north st. deli

Fast · Fresh · Delicious

Day 951 A high price to pay

My weekend consisted of me trying to find joy. I walked from the deli to Notting Hill in search of a slappy sandwich. Shock, it wasn’t as slappy as it should have been for the price point but are we really surprised? Not really. I think the general consensus with the food industry at the moment is let’s sell some bog standard grub but market it well and price it high. Another case of overhyped shite. The search for joy continues.

Salads:

Black bean + aubergine

Miso + sesame rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Soup: Tomato + broccoli

Sandwich: Mortadella ham, Provola, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 950 Is that sunshine I see?

All in all i’d say it’s been a good week, what a blessing. I’m going into this Friday with good vibes, the suns out, the shorts are on and we’re ready to smash it. Smash what? i’m not sure, that’s up to the general public. I think i’ve taken in too much caffeine this morning so the good vibes will probably evolve into panic later on. Here’s to a supposedly sunny weekend!

Salads:

Chickpea + squash coconut curry

Ginger + crispy shallot rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Braised vegetables + panner

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Sandwich: Spicy salami, Gorgonzola cheese, Caramelised onion relish + tomato

Day 949 Somewhere over the rainbow

I don’t have anything riddling my mind today. I apologise for my awkwardness on the counter yesterday, I wasn’t very present. I couldn’t tell you what my workday consisted of because my head was elsewhere, couldn’t even tell you where! I’ll be back in my sandwich corner today so you won’t have to encounter my vacant eye contact.

Salads:

Braised green lentils + courgette

Rice salad

Beef ragu pasta

Baked veggie pasta

Soup: Spinach, pea + broccoli

Day 948 Subtext is delicious

I’m obsessed with food. I wouldn’t call myself a ‘foodie’ because quite simply I think that’s a moronic term. I love the sociology and psychology behind food. Take the apple crumble for example, you might claim your grandmother makes the best one but it’s not the immaculate composition of the dish it’s the nostalgia behind it. So what does your plate say about you?

Salads:

Mexican beans

Rainbow rice

Artichoke + tomato pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced squash + tomato

Sandwich: Cooked ham, Chilli pecorino, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 947 J'accuse!

Oh what a miserable day. First thing this morning the man from the corner shop came in and informed us that one of the North Street residents chucked our cardboard into his establishment and complained about how the refuse littered the streets yesterday. I apologise for the mess, First Mile obviously had a mare last night but the runaway cardboard was very obviously ours and not from the corner shop so I urge the resentful resident to apologise for the unjust outburst and swing the venom my way!

Salads:

Med veg chickpeas

Rosemary + chilli rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Braised mushroom, pinto beans + halloumi

Soup: Roast pepper + tomato

Day 946 I ate all I could

The calendar is looking relatively clear this week so I intend to fill it with mind numbing admin that i’ve been putting on the back burner. I put myself into an intense food coma yesterday after visiting an all you can eat buffet. I’ve now resurfaced after taking myself on an early morning walk to nurse the hangover but I won’t be visiting a buffet again anytime soon because I learnt I suffer from a lack of self control.

Salads:

Coconut black bean curry

Cumin rice

Cauliflower + sunflower seed pesto pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced spinach + potato

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

Day 945 If not now, when? If not me, who?

The boycott worked. McDonalds has announced that they will be buying back their Israeli franchises after seeing a major drop in sales. It’s easy to feel like an ant in this world, a pin prick, ‘my vote doesn’t matter’ but there is power in numbers. You just have to vote with your wallet. If you don’t want to pay £4.50 for a flat white, don’t. Your hands aren’t tied, you’ve just been made to think that they are.

Salads:

Aubergine + chickpea curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Day 944 Ours is not to reason why

I sometimes wish I could be part of the herd, to look at the surface and be content but my brain just doesn’t work that way. I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, i’m just inquisitive and if you’re not I should respect that. So while i’m here having an existential crisis you can rest easy and i’m a little envious of that. Sweet dreams little lamb.

Salads:

Thai roasted squash + black bean

Edamame + miso rice

Chicken ragu pasta

Mediterranean braised beans + salted ricotta

Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, cheddar cheese, Tomato relish, Mustard + tomato

Day 943 Desperately seeking sensation

The problem with today’s generation is that they’ve been desensitised. They scroll mindlessly on social media absorbing twisted ideals and bite sized morality, they (supposedly) have no concept of the real world. My lack of sensation comes from the deli. This uncensored, unfiltered constant stream of people is an app I can’t delete, a video game I can’t switch off. Covid killed an buried any hope for humanity that I had and whenever I try to pursue optimism, my day to day conversations remind me why i’m a cynic. Happy hump day.

