north st. deli

Fast · Fresh · Delicious

Day 960 I doubt it

Another week completed. I was nervous going into this week because I had a lot of plans to execute and I wasn’t sure if I possessed the facilities to get it done, so when I got to the end of a week (which flew by) I find myself feeling a little whiplashed! But we did it. Self doubt is my friend, she pushes me to go beyond what I thought I was capable of.

Salads:

Braised chickpea + aubergine

Lemon rice

Vegetable ragu pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato + vegetable

Sandwich: Pork belly, Spiced BBQ mayo + Kimchi slaw

Day 959 Snooze

I’m tired today so there’s a peaceful atmosphere in the deli. I plan on paddling through the day and then spending the evening with our guest pup Cooper. It’s different being the guardian of two, I feel like I always have to be on the look out, add this to my sleepy mindset and you’ve got yourself a stressful little day!

Salads:

Five spiced veg + black bean

Ginger, soy + crispy shallot rice

Cauliflower + sunflower seeds pesto pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced vegetable + potato

Day 958 Ode to Jennie

What a busy morning, nothing wakes me up like the hustle and bustle of the coffee crowd! Shout out to one of my favourites (yes I have favourites) Jennie for running the marathon last weekend, i’m truly in awe of your drunken decision to put yourself through one of the most gruelling challenges for the mind and body. Never undermine this triumph, you did that!

Salads:

Mexican beans

Carrot + dill rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Cheesy croutoned bake

Soup: Indian spiced potato + spinach

Sandwich: Fennel salami, Brie, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 957 All the best

I have no Nelly today so Mother and I will take on the sandwich section and try to finish the day without war. I really don’t think I could ever do a sedentary job. I’m not the best at doing the done thing. I’m having a mare at the moment with email etiquette, do I sign off with just my name, regards, best? One wrong move and you can e-offend your recipient and I’m more accustom to face to face offence.

Salads:

Black lentil curry

Ginger + cumin rice

Sausage + ham ragu pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Day 956 I think I like this little life

I had a lovely peaceful weekend, so wholesome, so nice. I’ve woken up this morning shying away from what will be a busy week, I just want to stay in my little serene moment for a little while longer. But alas, the time moves and we have no choice but to move with it. Here we go, another week, can’t be any worse than last week I guess.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Vegetable ragu pasta

Soup: Spiced sweet potato + ginger

Sandwich: Parma ham, Pecorino cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 955 Whippin excursion

I bought my first car yesterday. My bank account has been DRAINED but we’ll dwell on that later, for now i’m just going to enjoy my new purchase (responsibly). Our family car has always been pick up trucks so it’ll be disconcerting being so closer to the ground. I’m sure this will be a humbling experience. Here’s to adulting, it might actually just be a happy Friday!

Salads:

Thai coconut black bean curry

Ginger + sweetcorn rice

Tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Japanese pumpkin, miso + ginger

Day 954 Swim good

When I was 16 I went on holiday with my friend, my first parent free holiday. I went for a swim by myself. While I was paddling about the tide suddenly turned and the waves got larger and stronger. I swam well but as I got to the ladder a wave hit me and I went under, I nearly died. I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t see any benefit in sharing the trauma. I still want to swim in the sea and I will take the risks because I know that I can come back to the surface.

Salads:

Green lentils + med veg

Lemon + garlic rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced cauliflower

Sandwich: Bacon, Bacon jam, Asiago cheese, tomato, roast mushroom + chilli relish

Day 953 And scene

Growing up in the deli made my childhood a little complex. I became unnervingly honest, perhaps I do this to make up for the stage act I was in from 9-5. Whenever I give little insights into my life I find it makes people uncomfortable and i’m all about hospitality so the tales are left in the library. I don’t think I can stop the act but I don’t think that’s a bad thing, what’s wrong with trying to convince myself that life’s good?

Salads:

Moroccan spiced chickpeas

Sumac rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Tofu noodle salad

Day 952 Extra credit

The weather is not looking pretty today, that weekend really made everyone think summer was upon us! Back to the drizzly daily grind. Shout out to the staff for holding it down on a daily. You’d be amazed of how much they endure each shift and somehow these crazy cats purr their way through every time. Big up the North St. Massive!

Salads:

Peri peri cauliflower with split peas

Herbed rice

Roast squash ragu pasta

Egg noodle salad

Soup: Pea, spinach + mint

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