Day 1275 I wonder what life is like outside those doors

It’s here, the last day before we shut up shop for 2 weeks. When we returned from our winter break the summer looked so far away. As I reflect on the past 8 months and recall the happenings in our little establishment all I can do is let out an exhale of air. It’s a lot. Let’s take this time apart to breath, we’ll reconvene on September 22nd. Hopefully the other local businesses run some deals so you don’t have to take out a second mortgage while we’re away. All tea, all shade.

Salads:

Potato + broccoli gratin

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Roast vegetable panzanella

Day 1274 All in a days work

Procrastination isn’t an option right now. I woke up yesterday determined and that determination led to a seamless day. I got home and executed my menial tasks then zoomed into central London again to return the atrocities I bought on Tuesday. I even incorporated a few other errands along the way, who carped the diem? Me. Here’s hoping today leaves me with the same level of satisfaction. There’s nothing like a deadline to light a fire under ones arse.

Salads:

Vegetable curry

Lemon + herb rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Soup: Spiced vegetable

Day 1273 Grey humpday

I did myself the disservice of going into central London in the hopes of refreshing my wardrobe. It was a total flop and a waste of time. I will venture back into the hell hole later today to make some returns. Yay. I have a boring list of tasks to complete and it’s raining. Somehow i’m still feeling jolly, probably because I know this weekend i’ll be sipping an espresso in a foreign location.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Spinach + herb rice

Tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Sandwich: Garlic salami, Gorgonzola, onion relish + tomato

Day 1272 It's all too much for some

The saying goes ‘if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen’. While this may seem a little harsh to the faith hearted, it is in fact the kindest option you can give to a person. I will not force you to stay, I will trust you know yourself well enough to determine whether you’re up for the task. If you’re not, be kind to yourself and leave.

Salads:

Med veg + white bean

Roast pepper rice

Sausage + mushroom pasta

Soup: Tomato + sweetcorn with a little sriracha

Day 1271 Beast mode

I ate like a beast this weekend and i’m not even sorry! Life is short. The morning has brought up some harsh realities, i’m not surprised just disappointed. We encourage each other to look at the brighter side of life, no matter how dark it may seem. As a pessimist, I have to summon all my mental strength to employ this sentiment. Alas, life is good, people are a problem, we move on.

Salads:

Thai coconut curry + sweet potato

Ginger + lemon grass rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Soup: Spiced tomato + chickpea

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

Day 1270 Wet, wet, wet

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. It was mighty hard convincing my brain to get out of bed with the sound of the pitter patter outside. The streets were empty, doesn’t feel like a Friday. One more week to go until we close for 2 weeks. Am I excited? Not just yet, there’s plenty to do in the meantime and excitement tends to lead me astray. I’ll remain tense for a moment longer.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Veggie baked pasta

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Vegetable madras

Day 1269 Being offended is an occupational hazard of living in a society

In the midst of the the morning rush I made a coffee and sandwich for a gent. He sat outside, ate, then came in to pay. He was chuffed by the value of his meal then exclaimed he was surprised by my service. Why? because a google review led him to believe that I was rude. I replied with an honest response ‘sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit’. I’d like to think I dish out negativity where applicable, with that being said, I hope you fall in a puddle Megan Barton.

Salads:

Ginger + turmeric chickpea

Spiced spinach rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Sandwich: Spicy salami, Gorgonzola, Onion relish + tomato

Day 1268 Stay on top

I predict an intense day ahead of me. It’s 8am and I’m frantically writing this post in the hopes of staying on top of things, possibly easing the stress. But I don’t doubt that the day will be filled with highs and lows. There’s only so much I can control. If I could govern all of it i’d probably live a boring life. Shout out to my crazy custom for keeping life interesting…I guess.

Salads:

Black eyed beans + braised roast peppers

Chilli + rosemary rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Soup: Spiced lentils

Day 1267 That was nice

That was a bang tidy weekend. Did I accomplish everything on my ‘to do’ list? no. I don’t care, all will be sorted in due time. What I did achieve was a feeling of relaxation, splendid. I am now hungrier than ever for our 2 week break in September. For now, I have to lock in, i’m back at my desk and there are still many parties to cater for before we can rest again.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced lentils

Sumac rice

Roast vegetable ragu pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced vegetable

Sandwich: Milano salami, Manchego, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1266 Plan now, panic later

This bank holiday is perfectly timed, I need to sit with my thoughts and work out some logistics for the coming months. There was me thinking my summer was going to busy (and it has been) but this winter is already looking pretty hectic. All I need to do is spend a long weekend working out how I want to divide my time and make a plan. I do love a good plan.

