This morning, I was in for a real treat. Suzie has been saying all week, "wait until Friday...we're going to Borough Market and it will blow your mind." Well, consider my mind blown.
Borough Market is what the North Market in Columbus or the Union Square Farmer's Market in NYC dreams about becoming one day--a fully realized market: literally soup-to-nuts. I have never seen such a broad range of foodstuffs, with everything from primary and exotic ingredients to fully prepared and cooked foods. Of all cuisines and styles. Everything from fresh produce, herbs and spices to exotic game and other meats. The market is located under the train trestles at London Bridge Station. It is sprawling, and has grown beyond its original space and has spread into every available nook and cranny surrounding the original site.
We first explored Neal's Yard Dairy, and tried several cheeses, including two Stiltons, a few Cheddars and a goat's milk soft rind cheese similar to a Brie. The shop had rows upon rows of shelves, floor-to-ceiling, where whole cheeses were in repose, quietly maturing amid the hustle and bustle of the cheesemongers and customers. Neal's Yard whet our appetites, and we plunged headlong into the market, searching for Suzie's favorite vendor...of toasted cheese sandwiches (of course). Needless to say, our toasted cheese was superb, made on crusty sourdough, with well-aged Gloucestershire cheddar, finely chopped garlic, leeks and onions melded together between the slices of bread. We devoured it before it even crossed my mind to photograph it.
The market started to fill up with officeworkers--probably more than usual given the extraordinarily clear and warm spring weather--and soon there were lines at almost every stall as people clamored for lunch. We tried to wait out the onslaught, but soon found ourselves in line for lamb and mint sausages on a crusty bap with rocket and onions and a lamb souvlaki on handmade flatbread with tzatziki, salad and feta. We polished this all off with a fresh apple juice, then moved on to dessert: fresh made creme caramel for me and some ice cream for Suzie.
Fresh eggs: chicken, duck, goose and otherwise.
The nut vendor--if he doesn't have it, you don't need it.
Mmm...haggis and award-winning white sausages!
If it swims, it's here.
Produce of all varieties.
A forest of mushrooms.
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