north st. deli

Fast · Fresh · Delicious

Day 554 Stimulate

I could be half asleep and then someone comes in with a conundrum and after talking it out I’m awake and ready for the next one. Coffee caffeinates you sure. But I find debate and discussion is much more effective than a double shot.

Salads:

Roast pepper rice

Cauliflower, spinach + cashew pesto pasta

Tuna potato salad

Soup: It can only be…Gazpacho (insert over dramatic lisp)

Sandwich: Spicy salame, fontina, jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 553 Street food is street food

I didn’t sleep much. It was probably because I had a shot of coffee at midnight…my bad. Went to the new Arepa place on South Lambeth road. It was expensive considering the portion sizes. Arepa is like a South American sandwich, for a sandwich to cost £10.00 no sides is a bump.

Salads:

Tuscan beans

Fennel + sundried tomato rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Middle eastern style salad with croutons

Soup: Gazpacho styll

Day 552 Funny business

I went to a comedy night. As a hilarious person myself, I wonder what my set would look like. Mommy issues? Daddy issues? Deli issues? I’m temped to try but i’m also tempted by pyramid schemes and I know they’re not a good idea. Plus if I get heckled the knee jerk reaction of tell someone to ‘suck their mum’ will not go down well.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Lemon + herb rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Potato, beetroot + apple salad

Sandwich: Milano salame, La torta (mascarpone + gorgonzola), spicy peach relsih + tomato

Day 551 I can actually cook

I’m not having take away for the month of August. I can still go out to dine but if i’m at home I must cook. All those years of watching mother has paid off. Dinner last night was sea bass sat on a salad of creamed sweetcorn and long stem broccoli, smashed garlic + chilli potatoes topped with a halloumi crumb + water cress. I made this at 9pm after a 14 hour day. No excuses for once.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Spinach + herb rice

Roast squash ragu pasta

Soup: What do you know…Gazpacho

Day 550 Food Dance

I ate so much this weekend. I regret nothing. I indulged in some amazing meals, I have this weird habit where I uncontrollably wiggle when my food comes to the table. A sort of dance if you will, the first bite is very important I stop assess and if it’s great the dance continues.

Salads:

Cumin roasted beetroot + pepper with black eyed beans

Korean chilli + miso rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Gazpacho again…

Sandwich: Chorizo, provola cheese, chilli relish + tomato

Day 549 Spend

I went shopping yesterday, it was positive and negative. I got one item on my list and then a bunch other things that I don’t need for example 20 macarons. Shopping brings so much anxiety, there’s too many people and not enough aircon. We can’t even do capitalism correctly.

Salads:

Ginger + turmeric roasted courgettes with black eyed beans

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Courgette, tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Roast squash + rosemary

Sandwich: Roast beef, Asiago cheese, classic coleslaw, + chilli relish

Day 548 Technical error

I was so docile yesterday which made for a nice lonesome shift at the deli. Today is the opposite. Of course it is. We are inundated with work and I am incredibly tense. I keep buffering while I compute orders. It’s going to be a tekky day.

Salads:

Roast squash + lentil

Smoked garlic + herb rice

Sausage + ham ragu pasta

Thai spiced curry with tofu crumb

Soup: Gazpacho

Day 547 Got the giggles

If you’re a frequent flyer at North St. you would have seen mu colleague and I wheezing behind the counter. It’s not you, it’s never you. We whisper sweet nothings into each others ear to make the day a little softer. However today is Wednesday and she’s not here. So I sad.

Salads:

Thai coconut split pea

Wakame seaweed rice

Roast vegetable ragu pasta

Korean spiced tofu noodles

Soup: Gazpacho

Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, Brie, Onion relish + tomato

Day 546 Let me be chill

The slicer isn’t working. The huge piece of machinery in the corner is one of the deli’s organs and we need a transplant stat. Also if you saw me carrying a drunk girl down the street yesterday afternoon just know, that wasn’t my friend. There’s never a dull day.

Salads:

Chickpea + roast veg curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Cracked wheat salad

Soup: Chilled Gazpacho

Sandwich: Pastrami, cheddar cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 545 Social battery

If I hear Sweet Caroline one more time i’ll throw a knife at the radio. Big up the Lionesses. They did what the men couldn’t…just kidding I won’t make this political. I had a chilled weekend because i’m intending on being social this week.

