I’ve always had the mentality where if life isn’t worth living you should make changes in an attempt to improve your situation. For example, if you let work run your life you should sift through what’s necessary and what’s extra but I find it hard to say no to work. If someone is having a BBQ or a christening and they want our food on their table it’s a little arrogant for me to say no. So i’ll move around personal appointments to accommodate someone else’s schedule even if it’s to my detriment and I don’t know why I do this because for the most part, I don’t like people.
Salads:
Moroccan spiced lentils
Lemon rice
Courgette, pea + spinach pasta
Halloumi + potato concoction
Soup: Gazpacho
I’ve been looking at my to do list trying to figure out the most efficient way of getting things done today. It’s looking like it’s going to be a glorious 12 hour shift but this is inevitable. We’ve been working at full capacity with half the team for the past three weeks, so we’re playing catch up. I got interrupted and had to go upstairs my workload has just doubled… yippee
Salads:
Indian spiced mung bean curry
Aromatic rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Cheesed, croutoned salad
Soup: Gazpacho OR Tomato + rosemary
Sandwich: Milano salame, Asiago cheese, Chilli relish + tomato
I am of the unpopular opinion that Glastonbury isn’t worth it. 4 days of blood, sweat and shite. I’ve watched plenty of performances, from a variety of stages, in the comfort of my own home. There’s no arguing that Glastonbury has hosted some iconic performances. However, when people come through the deli door after being at the Glasto weekend I just don’t believe them when they say they enjoyed it. To me, it looks like the trenches with a good soundtrack. What is the appeal?!
Salads:
Pinto beans with peri peri cauliflower
Dill + preserved lemon rice
Mushroom ragu pasta
Beef + potato braise
Soup: sweet potato, ginger + carrot
I dislike the central justice system, you’d be delusional to think that one list of rules would be able to police a society of 8 billion. If you look up the origin of the Italian mafia for example you’d probably agree with the premise in which it was formed. However like with everything you just need one extremist for an entire community or organisation to be demonised. Just a random thought.
Salads:
Med veg lentils
Spinach + herb rice
Roast pepper pasta
Thai spiced tofy curry
Soup: Tomato, ginger + sriracha
Sandwich: Fennel salame, Pecorino cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato
My critic came back for lunch, she thought her sandwich was burnt last time, this time she was the one that was burnt. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Today it will be me, Mother and Dragon against the Friday hoard. This is not ideal but life is not ideal, sometimes you just have to roll with the punches and I can take a lot of blows so let’s do this.
Salads:
Thai coconut curry with black eyed peas
Edamame + crispy shallot rice
Roast vegetable + tomato pasta
Panzanella with roast vegetables
Soup: Gazpacho
Can’t say this morning has gone to plan. We are behind schedule and my computer just had a meltdown. I can’t catch a break. The next week isn’t looking promising either. We’re going to be two members of staff down tomorrow and Monday and i’ll be working all weekend to make up for time lost during the week. Someone give me a reason to smile.
Salads:
Braised med veg + chickpea
Ginger + lemon rice
Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta
Korean spiced crabstick + rice noodle salad
Soup: Gazpacho
Sandwich: Mortadella ham, Fontina cheese, Chilli relish + tomato
So I have to find a new member of staff. In the normal world you put out a job post comprising of the roles and responsibilities that the job entails. Like with everything at the deli, it’s not that simple. You might be able to work in a coffee shop, make a flat white, serve a sausage roll but can you talk to over 100 people daily about a plethora of topics and keep your cool? It’s easier said than done and history has shown me very few can do it.
Salads:
Mexican beans
Carrot, dill + lemon rice
Leek, black olive + tomato pasta
Panzanella
Soup: Gazpacho
Sandwich: Spicy salami, Asiago cheese, Mango chutney + tomato
I’m rocking the Croydon facelift today. When I slick back my curls I’ve been told I look a little more aggressive and my pessimistic, dead pan jokes can come across mean and actually dark. I’d say ‘who knew a hairstyle could make such a difference?’ but then again whenever a man waltzes into the deli with a moustache a certain type of criminal springs to mind and i’m immediately weary…what’s up with that?
Salads:
Moroccan spiced lentils
Sumac rice
Roast squash ragu pasta
Tuna salad
Soup: Indian spiced vegetables OR Gazpacho
When I’m asked ‘What do you do for a living'?’ my answer always starts with and exhale, a bit of a sigh. ‘I own a deli’ is the simple answer but you’ll never understand what that entails until you’ve sat in the corner for a day and watched the mayhem that our days consist of and that’s without all the intricacies of running actually business. So I tend to turn the conversation away from work now, because any time I get away from the deli is a blessing.
Salads:
Chilli non carne
Spinach + herb rice
Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta
Chicken + bacon white bean braise
Soup: Sweet potato + ginger
Sandwich: Chorizo, Goat’s cheese, Red onion relish + tomato
I wear over-ear headphones so it’s obvious to society that I can’t hear my surroundings. I’ve made this change because people kept hollering and they were unaware I had little black buds in my ear so they thought I was straight up ignoring them (can’t lie, sometimes this was the case). Even with my unmissable headphones people still start talking to me as if I’m just earing ear muffs. Piss take.
Salads:
Braised white bean + courgette
Garlic + lemon rice
Bacon, leek + tomato pasta
Spiced cracked wheat salad
Soup: If it’s over 25 degrees it’s Gazpacho
I am on much better form today which confuses me because the list of problems hasn’t exactly lessened but they’re progressing in a promising direction. I think we all just get to a stage where you become stagnant and it’s hard to see the bright side of things. But it’s not a bad life just a bad day, I’m starting to appreciate the sunshine in saying this I am still suffering from a short fuse, so try me and you’ll get bitten.
