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With its in-your-face attitude and anti-establishment identity, Brixton is truly a unique part of London. In its markets, you will find a vibrant, innovative and creative food culture that is a heady mix of traditional market traders, restaurants, food producers, design stores, cash and carry supermarkets and Afro-Caribbean food stalls. This burgeoning food scene is the result of a Space Makers urban generation project initiative “Empty Space Project” five years ago with London & Associated Properties Plc and Lambeth Council. Since then, the market has flourished, attracting newcomers as well as retaining its old residents. It is this fusion of peoples and food traditions that makes Brixton so unique. On a Saturday morning, you’ll mix with local shoppers bartering over prices with a new generation of locals enjoying breakfast. Start your walk at Market Row. This smaller of the two markets is probably closest to Brixton’s true identity - a mix of African and Caribbean traders, fishmongers, butchers, and newcomers. To find it, walk down Electric Avenue, past all the discount telephone stores and street stalls selling clothing, luggage and plastic home-wares. Turn right onto Electric Lane. At the entrance to Market Row look out for the spiritual store with its curious display of black magic items, including candles to ward off evil thoughts and ones for immigration. Once inside, explore the diversity of local providores starting with Cannon & Cannon at no. 18: a purveyor of British charcuterie and champion of British produce. You’ll be encouraged to taste before you buy - be sure to try the salami with cobnuts (the English version of the hazelnut). Their selection of seasonal hams, salamis and cured meats is a great promotion of this emerging British food craft. Upstairs you’ll find the supper-club styled restaurant - Salon that hosts producer dinners as well as a Friday-to-Sunday seasonal menu. Next door is Market Row Wines at no. 20 with its thoughtful selection of small-scale, independently produced wines and beers. Close by at no. 23 is Nour Cash and Carry, a labyrinth of a store selling Afro-Caribbean and Asian foodstuffs. This is the place for those hard-to-find ingredients. On your travels look out for Jeffries Fish Shop (no.5) and at no.14e Rosie’s Deli Café with its great deli menu and personality to match. Closeby at no. 408 Coldharbour Lane Ms Cupcake is the place for the naughtiest vegan cupcakes in town. At the end of Market Row is Brixton Village (also known as Granville Arcade) - just across the road and up Atlantic Street. On 3rd Avenue are Sierra Leone Groceries, African Queen Fabric, and The Keep - a design store of vintage inspired clothing and home-wares. See if you can find the local cat that meanders from store to store. Continue to Brixton Cornercopia kitchen and larder (no.65) - inside you'll find a bounty of locally grown and made produce, some local to Brixton (including goods made in its own kitchen such as Brixton pound sauce and Brixton market chutney) and others like Kernel Beers, England Preserves as well as London Honey Company. Well worth a visit for its inspiring and heartwarming food philosophy and enthusiasm for local produce as well as its range of home-wares. Nearby at unit 77-78 Federation Corner offers a great coffee fix with its own locally roasted coffee on 5th Avenue. For the distinctly vintage, visit Leftovers (no. 71) a petit store that offer lyrical nostalgia with its French and New York vintage wares. At no. 74 the design store Circus delights with its emporium of vintage finds, textile design and prints. With its façade of recycled cardboard, it is easy to find. At no. 7 Brixi is the place for printed linens, jewellery as well as the unusual and the odd curiousity- Mexican tin ornaments and even Victoria sweetheart pincushions from WW1. Other locals include Lab G at no 6 (or Laboratorio Artigianale del Buon Gelato) whose adventurous taste sensations have celebrity status. There’s also Mama Lan (no.18) and French & Grace (no.19), both residents started life as supper clubs before taking up residence here. So whether you’re wanting to discover the buzz of London's latest pop-up or the urban blend of Brixton's multiculturalism, this is one area of London that never disappoints. NEWS: According to Brixton Bugle, Brixton Village will publish its first cookbook next year - it will include all traders from Granville Arcade. EAT Ms Cupcake 408 Coldharbour Lane SW9 8LF Tel. 0207 733 9438t. t. @MsCupcakeUK Rosie’s Deli Kitchen 14e Market Row, SW9 8LD Tel: 0871 961 1983 t. @RosiesDeliCafe French & Grace 19 Brixton Village Market, SW9 8PR Tel: 07944 624 113 t. @frenchandgrace Mama Lan 18 Brixton Village Market Coldharbour Lane SW9 8PR Tel: 0755 555 555 t. @MamaLans Laboratorio Artigianale del Buon Gelato (Lab G) 6 Brixton Village Market Coldharbour Lane SW9 8PR Tel. 04478 0392 2616 DRINK Market Row Wines Unit 20, Market Row, SW9 8LD Tel: 0207 274 2463 t. @MarketRowWines Federation Coffee 77-78, Brixton Village Market Coldharbour Lane SW9 8PS t. @FederationCoffe COOK A & C Co. Continental Grocers 3 Atlantic Road, SW9 8HX Tel. 020 7733 3766 Brixton Cornercopia Unit 65 Brixton Village Market, SW9 8PS Tel 07919542233 t. @brixcornercopia Jeffries Fish Shop 5 Market Row, SW9 8LB Tel. 020 7274 0215 Brixton Farmers Markets Brixton Station Road, Brixton, London SW9 8PA Every Sunday 10am-2pm Cannon & Cannon 18 Market Row SW9 8LD Tel. 020 7501 9152t. t. @cannonandcannon WARE Brixton Cornercopia Unit 65 Brixton Village Market, SW9 8PS Tel 07919542233 t. @brixcornercopia Brixi Unit 7 Brixton Village, London SW9 8PR Tel: 07919 162428 t. @Brixi7 Circus Unit 70, Brixton Village SW9 8PR Tel. 07736 679676 t. @Circusgirls Leftovers Unit 71, Brixton Village, SW9 8PR Tel. 07748 717978 Feeling adventurous ....
1 Comment
1/21/2014 02:06:21 pm
London is well known for its rich food culture and the variety it offers in food cuisines. My personal favorite cuisine is Indian, it has so much to offer that you will definitely find a dish good enough for your taste. Thanks LFE for sharing this. Leave a Reply. |
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