north st. deli

Fast · Fresh · Delicious

Day 1131 Don't put your sad face on

The early bird catches the worm, in this case she makes sandwiches. I’m perpetually miserable but I do make an effort to be jovial about it. If I go on one of my lengthily rants I do like to include some zingers to lighten the blow, i’m noticing many don’t offer this curtesy. I’m not as angry as you think I am, I actually don’t care much at all but what is life without passionate conversation?

Salads:

Peri peri cauliflower + split pea

Carrot + dill rice

Roast squash ragu pasta

Soup: Spiced sweet potato

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

Day 1130 The 5 D's

I sense a boring day ahead. I’m frantically writing down the duties of the day so I don’t get brain fog later on. I found myself getting a little irritated yesterday. Some days can be so busy that I don’t get a chance to think, other times the constant influx of stories and situations can get on top of me. I just have to remind myself that my brain is playing tricks on me, irritation and aggravation is everywhere, you just need to dodge it.

Salads:

Indian spiced coconut curry

Ginger, lemon + turmeric rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Soup: Spiced lentil

Sandwich: Spicy salami, Raclette, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1129 Say cheese

I had a splendid weekend. I need to take more photos, i’m lacking space on my cloud but my library comprises of memes and admin. If you take out a disposable camera, most will strike a pose in the hopes of seeing a shot that reminds them of the 00’s when times were simpler. Take out an iphone and the majority will ask for a photoshoot to get the perfect shot which just makes photos tedious. But I must capture more.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced lentils

Sumac rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Broccoli, chilli + garlic

Sandwich: Parma ham, Manchego, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1128 Deli dreaming

I had a dream about the rush last night. The deli counter was there but it was situated in a large cave. Everything was normal, that beautiful chaos we provide on a daily basis, then all of a sudden there were so many people. A few of them even came behind the counter to look at the salads (they looked like tourists). I didn’t bite, I convinced them to go round the other side by introducing them to Moose and his cardboard, then it was business as usual and I woke up.

Salads:

Chickpea + aubergine curry

Indian spiced rice

Tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Med veg

Sandwich: Cooked ham, Raclette cheese, Onion relish + tomato

Day 1127 Find me in the chilled aisle

I woke up this morning with the deli dog nuzzled into me, strange as he’s usually an independent beast like myself. This made getting out of bed extra tough but i’m here so that’s first challenge of the day conquered! I hope the day is kind to me, I have a load of boring errands to run after work and tomorrow will be full throttle. I’m looking for a little peace on the shop floor, doubt i’ll find it.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Rainbow rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Soup: Broccoli, chilli + tomato

Day 1126 Winter is going

The date is bugging me today, my brain is telling me we had something to do on the 29th but it’s not coming to the prefrontal cortex. Hopefully it won’t shaft my day! The sun is rising sooner which means the days are getting longer. I’m starting to feel like Jabba the Hutt on my sofa so I need some light beams to encourage me to go out into the world, unfortunately the sun won’t zap the gremlins known more commonly as people.

Salads:

Sweet potato + coconut curry

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Beef ragu pasta

Soup: Chickpea + roast pepper

Sandwich: Milano, Chilli pecorino, chilli relish + tomato

Day 1125 Add spice at your own discretion

I’m still trying to be proactive with my ‘to do’ lists, I say ‘still’, we haven’t even got past January yet. I’m not sure what the coming months will entail, heartbreak and misery most probably but if I stay on top of the admin then perhaps the petty dramas will run off my back rather than weighing heavy. I do love to indulge in a little bit of drama every now and again though, it keeps life a bit spicy.

Menu:

Paprika peppers + chickpea

Lemon + herb rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Soup: Med veg

Sandwich: Chorizo, Provola, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1124 I'm just dealing with some stuff

Life’s good but I got Lambeth trying to give me a CCJ for being on a single yellow when my battery was dead and i’m awaiting their injunction for having a table and chairs outside the shop, my property managers also want to anoint me with a CCJ because I’m refusing to pay my service charge on account of the total lack of service and I heard from a paper round in Putney that my Dad has now lost his front tooth. Life’s good but complicated…Happy Monday!

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Soup: Cumin roasted sweet potato

Sandwich: Pastrami beef, Brie, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1123 Who's really faithful

Lovely weather we’re having! Perfect pathetic fallacy for the Traitors final. The contestants are actually coming up with plausible theories now that the circle is smaller. The show is a great microcosm of society. Laying blame without reason, herd mentality, an ignorant assuredness. Bravo to the team that came up with the idea, this is some of the best telly to be created in a while!

Salads:

Black lentil curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Med veg pasta

Soup: Vegetable madras

Day 1122 Tread carefully

Here’s a morsel of misery to grace your Thursday. I like my life right now, i’m in a good place. This is precious. My brain loves to sit in disaster mode. Sure, life is cushtie right now but what about every other day? What’s around the corner? Whose gonna slight me next? When things are seemingly good I know there’s trouble on the horizon. Good things never last long.

