my first ever football match this weekend. Guess who i’m going to see… Chelsea. What a great time to go. A football match riddled with politics, exactly what I wanted. Tonight will consist of Call of Duty, hilarious. Tomorrow will be an evening of art and culture. What a well rounded individual I am.
Salads:
White bean + aubergine
Spinach + herb rice
Kale + cashew nut pesto pasta
Baked veggie pasta
Soup: Velvet mushroom
One thing I really like about this job is not knowing what the day will bring. My first conversation of the day was about incest, then drug overdoses and then moved onto assassination techniques. All before 10am. To conclude. France needs to change their incest laws, don’t take too much co-codamol and always wear gloves.
Salads:
Black beans in black bean sauce with roast squash
Edamame + crispy shallot rice
Roast squash pasta
Soup: Sweet potato + ginger
Sandwich: Pulled pork, cheddar cheese, Korean chilli may, crunchy slaw + tomato
When I need to concentrate I tend to close my eyes so the pretty colours of the world don’t let my mind wonder. I can’t close my eyes behind the counter when I need to knuckle down (for obvious reasons). Instead I focus on a point in the room. If a customer asks me ‘what’s the menu?’ I find my focus point and recite the info but then customers tend to look around for what i’m looking at. In the end we all look like meercats.
Salads:
Veggie dahl
Ginger + turmeric rice
Pork + beef ragu pasta
Crisp spring salad
Pasta bake
Soup: Leek · dill + tomato
It’s another non stop day at the deli. I’m on a adrenaline rush, sandwich galore I tell you! It’s funny when customers come in and see how busy we are they seem confused. Just to confirm we are grinding all day not just from midday to 2. and that’s the 411.
Salads:
Braised chickpea + roast pepper
Korean chilli flaked rice
Roast vegetable ragu pasta
Chorizo · lentil + potato
Soup: Roast squash · potato + paprika
Sandwich: Chorizo, Pecorino Toscano cheese, jalapeno relish + tomato
I had a jammed packed weekend. I woke up this morning ready to head back to reality. I went to the Berkley to try Cedric Grolet’s patisserie. £25 for a pistachio cookie, sounds ridiculous and I can’t say I will purchase it anytime soon (because my bank account can’t) but it was divine.
Salads:
Thai spiced black eyed beans
Crispy tofu + shallot rice
Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta
Lentil stew with feta
Soup: Roast pepper · bean + tomato
What a heavy week. When controversial topics come up I tend to be neutral until I know the other persons stand point. I know my opinions usually differ from the herd so I always step back before I advance. But I love fundamentalists. They’re the most fun to poke.
Salads:
Med veg lentil
Spinach + herb rice
Cauliflower ragu pasta
Panzanella
Soup: Tomato + basil
Sandwich: Fennel salame, Asiago cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato
I had a superb evening. Italian, my favourite. I had the intention of getting ‘white girl wasted’ but unfortunately the food was so good I couldn’t stop eating. The tequila had no chance of penetrating the feast. Instead of dancing on the tables we were in a comatose state in the corner of the pub. Lovely stuff.
Salads:
Peri peri cauliflower + split peas
Roast pepper rice
Mushroom ragu pasta
Soup: Pea · spinach + potato
Another day of pathetic fallacy. There’s always been this generational debate of ‘back in my day’ and if you compare the ‘days’ they’re actually very similar. Bigotry, inflation, corruption. It’s as old as the human race. The difference between the times is social media. We’re just aware of the worldwide turmoil today. So the only argument that can verify that the olden days were better than the current times is that ignorance is bliss.
Salads:
Mexican beans
Roast squash + rosemary rice
Courgette · tomato + herb pasta
Veggie Bake
Soup: Cauliflower · potato + turmeric
Sandwich: Porchett, Provola, spicy peach relish + tomato
Yes, it’s miserable weather and yes, the tubes being closed is a pain in the arse and yes what’s happening in the East is a disgrace but…well I don’t really have anything for you. I’ve been on hold with Thames water for 10 minutes and this robotic voice keeps saying ‘thank you for waiting’. I have no fucking choice. None of us have any choice.
