Author: swishjunction

Reviewed: London Farmers’ Market & Hildreth Street Market

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There’s nothing more dangerous for your wallet or your waistline than a farmers’ market, but hey, it’s worth it. Besides, there’s so much healthy, fresh produce in gigantic proportions (did you SEE the size of those garlic bulbs? Enormous!) that the satisfaction levels are much higher than just sticking to your weekly shop in your local supermarket.

Highlights from this weekend’s London Farmers’ Market and Hildreth Street Market include:

*Wild Country Organics – (Chestnut Grove School & Hildreth Street) who knew that so many types of edible leaf existed? We purchased sorrel leaf, which had a light, citrusy flavour; indeed the stall holder used to find them in fields as a child and call them ‘yummy leaves’.

*Artisan Foods – (Chestnut Grove) small savoury tarts full of bite, plus cakes baked in loaf tins served by the slice; our favourite so far was lemon and poppy seed – the perfect, light flavour for this weather.

*Seafayre – (Chestnut Grove) huge chunks of upmarket restaurant-worthy fish from the Kent coast at incredible value (6 scallops for £5.50, anyone)? Plus ask and you’ll get recipe suggestions with your purchase.

*Little Jack Horner’s -(CG)  buy a pie, keep the dish, or return it next time for a small refund. Foolproof dinner party fayre.

*Bread-Ahead Bakery – (CG) a decent variety of bread (soda, rock salt, walnut) at very reasonable prices. We picked up a wholemeal pain for £2.50. Keep it plain; a smear of butter is all this loaf needs.

* Comptoir Gourmand – (HS) a beautiful patisserie selling doorstep brownies and the biggest meringues we’ve ever seen.

*Kath’s Cakes – so, so pretty, almost too good to eat (but it’d be rude not to). The chocolate and beetroot cupcakes are ones to look out for (that’s healthy, right?). Next time we’ll be trying their vanilla and blackcurrant flavour.

Camden Coffee House comes to Balham

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That little spot next to the tube where Balham Blooms used to be? We’re getting a new neighbour. Camden Coffee House is coming to town, if a little late of schedule; after a little delay (gotta love those builders) the lovely Sunni is flinging open the doors around 5th October, with a grand opening on Saturday 8th October. These sneaky preview pics show that the place is ever-so-nearly there and if like us you walk past it every day, you’ve seen the speedy rate that it’s developed in the past couple of weeks.

If you have time on the Saturday, pop along and take advantage of the free espressos, £1 lattes and flat whites (as well as other delightful coffee options), and free cake with every drink purchase. Nom indeed. As with their Camden and Croydon outlets, there’ll be a continuing loyalty scheme where after five drinks, you’ll get your sixth free. We’ll drink to that.

Camden Coffee House, 208 Balham High Road, SW12 9BS

Quirky meets Farrow & Ball…

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Quirky Dovetail is one of our retail crushes – a modest-sized shop offering furniture large and small for all budgets, plus a service offering to spruce up tired items that would otherwise be gathering dust in your own home.
On the evening of 9th November they, along with paint and wallpaper perfectionists Farrow & Ball are hosting an evening in their shop to offer advice on using colour in the household, including tips on painting walls and furniture, and the chance to ask the experts about your own projects (there’s also wine and nibbles to keep the hunger pangs at bay, you’ll be glad to hear).
Tickets to this fab event cost £20 and are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.
‘Colour In Your Home’, 7pm-9pm, Quirky Dovetail, 24 Ritherdon Road, SW17 8QD
Enq. Andy: 07830 092782

Picture: Copyright Farrow & Ball