Salads:

Tuscan beans

Red pepper rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Velvet mushroom

Day 1121 Fear factor

We watched the new channel 4 show The Fear Clinic yesterday. Interesting watch. Its begs the questions, what’s your phobia? I not great with heights but I think that’s pretty rational. My brain tells me ‘hey, if we fall from here we might just die’. I felt sorry for the guy with a phobia of balloons, no ones gonna take you seriously, more so they might just torment you. People are lovely like that.

Salads:

White bean + mushroom

Lemon + parsley rice

Pasta e fagioli

Soup: Indian spiced sweet potato

Sandwich: Parma ham, Smoked mozzarella, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1120 The devils work

I am genuinely perplexed how anyone can side with Israel. I play devils advocate in every discussion/debate but when it comes to the actual devil I will defend the outright victim. Seeing images of the Palestinians going back to their decimated land only furthers my opinion that one side is unequivocally wrong in this situation. The power of media should never be overlooked. Disgusting.

Salads:

Five spiced veg + bean

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

French bean + multi nut pesto pasta

Soup: Tomato, coconut + bean

Day 1119 The benchmark

Ageing is an inevitability but what you do with your time here is relatively up to you. I think the reason why the majority of people before us were so fearful of 30 was because it was a benchmark of where your at in life. If you go with the flow then you should be married, have property and perhaps a child. I would say one of the benefits of social media is that you get snippets of the other people, the ones that decided to go ahead in their own way. Surely as long as you achieve a sense of fulfilment and dare I say happiness you might just be on the right track.

Salads:

Beetroot goulash

Carrot + dill rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Soup: Thai spiced black bean

Day 1118 Mount Rushmore

What a week back! There’s been so much to catch up on, Lord knows how many words i’ve averaged a day! I will need to reset this weekend and take more quiet moments next week. Mother will be happy with that. Now, now, I must go. I have to face my first Friday rush of the new year… I feel like it’s gonna be a goodun.

Salads:

Sweet potato coconut curry

Crispy tofu + ginger rice

Ham + chorizo pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato + red pepper

Sandwich: Milano salami, Raclette cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1117 I'll see you in court

It’s always better to be proactive rather than reactive but what if you just become a control freak? You can look out for number one and give structure to your life to ease the stress but this also relies on others doing the same. This is where the procrastination comes in, the devilish voice that convinces you to put that problem on the back burner until it becomes an emergency.

Salads:

Braised med veg + bean

Sumac rice

Tomato + rosemary pasta

Veggie bake

Soup: Curried lentil

Day 1116 The test

I do like a good test, as long as it’s set by myself. The pre orders are in and we’re up against it but come hell and fire I will prevail. Accept that you can make a plan, arrange logistics, present meticulously but life might still send a curveball. Breath, don’t overthink and in the words of what was once know as Blue Ribbon Sports - Just Do It.

Salads:

Curried chickpea

Lemon + chilli rice

Spinach + garden pea pasta

Soup: Med veg vegetable

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

Day 1115 Reset right

Great day back, I anticipate a talkative week as we have so much to catch up on. I must say i’m surprised at the lack of new year resolutions, I always expect a diet shuffle in the first month but it seems that people just want their home comforts to aid them though this bitter winter we’re having. I will get political later but for now i’m enjoying the coffee chit chat.

Salads:

Curried cauliflower + red lentils

Turmeric + coconut rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Soup: Borlotti bean, tomato + rosemary

Day 1114 Welcome back

Who missed the deli? I did. Like any normal person, time off work is a God send. Sleeping in, not having to face the general public, freedom. But dare I say I missed the routine? The routine that has you staring at yourself in the mirror at the crack of dawn pep talking yourself, convincing your mind that ‘you got this’. There are many lines of work that would cause a tear to run down my face before leaving the comfort of my home, this is not one of them, for now at least. Now, let’s eat!

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Sandwich: Chorizo, Pecorino, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1113 See you soon

You didn’t think I’d leave without saying goodbye did you? This is where we part for the festive season, we will riconviene in the new year. We all know it’s the time to reflect on the year past and the future ahead. While it’s been absolute mayhem this week - with a 3 piece band - it’s also been an incredibly enlightening week. There will me many changes in the new year but this was an inevitability. I know the deli is like a TV series with many twists and turns, some you enjoy to see and some faux pars you look past because the food is oh so delicious! All jokes, cynicism and passive aggression aside I hope you all have the festive period you desire! Apart from you Megan Barton… I hope you get coal.

xoxo North St.

Day 1112 On to the next

The hardest part about doing a one woman show is the lack of breathing time. The conversations are endless and I feel as though they get more chaotic as the day goes on. A real snowball effect. With day one conquered I hope the rest of the week will float past.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced lentils

Sumac + spring onion rice

Cauliflower + sunflower seed pesto pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced bean