Day 496 Negativity

I had a great weekend and I woke up in a relatively good mood. I came to work and there’s been a slight negative air. This makes me contemplate my customer service style. I know I can be mean but after evaluating, I think it’s just my environment. On a daily basis I have to take in the general publics emotion…and it tends to be negative.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + lemon rice

Broccoli · chilli + garlic pasta

Med veg braise with feta

Soup: Cumin roasted sweet potato + ginger

Day 495 Now I'm ready

I started the day uninspired but it was very busy so I kept my head down and had a light chat about S&M while I made a multitude of coffees. Then a customer came in and we reminisced about our favourite child TV shows. Now I’m feeling ready to take on a drizzly rush.

Salads:

Med veg + split peas

Sumac + lemon rice

Courgette · pea + basil pasta

Gratin

Soup: Thai spiced bean + tomato

Sandwich: Mortadella, Mozzarella, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 494 Loading

I’m a little delirious today, probably because of my lack of slumber. Hopefully I can centre my mind in the next 30 mins because some of our custom does not take kindly to a counterhand that buffers while computing the salad components that has been requested. Wish me luck!

Salads:

Roast pepper + bean stew

Leek + dill rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Cheesed salad

Soup: Indian spiced red lentil

Day 493 I need a grill ASAP

I called it. Yesterday consisted of a lot of trials and tribulations. Big one being at around 2:30pm, the fuse board blew and the shop went dead. I switched the fuse back on to find it had fried my grill! Have you ever called a catering equipment company and ordered a 30kg sandwich grill like it was medication in an ER drama? I have.

Salads:

Thai spiced coconut chickpea curry

Ginger + tofu rice

Roast vegetable ragu pasta

Surimi rice noodle salad

Soup: Sweet potato + cumin roasted tomato

Sandwich: Cooked ham, smoked mozzarella, spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 492 Bad omen

I have a bad feeling about today. I woke up late, the bread hasn’t arrived and therefore i’m working in delay which is not the best way to start what is most probably going to be a busy day. Put on your sunscreen and get the paddling pool out because it’s gonna be a scorcher!

Salads:

Curried lentils

Coconut + lemon rice

Aubergine, garlic + tomato pasta

Panoush (fusion salad)

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Day 491 Bested the best

We participated in an escape room yesterday. I wish I could sit here and brag that we completed it with time to spare…but that would be a lie. We tripped at the final hurdle and now i’m left with an incomplete feeling. How did this best us, this is not over.

Salads:

Tuscan bean

Roast red pepper rice

Leek, dill + black olive pasta

Tuna + potato salad

Soup: Carrot + ginger

Sandwich: Spicy salame, La torta, jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 490 I did that

I saw a whole salmon at the wholesalers and made an impulse purchase. A friend was kind enough to let me throw it on their BBQ and I made a beautiful dinner for a Thursday evening. Paired with panzanella + herbed baby roasties. I’m still on a high from the munch

Salads:

Mexican beans

Spinach + herb rice

Chicken + rosemary pasta

Potato + mushroom salad with ricotta salata

Soup: Roast pepper + tomato

Day 489 It's a me

You know when you ‘eat’ a star in mario kart and you zoom through the course and demolish anything in your way? That’s how I felt during yesterday’s rush. Oh boy what a rush it was. When I sat down for lunch I deflated like a football that’s been stabbed by your next door neighbour because they’re tired of you kicking the ball over their fence.

Salads:

Braised lentils + cauliflower

Rainbow rice

Roast squash + rosemary pasta

Paneer curry

Soup: Tomato · fennel + courgette

Sandwich: Pancetta, Provola cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 488 Smart boy

I was given a chess set yesterday as a belated birthday present. I want to learn because it seems to be the intelligent mans sport and I am smarter than most men. Not a joke, just a fact. Other than completely forgetting about a customers order I’m on top form today!

Salads:

Cumin roasted aubergine + black eyed beans

Cumin roasted carrot rice

Spinach + broccoli pesto pasta

Chorizo + potato hash

Soup: Squash, rosemary + potato

Day 487 Talk to me

The morning always escapes me. I’m such an easily distracted beast if you come in and start talking to me I will invest myself in the conversation until i’m angrily interrupted by Mother hurling abuse at me and my talkative nature. I love an interesting conversation you know this but I lack the time.

Salads:

Moroccan lentils

Sumac + lemon rice

Courgette · tomato + basil pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Cauliflower, potato + turmeric

Sandwich: Fennel salame, Pecorino cheese, chilli relish + tomato

Day 486 Not so quiet after all

I’ve spent my morning googling salami. There’s such a vast range out there! I treated myself to a Whole Foods this weekend and oh my gosh she is expensive. I thought my week would be stress free but as the Monday ticks on the orders are rolling in…send help.