Salads:

Braised chickpeas

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Day 1265 Calm, relax, immune

Composure comes in all shapes and sizes. My composure is complex but it’s there. I will remember how you like your tea, not because I like you, it makes my life easier. I’m sure we can all agree infamy weighs on the brain heavier than the good. If you do something that causes me the slightest displeasure, I will remember. I will collect my thoughts, I will become composed and ready to serve.

Salads:

Aubergine + black lentil

Lemon + coriander rice

Broccoli, spinach + walnut pesto pasta

Soup: Spiced lentil

Day 1264 Short and stumpy

Yesterday I went to the nail salon and asked to remove my talons. I’ve had long nails for a long while, I wanted to feel my finger tips again. Now, I sit here with stubs at the end of my hands and I feel mighty strange, but I will have to get use to this feeling because they’re gone now.

Salads:

Thai coconut curry with roast squash

Ginger + sweet chilli rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced brown lentil

Sandwich: Chorizo, Provola cheese, chilli relish + tomato

Day 1263 3 is a magic number

We’re a three man band for the next two weeks. When I frequent other establishments, I always look at the set up, who does what, do they have a system I can learn from. It’s pretty crazy that Mother is so logistically sound that we can operate with just 3 people. My biggest task over the next couple weeks is to not get too caught up in conversation, sounds easy.

Salads:

Mushroom cacciatore

Spinach + herb rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced vegetable

Day 1262 Full bodied weekend

You stand outside the house you once lived in but it’s not your home anymore. It’s time to move on, we’re not the same people anymore and that’s okay. We can’t dwell on the past but we can alter the future. You’re accustom to sitting round a table and bluffing, keeping your cards close to your chest but I have a full house. I’ve learnt from the best.

Salads:

Beetroot, dill + chickpea

Sumac rice

Courgette, tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, Cheddar, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1261 Family is a dish best served cold

The happenings of the weekend ahead should be weighing heavy on me but i’m oddly excited. I don’t think there’s any such thing as a perfect life. There are aspects of lives that pass before me that I can be envious of but I wouldn’t ask to swap. Parts of my life could do with a system reboot but I wouldn’t request a redo on the life i’ve lived.

Salads:

Roast vegetable, herb + chickpea salad

Tomato + French bean pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Sandwich: Milano salami, Manchego, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1260 The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still

Do you why the caged bird sings? Why would a being let out such a cheerful tune when it’s freedom is not its own? You could assume that it sings for hope, a sound that can be heard beyond the compounds of it’s prison. When you bang on the cage the reality becomes all to much for the bird and the melody stops. The bird doesn’t want to be reminded of the cage, let it sing or set it free.

Salads:

Lightly spiced lentils

Fattoush style salad

Smokey aubergine + tomato

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1259 The evolution of healing

We all know science is awesome but have you ever sat there for long enough to think about how amazing it really is? We live in an age where a broken bone is nothing, get a cast, wait, recover. How did we find out that we can heal? The bone can fuse back together, that’s crazy! I’d assume a lot of the advancements happened during the intense wars that have taken place in the last 100 years, mix that with the ability to travel, communicate with communities far and wide, compare research and now we can do heart transplants, like what?

Salads:

Chickpea + cauliflower with ginger + coriander

Cracked wheat salad

Sausage + ham pasta salad

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1258 Benny's

Benny was the man who owned the fish and chips on the corner, he had the place for 43 years. It was a simple establishment but Benny made it sing. He closed his doors 10 years ago because it was time to retire, unfortunately he passed a few years later. It’s insane to see how the area has changed since he left. I just wanted to recall this memory, I think some of you will appreciate the trip down memory lane.

Salads:

Many bean salad

Rainbow rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1257 Lights, camera, action

Everyone loves a scandal; when they’re a spectator. Everyone is a guru when the issue is not their own. Everyone is shocked when they find out the cast of their favourite show don’t get on in real life, one might even be a predator. ‘But he was so good in that thing’ it’s called acting. We all do it, just some have made it their occupation. Our best performances take place in our daily lives. I would have received an Oscar by now and I know exactly who I’d dedicate it to.

Salads:

Chickpea + borlotti bean with roast peppers + herb dressing

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Sandwich: Spicy salami, Smoked mozzarella, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1256 Ladies and gentlemen, the weekend

Thank God it’s Friday, I’m so ready for a weekend. I’ve comprised a list of tasks I want to complete and I need some time away from the general public. While I love people watching, said people can also make me want to shut my eyes and never re open them. A little weekend of R&R will help me recalibrate for next weeks deli dramas.

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato with mango + lime pickle dressing

Oriental rice salad

Sausage + ham pasta

Crab stick potato salad

Soup: Spiced chickpea, tomato + spinach