Cor blimey it’s cold! For the most part I like the cold but the mornings are painful. I have to hype myself to get out of bed and face the freeze. I plan my movements so I can get out of bed and throw on clothes with military efficiency. It’s now so cold that I even have to hype Moose to uncoil from his croissant curled sleeping position.
Salads:
Braised chickpeas + med veg
Tomato + dill rice
Leek, black olive + tomato pasta
Potato salad with bacon dressing
Soup: Spiced sweet potato + tomato
Over our break I went to a few eateries in search of top scran. To qualify for top scran I look at price, quality, service and ambience. A lot of places miss the mark somehow and i’ve fallen out of love with the London food scene but this year i’m determined to change that. If you find a gaff that you feel is 10/10 send me the deats. Amrutha Lounge on Garratt Lane deserves a shout out, if you like the deli salads you’ll love this place.
Salads:
Peri peri cauliflower + split peas
Cumin roasted spinach rice
Baked veggie pasta
Soup: Indian spiced sweet potato + chickpea
Sandwich: Spicy salami, Provola cheese, Chilli relish + tomato
Stepping back into the daily life at the deli has pros and cons. Like you, I missed the food, the ease of being catered for. The probing about the holidays has always unnerved me and i’m not sure why. Usually I become an award winning actor and put on a brave face but yesterday…what a poor performance. I’m defrosted now and ready to take on my next role.
Salads:
Black bean vegetable curry
Ginger + turmeric rice
Courgette, Tomato + basil pasta
Soup: Smokey white bean
Happy new year, how was your Christmas? Just kidding, I don’t care! Instead I want to know who is the cumberground that is leaving their stupid lime bikes directly outside the entrance to the deli? I’m happy to be back at work it just hasn’t sunk in yet. It seems i’ve forgotten how to talk to people and eye contact seems like i’m staring into the soul of a person and who the f*ck would wanna do that?!
Salads:
White bean + roast pepper
Lemon + garlic rice
Tomato + basil pasta
Braised potatoes with sausage + ham
Soup: Med veg + chickpea
Sandwich: Fennel salami, Chilli pecorino, Jalapeno relish + tomato
Here it is, the last day of trading before we close for the festive period. It’s been a tough year. I am honestly grateful for the deli, it’s been a lifeline time and time again and that’s not just because of the food. The deli would be nothing without our customers. It’s easy to take things for granted, forgetting that our necessities are someone else’s luxuries. So I won’t ask Santa for anything this Christmas because i’m thankful for what I have. Happy holidays guys, I can’t wait to see you in the new year! (well… some of you) xx
Salads:
Med veg chickpea
Roast potatoes
Beef ragu pasta
Soup: Spiced bean + tomato
I keep getting asked about my Christmas plans. Now that the date is so close and my responsibilities have lessened I’m starting to get really excited! The down side of this is that I become a chatty patty and forget i’m at work and there are people to serve!
Salads:
Braised bean + mushroom
Red pepper rice
Tomato, basil + courgette pasta
Soup: Bean + tomato
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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