Salads:

Thai chickpea coconut curry

Miso + ginger rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Teriyaki noodle salad

Soup: Red pepper, lentil + sweet potato

Day 485 I do, I do

I’m looking forward to a more relaxed weekend. Walks in the park, xbox and hopefully a few gym sessions. I will not be temped by the pub or brunch. I’m saying this to manifest it into reality a little bit like in Peter Pan when he chants ‘I do believe in fairies, I do, I do’ to bring Tinkerbell back to life.

Salads:

Braised lentils + courgette

Lemon ginger rice

Sun-dried tomato · pistachio + pumpkin seed pesto pasta

Chorizo crumbed salad

Soup: Pea + potato

Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, Provola cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 484 Just do it

How do people stay motivated, at the gym specifically. I’m in a committed relationship with my work, I love it, I’ll manage ‘till the sun goes down on a summer evening but go to the gym? No, haven’t got the time or energy , why is that? Even the thought of being able to break a watermelon open with my thighs won’t inspire me enough to go.

Salads:

Black beans in black bean sauce with roasted aubergine

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Soup: Leek · dill + potato

Sandwich: Roast beef, Dill mayo, Celeriac slaw + chilli relish

Day 483 Think inside the box

I had a hankering for a bit of Minecraft yesterday. There’s something therapeutic about a self built world that’s perfectly cubed. Unfortunately my sheep dog was on high alert because of the barn yard animal noises. I decided to stop when a creeper came along and blew me to bits. What a way to be smacked back into reality.

Salads:

Split pea curry

Peshwari rice (almond, coconut + sultana)

Sausage ragu pasta

Paneer curry

Soup: Mushroom · potato + citrus

Day 482 You can bank on it

There’s nothing like being out at 2am on a Monday morning with the sound mind that it is a bank holiday and you have no responsibilities. I had a great weekend. Drinks, full english, reggae and gaming for as long as I want. It was needed as this month might just be the most stressful month of my life.

Salads:

Roast pepper + white bean

Rosemary +lemon rice

Courgette · tomato + basil pasta

Chicken crumbed spring salad

Soup: Roast pepper · borlotti bean + tomato

Sandwich: Cooked ham, Asiago cheese, Branston pickle + tomato

Day 480 HBD 2 me

Bank holiday weekend once again. I’ll disappoint you now and say we won’t be open on Monday. It’s my birthday on Sunday, Mother thought it would be great banter to have a child on labour day (insert laugh here). Older and wiser by the time I get to 40 years I will be the fountain of all knowledge.

Salads:

Ginger + turmeric lentils

Roast squash + chive rice

Roast vegetable ragu pasta

Cheesed potato salad

Soup: Roast pepper + tomato

Sandwich: Garlic salame, Smoked mozzarella, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 479 Release

As you will probably guess this is a high energy job. After the blinds go down we decompress kind of like when a bus lets out a big gush of air at the bus stop. Oh boy, yesterday’s decompression was like a blade in a car tyre. Today we’re recovering.

Salads:

Chickpeas in a rich tomato sauce

Sumac rice

Cauliflower + cashew nut pesto pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Sandwich: Pastrami, cheddar, dill mayo, mustard + pickled kraut (served on swiss brown bread)

Day 478 Hurrry uppp

So yesterday ended up being a 13.5 hour day but I had a great time. And Today the menu is being posted now in a rush so you get it.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Spinach + herb rice

Puttanesca styled pasta (tuna)

BBQ jackfruit noodles

Soup: Roast aubergine + sweet potato

Day 477 Working 6-6

So, we’re contemplating adding a new member to the gang. In a normal job you state the roles and responsibilities to your prospective employee and decide if they’ll be a good fit but it’s hard to explain the deli. From customers to staff it’s hard to comprehend.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Red pepper rice

Chicken + tarragon ragu pasta

Sausage + mushroom salad

Soup: Sweet potato, ginger + tomato

Sandwich: Chorizo, fontina cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 476 Laugh the day away

What a fantastic start to the week. I’ve laughed so hard from the entertaining stories the customers have brought in from the weekend. I hope today carries on like this because it’s a 14 hour day for us. And tomorrow as well.

Salads:

Yellow curry, roast quash + brown lentils

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Smokey aubergine pasta

Coconut curry with crispy tofu

Soup: Cauliflower + tomato madras