Salads:
Ginger + turmeric chickpea curry
Aromatic Indian spiced rice
Sausage + ham ragu pasta
Cheesed croutoned salad with roast mushrooms
Soup: Chilled Gazpacho
Sandwich: Fennel salami, Pecorino cheese, Onion relish + Tomato
I feel like the last few posts have been relatively negative. I’ve been sitting at my desk thinking about something positive to talk about or at least pessimistically amusing but I’ve got nothing left (shout out Ian Beale). It can be very draining remaining somewhat jovial at work while everything is breaking around me. However it is mildly entertaining watching people struggle to navigate the conversation when I reply to ‘how are you?’ with ‘fucking awful’.
Salads:
Smokey tomato + split pea curry
Rosemary + sun-dried tomato rice
French bean + tomato pasta
Thai coconut curry
Soup: Chilled Gazpacho
We try hard not to make mistakes but human error is inevitable when serving 1000 people a week. This one Karen of a customer demanded a free sandwich in the midst of a hectic, hot lunch rush because her last sandwich was ‘inedible’, bollocks. The staff were shocked that I didn’t go off on her but I have recently learned to keep how I really feel to myself and remain professional. She left chuffed with her free panini, she doesn’t realise it was her last.
Salads:
5 Spice aduki beans
Seaweed rice
Courgette, mint + herb pasta
Korean spiced sausage + noodle salad
Soup: Chilled Gazpacho
Sandwich: Pastrami beef, Brie, Spicy peach relish + tomato
So I got drunk yesterday. This is a weekly occurrence for many of you i’m sure, but I’ve been on a hiatus from alcohol and today I remember why. I woke up this morning dehydrated and disorientated, I’m tired, bloated and it seems I have a total lack of patience today. I think i’m going to stick to marijuana, so much less problematic.
Salads:
Thai coconut curry with roast squash
Red pepper rice
Roast vegetable ragu pasta
Chickpea curry
Soup: Chilled Gazpacho
Sandwich: Milano salami, Smoked mozzarella, Spicy peach relish + tomato
My pessimism peaked during COVID. Understandable. Now I keep to my bubble to stay positive, well, semi positive. Many plans we have in place are still a working progress and nothing is being achieved with ease. The 4 hours of mayhem we go through daily (more commonly known as the lunch rush) is my favourite part of the day because there are no responsibilities other than making sure bitches get their sandwiches.
Salads:
Chickpea + aubergine curry
Ginger + lemon rice
Mushroom ragu pasta
Potato + crab stick salad with dill mayo
This week has gone by so slowly and there’s still another week of no Nelly to go! How are you? Has this year gone according to plan for you? My year started badly but it seems there could be a chance to salvage it. Honestly, some of the price hikes we’ve had to endure have been eye watering but hey, capitalism, what are you gonna do? We could start boycotting companies that are obviously corrupt… but that might be an inconvenience to you.
Salads:
Mexican beans
Smoked garlic + paprika rice
Sausage + ham ragu pasta
Tahini dressed jackfruit salad
Soup: Lightly spiced bean + tomato
Sandwich: Roast lamb, Cabbage + leek slaw, Chilli relish + rocket
We got through it, that you to those who waited patiently yesterday. My mind is empty, all I can think about is different game plans to make the working days less intense. I can’t go on social media because my feed is filled with influencers showing how they organise their morning routine that consists of a 10 step skincare ritual, 15 minutes of meditation and a good pump at the gym. They manage to do it all before starting their 9-5 makes me feel like i’m not doing enough even through i’m working a 6-6 5 days a week. #stressedandblessed
Salads:
Chilli non carne
Spinach + herb rice
Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta
Cheesy potato + spinach bake
Soup: Carrot with a hint of ginger
Okay people here we go, the day i’ve been dreading. We’re rocking a 3 piece band today and I am nervous as hell about the show. All we have to do is survive the next 8 hours. In other news I drove our big orange beast of a pick up truck from Croydon to Clapham without a single blip. I’m gassed. Also some of you have enquired about the ‘love letter’ from a few weeks back, a poem was given in return and there has been no passing of paper since.
Salads:
Moroccan spiced lentils
Sumac rice
Leek, Black olive + tomato pasta
Panzanella
Soup: Indian spiced sweet potato
Sandwich: Spicy salami, Pecorino cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato
I got in early this morning to do some extra prep for the day ahead. One of the things I love about work is that I never know what the day will entail. The down side to this is that when we’re a member of staff down the surprises that come through the door can destroy all the planning and prepping we’ve done to try and make the day go smoothly. What are the chances of having two weeks with no surprises?
Salads:
Ginger + turmeric mung bean
Cumin roasted carrot rice
Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta
Soup: Courgette, tomato + basil
Sandwich: Milano salami, Brie, Chilli relish + tomato
Another Friday rolls around. I’m feeling a little uninspired. There’s a long ‘to do’ list and no time to get anything done. At least it’s just me and the sandwiches today. I’m trying not to think about the coming weeks. We’re going to be missing a member of staff for the next 2 weeks which means I will be enduring early mornings and hard working days. But hey, TGIF am I right?
Salads:
Med veg lentils
Red pepper rice
Sausage + ham ragu pasta
Fregola salad
Soup: Sweet potato + ginger
Sandwich: Mortadella ham, Fontina cheese, Chilli relish + tomato