Finding your favorite flavors from Home
…in London
Wherever you go in the world you will always fondly remember the tastes and smells of home. And what does one do when one moves heaven and earth to leave one geographical location previously known as “home” and settle in to another, rather foreign geo-location…now called Home.
Simple. You hit every nook and cranny in the city where you may feel the tinge of home, or where you are able to acquire all the comfort food ingredients that bring you back to That Place. Home in a plate.
In this first issue, I’ll talk about London, where there is a wealth of locations where you may just find what ever you may be looking for…
Whitechapel Market and Brick Lane
Open everyday except for Sunday from 9–6, Whitechapel market is situated between Cambridge Heath Road and Vallance Road. Whitechapel tube station sits right in the middle of it. This is the place to come for Indian and Bengali foods, with every type of speciality Asian ingredient and spice you can imagine available., from cyan pepper to chapatis and creamed coconut. This place is a delight offering a tantalizing combination of colours, smells and cultures.
Just one stop away on the overground is Brick Lane (exit at Shoreditch High Street). There is a market here too on Sundays, which is fascinating to stroll around in. They sell everything from second hand boots to art deco furniture. But if you are looking for a quality Asian market you will find several here that are open every day.
Peckham Market
In South London you will find Rye Lane Market (Peckham Rye Overground). But all around the same area are a collection of other little street markets too. For West African fruits, spices and staples look for Choumert Road or Parkstone Road just off Rye Lane itself. Most are open every day of the week, but there is a special market on Sundays too.
Shepherd’s Bush Market
This vibrant market not far from one of Europe’s biggest shopping malls. This is a real old style London market, with stalls selling yams, coconuts, spices, okra and mangos and very fresh fish. It has been open for so long that hey even named a tube stop after it. While much of it is of a Caribbean flair, you’ll also find Polish and African foods too. They are open every day but Sunday.
Brixton Market
The markets in Brixton have been around for years, all along Electric Avenue, Pope’s Road and Brixton Station Road (Exit Brixton Northern Line). While many of the stalls sell cookware or toys, there is almost no better place to find fresh ingredients for Afro-Caribbean foods in this part of town. There is also a fantastic farmers’ market on Sundays.
Lituanica
Not really a market, more of a specialty Eastern European food shop. There are actually several delis and specialty shops in east London that sell Eastern European foodstuffs but they are often not easy to find unless someone recommends them to you. Lituanica on the other hand has several shops which carry Latvian, Russia, Lithuania, Polish, Bulgarian and Romanian food. They have shops all over the U.K.
The Savanna
London has a huge population of South African expats, probably more than any other place on earth. The Savanna has 7 shops throughout the city to cater to the unique tastes of this culture. You can find everything here that you would back home, and even order online if you want. There is no better place in the city to get your biltong or droewors.
In the next issue, we will look at Paris and where you can find your favorite flavors from home in that city. Do you have a London one you can share with us? Or how about any local market you love in your new home?
Sara Caitlin writes on everything from cafe napkins to billboards and for various companies and small businesses in the UK and France. She aims to be intimately familiar with every local market she can discover, so feel free to share one you’ve come to know! We seek guest bloggers for Global Citizen, get in touch if keen…
Originally published at momotop.co.