Salads:

Borlotti bean + roast peppers

Rosemary + lemon rice

Broccoli, Chilli + garlic pasta

Caesar style potato salad

Soup: Gazpacho

Sandwich: Chorizo Asiago cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 544 Comedic misery

Yesterday was hard but looking back at it’s just comedic. I’m so aware how weird I come across, now at least because enough people have told me. But some people just don’t see the comedy in my brash humour. It makes for an even more awkward interaction. Love it.

Salads:

Chickpea, mushroom + ricotta salata

Rainbow rice

Sausage, ham + leek pasta

Fattoush

Soup: Gazpacho

Day 543 You drive me crazy

Last night Mother and I went to a derelict car park and I got behind the wheel of our pick up truck. It was harder than I anticipated and I was so tense but I didn’t hit anything so I’ll take that. I rewarded myself with pizza from Caminata in Balham (if you haven’t tried it, you must).

Salads:

Moroccan spiced lentils

Sumac + lemon rice

Roast squash + rosemary pasta

Panzanella

Sandwich: Napoli salame, fontina cheese, chilli relish + tomato

Day 542 You drive me right round baby

Tonight Mother is going to attempt to give me a driving lesson. I’m not sure how this is going to work because nobody tells me what to do, should make for an interesting lesson. I feel like I’ve been driving for years because as we all know i’m the driving force behind this company. Okay, i’ll stop.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Courgette · tomato + basil pasta

Korean spiced tofu noodles

Soup: Aubergine, Sriracha + potato

Day 541 Manic

Classic morning vibe at the deli today. Hysteria and banging sandwiches. I have a long list of duties and tasks to get done today (one including the police ESCANDALO!) but as always I’m behind. Hopefully when you arrive there will be a calmer atmosphere.

Salads:

Mung bean curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Chorizo ragu pasta

Chickpea + potato concoction

Soup: Lightly spiced chickpea

Sandwich: Spicy salame, Manchego cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 540 Join the army

I haven’t looked up from the sandwich section since 7am. Monday is a busy one for us and i’ve been in such a robotic state of mind I don’t even think I’m capable of laughing. We’re looking for a new staff member and for the most part I think the job is ‘easy’ but dealing with us, as you all know, it’s a lot.

Salads:

Aduki bean + aubergine in black bean sauce

Miso rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Thai spiced bean salad

Soup: Pea · broccoli + potato

Day 539 Not myself

I live in gym wear. No matter the occasion i’ll probably be rocking Gymshark. Yesterday I attempted to 'dress up’. How do women do it? Like honestly. I wasn’t even wearing heels but the constant primping and general uncomfortable feeling was preoccupying me. But then again I did it to push myself out of my comfort zone so…

Salads:

Thai spiced black eyed beans

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Potato + beetroot salad dressed with pecorino

Day 538 What a mess

I ate 12 chicken wings in one sitting yesterday while watching Love Island. I was so disgusted with myself. To endorse such a superficial mess while being so gluttonous. Disgraceful and I want to apologise publicly for my actions. Hasta la vista, baby.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Spinach + herb rice

Aubergine + tomato pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Spiced roast squash

Sandwich: Porchetta, English mustard, chilli relish + tomato

Day 537 Can't handle the heat

One of our air conditioning units broke down and it was tough. I love summer but the only down side is that the shop can’t handle the heat. I find myself giving pep talks to the fridges and machinery just for added encouragement so they don’t die. I should have spoke to my air con more.

Salads:

White bean + roast peppers

Lemon + garlic rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Soup: Still Gazpacho…

Sandwich: Merguez sausage, cucumber, minted yogurt + jalapeno relish

Day 536 Poser

I had an encounter with a pessimist yesterday. I sunk my teeth in and had a good rant. Then it came to light that the person in front of me was a poser and they were put off by my cohesive arguments as to why we should be afraid of the future by way of the incompetence of essential services. The ‘pessimist’ then called me a handful and said I should lighten up. To that I say ‘If I am a handful then you should get a grip’.

Salads:

Thai spiced chickpea

Lemongrass rice

Sausage + ham ragu pasta

Tuna + potato salad

Day 535 It's getting hot in here

As a pale white person, the current weather should scare me a little, but i’m loving it. I suggest you should start finding ways of making extreme heat and extreme cold bearable for yourself because it’s only going to get worst in the coming decades. We all made serious life adjustments when scientists told us about an incoming pandemic but we might have been too leisurely when it came to the warnings about the climate. Get into it.

Salads:

Med veg lentil

Rose harissa rice

Roast vegetable pasta

Cracked wheat salad

Soup: Gazpacho