Salads:

White bean + roast peppers

Rosemary + lemon rice

Broccoli, pea + spinach pasta

Soup: Indian spiced tomato + lentil

Day 942 Back at it

I’m back in the sandwich section which is not where I belong but it’s where I feel most comfortable. I love making sandwiches because they don’t make conversation about menial life occurrences. I love making sandwiches because they are delicious and consistent even if the comprise of only two ingredients. I love making sandwiches because they are a people-less environment.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Braised potato with sausage + ham ragu

Soup: Bean, roast peppers + tomato

Sandwich: Chorizo, Raclette, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 941 Buona Pasqua

Who’s ready for a deli free long weekend? MEEEEEE! Sad for some, but the deli will not be open for the bank holiday weekend, mama needs some rest, peace of mind and trees (of all kinds). Even if your not religious you should be grateful for the Christianity in this country because it’s given us 2 days extra holiday! Pro’s and con’s.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Spiced rice

Tomato, basil + french bean pasta

Braised chickpea

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Day 940 The nightmare never ends

I woke up an hour late today and I was having a nightmare, is a nightmare a nightmare if it commences when the sun has risen? Is that a daymare? But anyway, it’s been a full throttle morning and I have little time to spare which is jarring because some of my favourite characters have made appearances this morning. I’ll be in East London this eve trying to find peace in beigel’s and theology debates.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced lentils

Rainbow rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Soup: Roast pepper + tomato

Day 939 My little rays of sunshine

First day of working the counter went down a treat! One thing i’m highly appreciative of about my workplace is that my friends can come in and visit. I could be having a piss poor day then randomly one friendly face will walk in and I get a little ray of sunshine to counter the drizzle of the general population. Shout out to the mandem for providing sanity in this insane institution.

Salads:

Med veg chickpea

Roast pepper rice

Sausage + ham ragu pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato + basil

Day 938 My turn

It’s a short week for the deli and we are Frankieless. You will have to endure my counter service which is quite different. I’m not interested in small talk, I won’t blow smoke up your hind quarters and I have no chill. I’m prone to offending people but the best way to avoid this sensation is to not talk to me. Maybe I should put a sign on the door ‘warning, don’t touch the dog, she bites’.

Salads:

Five spiced aduki bean + aubergine

Crispy tofu rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Soup: Indian spiced vegetable

Sandwich: Milano salami, Fontina cheese, jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 937 Hype beast

I was so overstimulated yesterday. It was debate after debate but I was loving it. The lunch rush pushed me over the edge and I was a shell of a person at 2pm but somehow I managed to claw back my energy and I went on a walk with my boy. Another surge of energy hit me and I just decided to run around the park like a child. I’m that weirdo in the park your parents warned you about! Here’s to a hyper weekend.

Salads:

Braised cauliflower + chickpea

Spinach + herb rice

Leek, black olive + tomato

Soup: Broccoli, potato + turmeric

Day 936 Customer service

I’m in office mode today. I have Sky on the landline and OVO on a chat page. I’m always surprised when a service provider provides a good customer service, isn’t that crazy? Sky for example, i’ve always received a good customer service and they accept blame when their services haven’t been up to scratch but that is how it should be so why are I give them kudos? Now you’re rewarded for doing the bare minimum and we wonder why the world is going to pot?

Salads:

Ginger + turmeric split peas

Peshwari rice (turmeric, coconut + sultana)

Cauliflower + pumpkin seed pesto pasta

Soup: Mild vegetable madras

Sandwich: Garlic salami, Provola cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 935 I'm a petty deli girl

I’m a petty deli girl, of course when you try to make a snide comment about my dog i’m going to answer you with the same snide tone. I’m a petty deli girl, of course if you try and infer that salami and ham are the same thing i’m going to look at you as if you’ve told me the earth is flat. I’m a petty deli girl, of course if you try and make a joke about being sweet enough when asked about sugar in your tea i’m going to sigh and sarcastically say ‘good one’.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Lemon + garlic rice

Baked pasta

Lightly spiced paneer curry

Soup: Indian spiced lentils

Day 934 Gyaldem suga

I’m so excited for my evening today, i’m dining with the gyaldem suga! Even though i’m a chatterbox from 9-5 the convo doesn’t slap the same as with my people. I don’t have to explain my train of thought, they just get me. It can be a struggle talking to the general population sometimes as it seems my way of looking at things is a little to ‘critical’ for the average joe.

Salads:

Coconut curry with squash + sweet potato

Miso + soy rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Sandwich: Speck ham, Fontina cheese, chilli relish + tomato

Day 933 Social butterfly

This is turning into one busy month for me. There I was living my little recluse lifestyle and now I have social engagements for the rest of March! The funny part is i’m really enjoying it. It might be a coping mechanism for certain main characters that are MIA but nevertheless i’m enjoying the lifestyle change. I can’t wait for the rest of my week!

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Braised sausage + ham ragu with polenta croutons

Soup: Turmeric roasted cauliflower + potato

Day 932 I can't get no sleep

My mind, body and soul was exhausted yesterday, I was a shell of a human by the time I made it to my sofa. I don’t like to make plans in advance because I never know what my day will have in stall for me but it seems I have another busy 7 days ahead of me which usually would make me anxious but i’m kind of loving the stress of a social life. Burn out incoming.

Salads:

Pinto beans + paprika peppers

Ginger, sweet chilli + spring onion rice

Roast artichoke, tomato + basil pasta

Sandwich: Fennel salami, Pecorino cheese, Chilli relish + tomato