north st. deli

Fast · Fresh · Delicious

Day 579 Friday

I hate sending bitchy emails because I never know if they will come across the way I’ve intended them to. You might assume I mean I don’t want to hurt the receivers feelings but quite the opposite. I want them to suffer because they have driven me to sign off my email with ’sincerely’. That’s not my vibe.

Salads:

Thai spiced split pea

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Spinach + pea pasta

Panzanella

Day 578 Upside down

A calm day can turn upside down so fast. I went from casually sipping coffee with customers to sweating in the sandwich section. Not actually sweating (because nothing phases this beast). I love not knowing what to expect from the day but I wish I had more sleep.

Salads:

Cumin roasted beetroot + chickpea

Dill + tomato rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Sausage + ham potato ragu

Sandwich: Bacon, Blue cheese, Peach relish + tomato

Day 577 Dark times

So winter is upon us. I wake up in the morning to darkness and all I want to do is cuddle down and go back into dreamland. I like being back at work but I need to get back to my stressed self because the queue was long as anything yesterday and I couldn’t move fast enough.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced lentils

Sumac + lemon rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Spiced cracked wheat

Soup: Roast squash + rosemary

Day 576 Lack of communication

If you don’t understand something, you ask questions but when I do it, it comes across as interrogation. Why? Is it me? Am I the problem? Watching a show like Married At First Sight has shown me I might communicate too much and it may come across as intimidating. So let’s just repress our emotions.

Salads:

5 spice veg + audki beans

Kimchi rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Crispy tofu noodle salad

Soup: Tuscan tomato + rosemary

Day 575 Back at it

The first day back after a break is a lot. It’s like reprogramming, I feel like I’ve forgotten how to do my job. Alas, the deli has returned, you’re safe now. We will get through the rest of this year together and we will try and find any form of comedy and light to help the days go past.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Spinach + herb rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Potato gratin

Soup: Sweet potato, tomato + ginger

Sandwich: Fennel salame, Camembert cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 574 Ciao for now

I know it’s a hard day for everyone. We will be closed for the next 3 weeks. Why? Because we need a break and due to it being a tiny team one cannot work without the other. I will genuinely miss you, I might even think of you while we’re away. Just don’t go to Gail’s. On a slightly more bitter note don’t talk to me about the Queen if you like the monarchy…you’ll get offended.

Salads:

Veggie curry

Spinach + herb rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Bean + roast pepepr salad

Day 573 Square or Coffin

I was in the nail salon yesterday and this woman had a go at the nail tech because she wanted square nails and apparently they did the coffin shape instead. I can’t help but think there should be some kind of social punishment for this. They’re nails, they were still well done, why are you being such an ass wipe?

Salads:

Mild vegetable curry

Ginger + coconut rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Crab stick + potato salad with sriracha mayo

Soup: Tomato, basil + lentil

Sandwich: roast lamb, Goat’s cheese, Peach relish + tomato

Day 572 Squash

We played squash last night. It was exhilarating, i’m confused by it’s demographic because it’s high intensity and just so much fun. I’m not saying that men of a certain age can’t participate, I just don’t understand why the appeal seems to hit at a later age.

Salads:

Five spice vegetables + aduki bean

Crispy tofu rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Carrot, ginger + cumin

Day 571 Just let me be

I’ve learnt to be mindful of people’s sensitives. If I feel they can’t handle my opinions I stay quiet. However the silence was so loud yesterday I still managed to offend. I’m coming to terms with the fact that I can never get it right and the general public are tiring.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced lentils

Sumac rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Spicy coconut curry

Soup: Leek, potato + cumin

Day 570 The end is near

Brace yourselves, winter is coming. That, and the deli will be closed for three weeks. Is it strange that I feel guilt? I know when I write the sign in the window I’m going to have to look people in the eyes and apologise that we’re taking a break. We need to recharge.

Salads:

Thai spiced coconut + mung bean curry

Lemongrass + lime leaf rice

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Teriyaki tofu noodles

Soup: Roast vegetable + coconut

Sandwich: Cooked ham, Stilton cheese, chilli relish + tomato

Day 569 Lazy AF

I have big plans this weekend. Sitting, Eating, Gaming. I have no desire to do anything that requires brain power. I’ve just remembered my take away ‘fast’ has ended, what i’ve learnt from this experience is that I am capable of wizardry in the kitchen…I’m just lazy, aren’t we all?