Salads:
Lentils · beetroot · ginger + cumin
Spinach + garlic rice
Parma ham + pea’s pasta
Roast vegetable panzanella
Soup: Celeriac · potato + chives
My weekend consisted mainly of Netflix. I ventured to East London yesterday but the overwhelming amount of hipsters scared me so I trekked home to south of the river where I feel more at ease. I walk my dog off lead because he’s well trained and obedient. However if you try to stroke him on his voluptuous booty as he walks past…you will get got.
Salads:
Chilli non carne
Chive + dill rice
Broccoli · chilli + garlic pasta
Oriental jackfruit noodles
Soup: White bean + tomato
Sandwich: Milano salame, Stilton, Chilli relish + tomato
You might wonder how I can stand in the deli all day and not just constantly eat. Most days I’m numb to the caramel slices and sausage rolls but on a day like today I have no self control. The way my brain works, I just think ‘I could get hit by a car later, this might be my last meal!’.
Salads:
White bean + aubergine
Rosemary + garlic rice
Tomato · basil + french bean pasta
Panzanella styled salad
Soup: Carrot · ginger + sesame
There’s a lot of dogs in my circle and as much as I love my dog sometimes he can be a bit embarrassing. He’s a Collie so he likes to play and he’ll use anything. But the worse is when he takes a stick the size of a cigarette and puts it by your feet and just stares at you so intensely until you throw it. I don’t know where he gets this relentless nature from…
Salads:
Veggie chickpea curry
Turmeric rice
Kale + hazelnut pesto pasta
Potato + paneer ‘salad’
Soup: Squash · potato + paprika
Sandwich: Parma Ham, smoked mozzarella, jalapeno relish + tomato
Oh honey. The sun is shining and i’m by myself behind the counter today so I hope the positive vibes stay in the building. I’m optimistic about today and that is me slyly throwing shade at a dear customer of mine who told me I need to be more optimistic. So there.
Salads:
Five spice aduki beans
Seaweed + ginger rice
Pork · beef + kale ragu pasta
Spring salad with pecorino
Soup: Roast pepper + pinto beans
Sandwich: Napoli salame, La torta (mascarpone + gorgonzola), Chilli relish + tomato
Serving the general public has pros and cons but I like to take the cons and make a joke out of them so I don’t want to cry myself to sleep. For example if I ask the queue if anyone wants a sandwich and the 4th person inline says ‘I want a salad box’ I stare at them and say ‘did I fucking ask that?’ some don’t like that response others laugh and understand it’s all banter. I like those people.
Salads:
Moroccan lentils
Sumac + preserved lemon rice
Roast squash + rosemary pasta
Bulgur wheat + roast vegetables
Soup: Cumin roasted carrot + lentil
Franklin is now upon us, the queen has covid and my leg day has me walking like the tin man. Great start. I had pizza 3 times over the weekend which I picked up in person because I didn’t want anyone delivering in this weather. I even cooked a few meals myself. I’m a great chef, Mother taught me well.
Salads:
Red pepper goulash
Herbed rice
Ratatouille with pasta
Thai spiced tofu stew
Soup: Sweet potato + ginger
Sandwich: Pulled pork, Asiago cheese, Spicy peach relish + Korean slaw
I put myself through it at the gym and promised myself riches when I got home as a reward. I got locked out. I spent half an hour trying to break into my own home but turns out we’re quite secure so… that’s great. I’m hurting today. Be gentle.
Salads:
Thai spiced coconut curry with black eyed beans
Pickled ginger + miso rice
Sundried tomato · smoked garlic + cashew pesto pasta
BBQ pork noodles
Soup: Sweetcorn · ginger + potato