north st. deli

Fast · Fresh · Delicious

Day 885 My jingle bells are ringing

What an intense morning but very positive. It’s starting to feel a little more like Christmas, our family is starting to make plans and all the talk of our festive fun is making my child heart warm up. I swear i’m not a grinch it’s just tough to sift through all the capitalism and remember what Christmas is all about.

Salads:

Ginger + turmeric chickpea curry

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Soup: Spiced vegetable

Day 884 Pushing through

What miserable weather. I opened the blinds this morning and it was still dark, I thought I woke up an hour early! I’m feeling good this morning, yesterday’s shift was a total success and gave me some validation that I needed. I will not let today’s weather be pathetic fallacy.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Veggie pasta bake

Soup: Thai coconut beans

Day 883 One man band

I am lacking sleep. I have been this whole weekend but we’re pushing through. Well, I am. Young Frank is out injured and AA is having a sinus situation so i’m flying solo on this Monday. This being said I can’t stop and chat because we still have a crowd to feed!

Salads:

Thai coconut curry

Miso + tofu rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced parsnip

Sandwich: Chicken, sausage, cheddar, cranberry sauce, mustard + red onion

Day 882 A night we won't remember

It’s the deli Christmas party tonight and the set up is in full swing. Arts and crafts is so underrated. Do you remember in school when you’d make the ugliest pasta necklace but you made it so it was the most exquisite piece of jewellery you’ve ever seen? Here’s a tip, if you miss the old days try and recreate them, we all know growing up is overrated!

Salads:

Med veg pinto beans

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

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

Day 881 Not so happy holidays

I’ll be honest (so unlike me) i’m just not feeling festive. I think it’s because I didn’t get an advent calendar this year. Christmas gets less and less special, seems like more of a chore. It gets revitalised when you have kids but I have Moose and I don’t think he cares about Santa. Plus this year, with the current state of the world, I just don’t have much optimism for the new year.

Salads:

Chickpea curry

Ginger + lemon rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced tomato + potato

Day 880 If I make my move

I’ve spent my morning doing arts and crafts. Working with invisible string is tough, even with my 20 20 vision! I’m happy with the progress i’ve made but there’s a whole lot more to do. I’ve started my Basilisk (which turns out many people don’t know what this is) and next up are my acceptance letters…can you tell what the theme of my party is??

Salads:

Braised brown lentils

Sweet chilli + ginger rice

Roast squash, spinach + sunflower seed pesto pasta

Soup: Spiced rosecoco bean

Sandwich: Speck ham, Provola, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 879 On my own

Our sandwich lady is bidding farewell to a friend so I am on my own this lunch. Mother will probably come out from her lair to assist but I’m perfectly content with being overwhelmed by sandwiches. The adrenaline rush is purer than the stuff you sniffed on Saturday i’ll tell ya that. There will be no snow in this house.

Salads:

Roast squash + split pea

Garlic + lemon rice

Courgette, tomato + rosemary pasta

Soup: Smokey tomato

Day 878 Uncouth

While many were on the eggnog this weekend I was in nature. Away from the mayhem that people palm off as festive fun. Lego, movies, too many chocolates, wholesome shit. So when Monday rolls around and the regrets of the uncouth behaviour at the office Christmas party is shared at the counter all I can do is sip my black coffee and be grateful that the downside to my vice is that my living rooms smells of oregano.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Croutoned cheesy bake

Soup: Coconut + sweet potato

Sandwich: Milano salami, Smoked mozzarella, tomato + spicy peach relish

Day 877 Ho ho ho

Another Friday rolls around and everyone seems merrily hungover. Christmas parties are in full swing which at first seemed a bit premature but December is flying by! Before you know it Santa will be shimmying down your chimney, that or the local crackhead will break in through your window. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato curry

Rainbow rice

Sausage + ham ragu pasta

Soup: Five spiced bean

Sandwich: Pastrami beef, brie, chilli relish + tomato

Day 876 Fight or flight

We’re missing a member of the squad today so i’ll be putting in a shift on the counter. I woke up this morning slightly disorientated but what I like about my brain is that as soon as I registered the information that we would be a player down my mind went into fight mode. We’re gonna smash this shift or we’re going to crash and burn…either way spirits are high!

Salads:

Mexican beans

Carrot + ginger rice

Cauliflower + sunflower seed pesto pasta

Veggie pasta bake

Soup: Indian spiced vegetable

Day 875 crawling to my lunch break

omfg i’m so not with it today. I just need to get through this shift and hope that tomorrow is a better day. I’m not hungover or anything it’s just like when your phone is bugging out so you restart it and everything is good again. Can’t wait to have the soup today…lightly spiced red lentil? my favourite!

