north st. deli

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Day 1198 Waiting for inspiration to hit

I’m in a state of irrational discontent. I could give you 100 reasons as to why my mind is irritated but in the same breath I could throw those feelings to the wind and accept that life has lulls. I’m sure something on the horizon will inspire me to be a bit more upbeat. For now, I feel like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.

Salads:

Thai spiced chickpea

Aromatic rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Soup: Spinach + pea

Sandwich: Pastrami beef, Provola piccante, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1197 Leave room for silence

I spoke myself into a comatose state yesterday, no wonder I don’t feel social on the weekend. I always try and stay on top of my habits in the hopes that they don’t fester into bad practice. I feel as though talking can become a bad habit, a way of filling the vacant space. In reality we need that quiet time to recalibrate, without it, you risk going into a state of delirium.

Salads:

Mushroom cacciatore

Lemon + parsley rice

Tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Spinach, pea + potato

Day 1196 That 1.8% makes a difference

I was greeted this morning with a delivery of whole milk. I sigh, what will the yummy mummies drink now? They’re already having to put up with a semi situation when entering the lair, now the have to face…oh God I can’t believe i’m uttering the words…full fat. Crisis. Luckily my milk man realised his error and returned with the semi I desired. Crisis averted.

Salads:

Black bean + aubergine in black bean sauce

Kimchi rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Indian spiced tomato

Sandwich: Speck ham, Provola cheese, spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1195 Google is a liar

On your marks, get set, let’s start the week. The sun is shining, the responsibilities haven’t set in yet, we’re feeling good. I’ve been trying to save some coins but I decided to allot myself dinner out on Friday. Bab al-Yemen in the Fulham area. 4.9 rating with over 3,000 reviews. It was so mid and disappointing but a vital lesson was learned, the internet really do be lying.

Salads:

Cauliflower + chickpea curry

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Soup: Sriracha spiced chickpea + spinach

Day 1194 Saturday blues

It’s been a good morning, I haven’t given much thought to weekend plans. I spend most Saturdays decompressing from the heavy conversations I subject myself to during the week. While many arrange to meet with friends and unpack their lives, share a beverage and end up in a bar talking nonsense to a person they’ll probably never see again. I like to dig myself a pit, sit in it and fester. Hopefully my mind plays ball and i’ll enjoy some sun. Probably going to go with the dark pit option though.

Salads:

Thai spiced coconut curry

Lime leaf + ginger rice

Courgette, tomato + basil pasta

Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, Cheddar, onion relish, mustard + tomato

Day 1193 Witness the stiffness

The moment my body came out of slumber this morning I could feel it. The burn. Not the one some of you contract after a Saturday night on the lash (ya nasty). The burn you feel the second day after popping some healthy squats. I feel like the Tinman, I have to gear myself up to conquer a singular step. Why must exercise be such a painful affair?

Salads:

Mexican beans

Aromatic rice salad

Sausage + ham ragu pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced squash + ginger

Day 1192 Sandwich fever

I’m feeling a little stiff this morning but I get to zone out on the sandwich section so the day will fly by. I wrote that sentence first thing this morning, and boy was I right. I’m now frantically tapping away at my keys because the morning did indeed fly by, now we go straight into the hump day rush. Tidy.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced chickpea

Lemon + dill rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Sandwich: Chorizo, Provola, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1191 At peace in my own world

My long weekend consisted of a lot of Moose time. The idea of facing humans today is giving me the jitters. It’s easy to have a conversation with an animal, they’re such good listeners and they don’t judge. Time to pull my socks up and face the music, it was a lovely weekend in my bubble but now I must return to reality. Sucks.

Salads:

Med veg lentil

Spinach + herb rice

Roast squash + rosemary pasta

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Day 1190 The cash machines need to rest too

What a beautiful day it was, a perfect low key birthday. Mother produced an absolute feast, ridiculously delicious. Her cheffing skills never cease to amaze me. I’m in a state of content this morning, arranging what I want to get up to this bank holiday weekend. Problems don’t seem so problematic in the sun. Thank you to the banks for needing a day off…

Salads:

Aubergine + black bean in black bean sauce

Rice salad

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Potato salad

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Sandwich: Spicy salami, Gorgonzola, Onion relish + tomato

Day 1189 Another rotation around the sun completed

27 years ago my mother had to have me induced because I was too comfortable inside of her womb. I’ve been fiercely attached to her ever since. Unfortunately you don’t get to choose your parents, luckily the woman that birthed me is one of the most formidable humans you’ll ever meet. Shout out to her for putting in such a shift. I know she did a great job because i’m f**king awesome (and my brother is pretty cool too).

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato with mango + lime pickle

Sumac + lemon rice

Tomato + basil pasta

Sausage + ham pasta bake

Soup: Chilled Gazpacho

Day 1188 Hot topics on a hump day

My sandwich lady and I went for a delicious dinner at Caravela in Battersea last night. Good portions, Mediterranean flavours, personable staff, what a treat for a Tuesday night! Now it’s hump day and though it hasn’t been too busy, conversation has been vast and intense. I wonder what the experience is like for a deli novice, you come in wanting a simple cappuccino from an independent and you get thrown into a debate about trans rights or you’re shown the anatomy of a squid, so versatile.