Salads:

Split peas + cauliflower

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Sundried tomato + almond pesto pasta

Multi-bean salad

Soup: Red lentil + tomato

Day 568 Petit Filous

Sometimes I decide to be nice and pay people random compliments to make them smile. This is rare for me because in my long, young life I’ve found that it doesn’t matter how generous or kind you are to people they’ll still behave like a petty little bitch for the most nonsensical altercations.

Salads:

Cauliflower chickpea curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Sausage + ham ragu pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Indian spiced veg

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

Day 567 Eeyore

Usually I’m stressed as hell on a Wednesday without my partner in crime. But today i’ve been bouncing off the walls. I’m now so pumped i’m due to crash any moment and will probably end up crying. Either that or Mother will slap me on the ass like a donkey to help me carry on. #teamwork

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Spinach + herb rice

Courgette, tomato + basil pasta

Tuna potato salad

Soup: White bean, tomato + rosemary

Day 566 High to low

Where do I start? My weekend was great I was on such a high however work has hit me like a ton of bricks and i’m off cloud 9. One of the first customers of the day must have been sent by the devil, I resisted temptation to hand him his ass. He should be grateful I had such a good time at carnival.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Cumin + garlic rice

Roast squash ragu pasta

Roast veg + ricotta salata salad

Soup: Mild madras

Sandwich: Pastrami beef, brie, apple relish + tomato

Day 564 What a good boy

Sometimes I look at my dog and I think how weird it is that I have this animal in my life. Not specifically my dog just all animals. Like, he knows me, my routines and he’s by my side, it’s so crazy when you think about it.

Salads:

Tahini dressed chickpea salad

Lemon + garlic rice

Vegetable ragu pasta

Panzanella-esc salad

Soup: Leek, dill + potato

Day 563 Thursday Shlug

It’s been one of those mornings where i’ve just stared at sandwiches. Not in a kinky way, we’ve just had to make a lot of them and i’ve barely looked at people. The weather has turned and to all the people that complained about the heat, I hope you get caught in the rain.

Salads:

Roast pepper + white bean

Spinach + herb rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Rice noodle salad with crabstick

Soup: It’s not Gazpacho

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

Day 562 The day of birth

It’s Mad’s (Mother) birthday. She’s asked that I get her nothing but vibes. Today we blazed opera and musicals out the speakers in the shop and she’s been smiling. It might come as a surprise when I say how much I respect her because it sure doesn’t seem that way but I really think that bitch is incredible. Legend.

Salads:

Black bean + aubergine

Tofu + soya rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Mac + cheese

Soup: Lightly spiced squash + sweet potato

Day 561 Not a nerd

I had a really nerdy upbringing. This wasn’t intentional it’s just that Mother doesn’t care about trends or what the ‘cool kids’ are doing. So to me, building Airfix on a Friday night was just what we did. I had friends and I wasn’t bullied because if you called me ‘neeky’ I’d still punch you in the throat.

Salads:

Mung bean madras

Ginger + turmeric rice

Chicken + chorizo pasta

Cracked wheat salad

Soup: Roast pepper, tomato + rosemary

Sandwich: Porchetta, Jalapeno relish, tomato + mustard

Day 560 Typical

I had a very chilled weekend but I got stuff done. Still need to book a holiday though. It’s Mother’s birthday this week and she’s requested I get her nothing. My Mother isn’t like the rest, she really means it, she’s not your ‘typical woman’ where she says one thing and means another. She’s blunt.

Salads:

Thai spiced black eyed peas

Lemongrass + ginger rice

Leek · black olive + tomato pasta

Korean spiced jackfruit + egg noodles

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Day 559 Meat head

Why do men hold such opinions on steak. It doesn’t make you more or less of a ‘man’. Plus I can cook steak better than any of you (probably) so does that make me THE man. As suspected low standards so the male species. Cook meat well and you’re superior, archaic.

Salads:

Paprika roasted veg with black beans

Lemon + chilli rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Panzanella

Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, cheddar, apple chutney (apples from a customers orchard) + tomato