north st. deli

Fast · Fresh · Delicious

Day 591 Sensible

Like most people, I have a devil and and angel on my shoulders. At the moment my devil is shouting ‘spend all your money, it might not exist soon!’ and then my angel is whispering ‘save it for a rainy day’. Well, it’s raining and I want to spend my reserves on silly things like a canal boat holiday…

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato curry

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Roast vegetable ragu pasta

Salad with crabstick + dill mayo

Soup: Cauliflower + potato

Day 590 The roast

I had a call yesterday at the deli around 4pm. It was a customer informing me that there was someone in the shop. It was me. I was hosting a roasting dinner party. I love that the community looks out for us after hours. That, or they think ‘if I can’t have deli on the weekend, no one can’.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Leek, black olive + tomato pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Squash, Broccoli + sweet potato

Sandwich: Mortadella ham, Fontina cheese, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 589 24hr

I could never have a dull 24hr it seems. Yesterday I went to the nail salon and who was there? the little cretin who came for a trial at the deli then disappeared without a reason. I’m burnt because I know the deli is a great place to work (probably better than your workplace) and I’m not good with rejection.

Salads:

Veggie dahl

Peshwari rice (turmeric, almond, sultanas + coconut)

Mushroom ragu pasta

Chicken + potato stew

Soup: Spiced sweet potato

Day 588 Revelations

I went to a catholic school. I come across many people who just blindly believe in a higher power but last night was so different. I have no problem with religion as long as it’s not pushed onto someone who doesn’t want it. I can’t unpack last nights event’s in a few sentences but I will say I had a great time and it was enlightening.

Salads:

Med veg lentil

Rosemary + lemon rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Day 587 Amen

I’m excited for the day ahead because so far everything has gone swimmingly. Tonight, my friend has convinced me to go and discuss faith with a group of people who I don’t know and they don’t know me. What a fantastic opportunity to play devils advocate.

Salads:

Thai coconut chickpea curry

Miso rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Oriental spiced sweet potato

Sandwich: Parma ham, Camembert cheese, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 586 It's a border collie

So i was walking my dog last night around 9:30pm and this guy on a bike heckles me and says ’pitbull’s are illegal in this country, you need to put that dog on a lead’ I stopped and asked him if he was joking to which he just mumbled and attempted set off again. Then he asked me if I smoked weed…I love my interactions with the local community.

Salads:

Split pea curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Spiced chickpea pasta

Tahini dressed leafy salad

Soup: Roast pepper, white bean + tomato

Day 585 Simple pleasures

I bought new pillows for my bed yesterday. I was inspired to do this because of our recent holiday. When you go to a hotel the bed tends to have soft and firm pillows and I wanted this luxury at home. I had such a happy slumber last night but when I’ve spoken about this in the shop I get the giggles because pillows have made me happy.

Salads:

Aubergine + black bean

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Artichoke + tomato pasta

Polenta bake

Soup: cauliflower, potato + turmeric

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

Day 584 Let's be hungover together

I love how some customers can come in hanging out of their behind and I’m suppose to be supportive but as soon as i’m not with it the same courtesy isn’t reciprocated. It’s one of those days where by head won’t come down from the clouds and my mind is just white noise.

Salads:

Paprika pepper + white bean

Roast vegetable rice

Sun-dried tomato, leek + almond pesto pasta

Soup: Spiced chickpea + tomato

Day 583 Part of that world

I sometimes feel that the deli is like a different world, a microcosm where people behave the way I hope humanity as a whole would. Then, I watch the news and get smacked with the reality. I like my bubble, I want to stay in my bubble and I ask that no one tries to pop it.

Salads:

Peri peri cauliflower + black eyed beans

Roast pepper rice

Fregola with roast vegetable

Soup: Spiced pumpkin

Sandwich: Porchetta, Provola cheese, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 582 Deep sleep

I fell asleep at 10pm last night. My last thought was ‘omg i’m going to get 8 hours of sleep’. I was expecting to wake up feeling like a new woman. I didn’t. I keep having a reoccurring image in my head of me getting stabbed by a faceless person and I think it was my dream last night. 8 hours is overrated.

Salads:

Siracha spiced clack beans

Lemongrass + ginger rice

Roast squash pasta

Char siu egg noodles with jackfruit

Soup: Leek, Dill + potato

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

Day 581 Lost

After watching Married At First Sight my friend and I went to the food truck on the common to get a late night munch. Chips, beans and a stray dog. I have the sinking feeling that we was left somewhere because he had no training and was a mission to walk. This does not help restore my faith in humanity.

Salads:

Med veg lentil

Lemon + garlic rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Chorizo + potato braise

Soup: Velvet mushroom

Day 580 Cold

This morning was rainy and dark, my bed was whispering ‘come back’ but I had to resist. It’s so hard to resist. I’m a little vacant in the mind today so who knows how today’s service will go… at least I can trust the food will be great. Thanks Mum.

Salads:

Chilli non carne

Spinach + herb rice

Chicken + mushroom pasta

Thai spiced split pea

Soup: Chickpea + beetroot

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