Salads:

Black lentil curry

Coconut rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Chilled Gazpacho

Sandwich: Napoli salami, Provola cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1187 Tedious Ted Talks

Ergh sometimes I hate having to live with my mind, why must I over complicate things? I could sit in a silent room and tire myself out with all the voices that roll around in my skull. When a problem arises I’d say i’m quite good at sorting it out, no fuss. However, when it comes to small matters, getting myself from A to B, the forum of hypotheticals all have to have their say before I come to a decision.

Salads:

Roast pepper + white bean

Lemon + dill rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1186 There's nothing wrong with me time

I thought I had a useless weekend but as I engaged in the obligatory chit chat of a Monday morning (which of course consists of unpacking what people got up to on the weekend) I realised it wasn’t futile at all. This feeling flows across my mind every so often, I need to get out more, do as the people do. Socialise. I tend to have this sensation when I’ve allotted myself some me time, I try to conjure up the spirit to see people but I just get shivers, admit defeat and stay safe in my living room.

Salads:

Braised black bean + squash

Spinach + herb rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Sandwich: Fennel salami, Pecorino cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1185 Will you cover that?

Nice little rush to start the morning has put me in a right good mood, i’m going to take this happy feeling and decimate it by calling an insurance company. Insurance is a crooked industry, I once met a guy that insured insurance companies. In a ideal world I wouldn’t have insurance, it’s a scam, sold as a necessity when in reality you’re paying for a hypothetical. I was asked ‘do you need motor legal insurance?’ I replied ‘I don’t know if i’m going to hit anyone in the next year’. Piss take.

Salads:

Chickpea curry

Herbed rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Soup: Roast pepper + white bean

Day 1184 The slow life

I had a super lazy day after work, a total couch potato. Another day has arrived and i’m still feeling lethargic, hopefully something will zip me up soon, i’m on my third coffee and all it’s done is made me need to pee. I’ve filled my time with chit chat, but now my voice is irritating me so I’m recluse in the basement, saving the general population from my tedious talks.

Salads:

Braised beans + roast peppers

Rosemary + lemon rice

Spring greens + tomato pasta

Soup: Thai spiced chickpea

Day 1183 How times have changed

Back when I was but a small child I would arrange to meet my friends at the bus stop in the morning. There was a 10 minute grace period, if one of us was a no show we’d go on alone to our educational institution. A life before mobile phones, a life before you were expected to be at anyone’s beck and call at any given time, a life before smart phones made us somewhat inept, antisocial and selfish. Autocorrect is ducking brilliant though.

Salads:

Thai coconut chickpea curry

Lemongrass rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Sandwich: Garlic salami, Provola piccante, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1182 Back to life, back to reality

I had an enchanted weekend, I was so detached from reality it seemed a bit surreal when I got home and sat on my sofa. Open the blinds and let the grey reality set back in, we’re back. On to planning the next getaway, it’s important to have something to look forward to. I wonder what everyone else got up to.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Spinach + herb rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Soup: Broccoli, chilli + potato

Sandwich: Parma ham, Smoked mozzarella, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1181 Buona Pasqua

It’s Friday vibes on a Thursday people. We’ll be close for the Easter weekend, Hallelujah! I’ve found the general population little testing as of late so a good dose of natural beauty ought to rejuvenate my tolerance for BS. I need a break from this sitcom of a deli, the absurd situations that come through the door provide entertainment for sure but it also contributes unnecessary irritation. See you next Tuesday.

Salads:

Mushroom + many bean salad with croutons + smoked mozzarella dressing

Roast vegetable ragu pasta

Sandwich: Garlic salami, Smoked mozzarella, chilli relish + tomato

Day 1180 Served with fava beans and a nice Chianti

I had one of the diva customers in yesterday and unfortunately for him, I had an epiphany at the beginning of the year. Why to I cater to his BS? So I made some necessary changes and started treating him like a normal individual, he’s not a happy bunny. Thing is, bunnies are a source of food from my part of the world. So when he expressed his discontent, I roasted him. He can’t of been that hurt, honey was in this morning for a macchiato, served with a smile!

Salads:

Mexican beans

Spinach + herb rice

Courgette, tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

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

Day 1179 Waiting for the weekend

Put your tank tops away, the rain is back. It was all feeling a little too dry anyway I guess. It’s been a calm morning which had given me the opportunity to sort out some of life’s boring admin. I can’t wait for this long weekend, we’re heading to the Wye Valley! A long weekend of hikes, food and shrooms to encourage a break from the mundane. Glorious!

Salads:

Braised chickpea + aubergine

Lemon + herb rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Baked veggie pasta

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Sandwich: Parma ham, Provola, Chilli relish + tomato