Saturday, June 16, 2007

Feast from the East

Six handfuls of marinated fat black olives
Six handfuls of chilli and lemon stuffed green olives
8 lamb chops
8 lamb back chops
8 spicy beef sausages
8 chicken drumsticks spiced with paprika, saffron, lemon and honey and salt
1 apple tart
1 pyrex dish of mixed baklava
6 warm flatbreads the size of dinner plates
Huge bunch fresh coriander

One of the reasons why I like living here: the above list was all bought in one shop, chops cut fresh to order, and still got change from £20. In the shop: people from Albania, Algeria, Yemen, Turkey and Lebanon. All united in moaning about the weather. Walked back in the rain, past the smells of roasting chicken on spits and hot coffee. Heard at least six different languages. Saw people from three continents. Now going back out to the Turkish grocers to buy strained creamy yoghurt, strawberries, tzatziki, hummus, fresh hellim and feta cheese, lettuce, red peppers and olive oil, and wine.

Eight of us for dinner tonight. Was going to be a BBQ, but as a) we haven't got round to buying a BBQ and b) it is throwing it down with rain ( again) it will be a Middle East feast instead. Given where I live, it's the easiest and tastiest option. Especially as we only have six knives and forks, so scooping up food with bread and fingers is the most guest-friendly way to eat.

Happy weekend.

4 Comments:

Blogger Henry North London 2.0 said...

I miss being in North London as Im up with the folks in deepest Yorkshire

The round the clock availability of fruit and other comestibles such as you describe is something wonderful, even the local market cannot compete.

June 17, 2007 3:51 pm  
Blogger Bernie said...

Right, I will be on the first Qantas flight over, can you save me some?? lol lol lol
Cheers
BErnie

June 18, 2007 1:19 am  
Blogger Rachel said...

I have been looking for those flat breads. Which shop did you find them in?

June 18, 2007 10:53 am  
Blogger Rachel said...

Try any of the halal butchers on Blackstock Rd, the F. park end - the shops with roasting chickens on spits in the windows have them. Arsenal Food & Wine do good Turkish flatbreads too.

June 18, 2007 10:57 am  

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