Lunch at the Borough Market
Barbecued chorizo on a bun with arugula and piquillo peppers
Every food lover who comes to London knows about the Borough Market. I certainly had heard of it and knew that it would be one of the first places I would go. And I had no doubt that I would like it. Of course I would. But people, I don't just like it. I LOVE it.
And I love it even more on Fridays.
On Fridays, all the suits working in the neighbourhood come to the market for a "hand-held" lunch. Then they go to the nearest pub for a pint and spill onto the streets, drinks in hand, for some chit chat and some people watching. Most of the time it's so busy you have to squeeze your way through the beer glasses just to get anywhere. Normally I hate a crowd, but this one makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
It's going to be a long time before I can safely say that I have tried most of the hand-held lunch options that are available there. But I can tell you that I do get a tremendous thrill from Brindisa's barbecued chorizo on a bun with arugula and piquillo peppers. There is always a line up there, but I have never been not willing to wait.
There are no tables at which to sit and eat, but the curb in the front of the Brindisa stand is always full of people sitting down, and assuming the proper eating position: legs spread apart so as not to drip chorizo juice on their trousers.
In Paris, you wouldn't dare buy something at the market then park yourself on the nearest curb and dig in. They would probably demand to see your passport and put you on the next flight out of there.
But here it's all part of the charm. The Borough Market has a social aspect to it that I absolutely love, even if I go alone and it means sitting off to the side and just watching everyone else being social. I am skilled at the art of being a wallflower. So, if you see some gal sitting by herself, smiling, with chorizo juice on her face and arugula in her teeth, that's probably me. (Clearly, I am also skilled at the art of making myself sound like a loser.)
The best part is, when you're done, you can wander back through the market and take your time selecting your dessert.
Oh, and of course, get some shopping done if that's what you had intended to do in the first place.
Brindisa website
Labels: london, London food shops
posted by Michèle at 4:43 AM
13 Comments:
this looks delicious! and the market sounds like a cool place to hang out.
And if you see a girl wandering around in circles, looking confused, that's probably me wondering how I can buy everything I want without going bankrupt.
It seems strange but I only ever ate lunch from Borough once, despite going at least every fortnight. That was one of the ostrich burgers.
Come to think of it, I probably walked past you several times last Friday. It was an indecisive week!
Kat, I'm sure you'd love both the sandwich and the market! Have you ever been to London before? If you do plan any trips there in the future make sure the Borough market is on your list ;)
Ros, I admit I do the loop about a million times too--sometimes just because I find the selection quite overwhelming and I don't know where I want to plunk my money down. And speaking of ostrich burgers, I have seen those (and the scallop guy nearby tempts me!) and wondered if they were any good. I guess I'm wondering if you would order it again--that's always a good indication ;)
On my weekends back from Paris, I always try to make it to the market, though usually not to eat. Some favourites--the Italian cheese/meat store next to Neals Yard remedies, the 2 pound/bag misshapen chocs from L'Artisan du Chocolatier (not on Fridays, though), the fish from Shellseekers and the skirt steak from Northfield Farms (the name's something like that anyway).
Yes, but it was only for a day and it was way too short to get all the exploring in. Gotta get back there soon! I'm definitely putting this on my list :) Thanks!
I chuckled out loud at your "skills"!!!
Was just talking up out chorizo sandwich to someone last night. ANd I KNOW!!!! Can you imagine trying to pull off something like that in Paris???!!! Now that would make a interesting little social experiment.
Oh the charms of the arugula-toothed wallflower - they are varied and unique. How often I've heard tales of this lunch, but seeing it in its tempting glory is a whole other thing altogether. It is not even 10 am, and now I'm craving one!
Okay, that settles it. Next time I will be there on a Friday for sure! None of this Sunday-when-nothing's-open crap.
And you know something strange? There actually appears to be more things open in Edinburgh on Sundays than in London! Whodathunk?
oooh, the sandwich is so yummy!!! brindisa's one of my favourite stops whenever i'm in borough.
how did you manage to take such a lovely shot of the sandwich? the last (and only) time that i tried to do it, i almost ended up dropping the sandwich and camera on the floor!
I loove hand-held lunches - they are my favorite kind! That looks really satisfying. Cheers!
Shira, have I totally missed an italian cheese/meat store beside Neal's Yard? Oh wait, there is one at the top of Borough Market (good salami!) that I do like to go to but right beside Neal's Yard is a tea salon. Granted, it could be new, but it does look pretty cute ;) I have yet to try the chocolate--I will keep an eye out for it on the weekend. Thanks for the tips!!
Kat, you'll need a whole afternoon for the market alone ;)
Alisa, I know! And that is all part of the fun, right? I mean I love Paris markets, but you can't beat the social aspect of the Borough market. But sometimes with all those suits around you feel obliged to put on a little extra lip gloss or something after you chowed down that sandwich. (chorizo grease won't cut it)
Tara, I hear you, I haven't gotten sick of these yet. Sometimes I wonder if I don't go to the market just to eat the chorizo.
Melissa, yeah, what is up with that? You'll definitely have to make another trip and we will devote a whole afternoon just to the market. You will LOVE. IT.
Chris, glad to hear you like Brindisa too! I'll tell you my trick with the sandwich: not only do I take the paper napkins, I also take one of the plasticky take away bags that they have. So I wrap the paper napkin around the bottom first, and then the plastic thing which gives me a failsafe grip on that big old hunk of sandwich and voila! A picture.
Alice q, me too! And I did miss that while living in Paris. There is something very satisfying about it, isn't there!
Okay, Moro AND sandwiches at the Borough Market.
Dang, you have me craving London something fierce. If you do a post about dry apple cider I will not be able to restrain myself from getting on a plane and flying out there. I love the stuff.
Meet me at the airport? I promise to arrive on a Friday before noon.
Tea, when you said dry apple cider my first thought was "powdered" and I was thinking something quite intelligent along the lines of "Huh?" But now I understand (I've had my coffee) and I think that I am purposely going to have to do a post about it just to taunt you. And yes, I will meet you at the airport with a smile and a big ol' pile of balloons!
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