Salads:

Aubergine + black bean in black bean sauce

Ginger + miso rice

Squash + rosemary pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced red lentil

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

Day 874 A new player has entered the game

Another day in paradise, how we all doing? I’m feeling very docile today so don’t be disturbed by lack of words. I’ve spent my morning watching the birth rate of all the countries around the world, riveting stuff! Sitting at my desk sipping a bitter black coffee and 100 people have entered the game in India. Welcome and good luck!

Salads:

Black lentil curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Soup: Roast squash + rosemary

Day 873 Live with it

It will be very difficult for me to be kind in the instalment because I went out into the world this weekend to do as the people do. People suck. Vermin, cretins, no decorum. Disgraceful behaviour. Watching oceans of people mindlessly buying consumeristic shite to then complain about capitalism and injustice. Happy Monday…

Salads:

Beetroot goulash

Leek + dill rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Polenta croutons + mushroom bake

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Sandwich: Garlic salami, Provola cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 872 Festicals

I’m working the counter today, i’m revved up and ready to go. I’m a bit of a grinch to most people because for me Christmas is a wholesome time of year and I hate how much people are encouraged to spend a pretty penny on festive fun. All I need is my Mothers cooking and chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Ho ho hoe…

Salads:

Braised chickpeas + med veg

Rosemary + lemon rice

Tomato + french bean pasta

Soup: Cauliflower + turmeric

Sandwich: Fennel salami, Asiago cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 871 Talkative

What an intense morning of conversation. Depression, religion, digestion are just some of the topics that have been discussed on this freezing day. I just can’t stop myself from getting involved in juicy conversation. Mother penalises me endlessly but even today she was too enticed by the discussions. It’s not even midday and i’m already pooped!

Salads:

Indian spiced cauliflower + lentils

Ginger + turmeric rice

Courgette, tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Spiced parsnip + potato

Sandwich: Pastrami beef, Asiago cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 870 Skinny wins

I just made myself a sandwich on a ficelle. It’s like a super skinny baguette. I basically just made a skinny scooby snack and it has brightened up my day i’ll tell ya. A wise wizard told me to appreciate the small wins in my day rather than dwell on the series on unfortunate events that usually prevails. I’ll be testing out this wisdom to see if it will improve my mood on a day to day basis.

Salads:

Five spiced aduki beans

Lemon + ginger rice

Paprika roasted squash ragu pasta

Soup: Thai spiced vegetables

Day 869 Pattern up

I have spent the morning trying to compose an email to my property mangers that doesn’t consist of swearing and insults. The British love to complain, I like to find solutions. However when I feel I have royally shafted I take great offence and go on a war path. I’ll criticise every facet of your being until you come to the realisation that you are the problem. Pattern up, pagan.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced chickpeas

Sumac + preserved lemon rice

Leek, Black olive + tomato pasta

Cauliflower + potato bake

Soup: Velvet mushroom

Sandwich: Sausage, Pecorino cheese, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 868 Up next of North St.

I swear the deli is a simulation. I genuinely feel like I’ve made my own sitcom that I get to live in and it distracts me from the tribulations that life likes to throw at me. I think I dedicate so much of myself to the deli as a way of procrastination. Either way I’m knee deep in this series and I can’t wait to see what the season finale has in store.

Salads:

Thai coconut curry with sweet potato

Miso + crispy shallot rice

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Med veg lentils

Soup: Indian spiced vegetables

Sandwich: Chorizo, Chilli pecorino, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 867 Head in the game

I’m so excited to end this week. This will be my 7th good day in a row and i’m hoping it will go in my favour. I’ve learnt to like Friday’s, for many they’re the start to the weekend but for me it’s the hardest day of the week. Like an athlete on game day I have a schedule I like to follow to give me the best chances of success. Lucky socks and all.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Spinach + herb rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Indian spiced parsnip + tomato

Sandwich: Fennel salami, Cheddar, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 866 Cozzy living

I’m wishing for a busy day i’m quite tired so i’d like to just knuckle down and get through the working day. I’ve just had an impromptu visit from my brother who attempted to acquire some of the Anya Hindmarch x UNIQLO collab and it had already sold out after 15 mins of the store being open. Cosy living is more important that cost of living.

Salads:

Roast pepper + white bean

Smoked sweet pepper rice

Courgette, tomato + oregano

Soup: Mushroom + tomato

Sandwich: Roast lamb, Goats cheese, Tomato, Dill pickles + pickled red onion