Buying the better foodie.



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"How to be a better foodie" published by Quadrille £ 8.99 is also available at Waterstone's and all good bookshops, delis & gift shops.

Just published by Penguin US under Viking Studio imprint $17.95.
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How to shop as a better foodie.

Shopping for food is immensely pleasurable and taken very seriously by the better foodie. We think nothing of a cross-metropolitan trek or 20km round trip to procure the best sourdough loaf, hone in on a source of yuzu juice, discuss seasonal, impeccably kept cheeses with a proper affineur or pick our own damsons. In fact, for many foodies the anticipation and trawling to the furthest reaches to track down the finest, specialist foodie gems is at least as pleasurable as entertaining, though, of course, we like to make sure our guests realise the lengths we willingly go.

I’m fortunate to live in gastro-centric SW London with a delectable, appetite inducing choice of specialist shops run by dedicated and knowledgeable foodies.

Here are some of my favourite locals:

Butcher Bar/Grill/Deli
39-41 Parkgate Road, SW11 020 7824 3999

Excellent meat mainly from Highfields Farm. E Sussex including French cuts plus Spanish charcuterie, cheese and other deli goods run by ex General Manager of Brindisa and Dominic Ford, who created Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Food emporia, so top better foodie credentials.

Ditto Deli & cafe
2 Barmouth Rd, Wandsworth, SW 020 8871 2586
Discerning better foodie choice of cheeses, smoked fish, Brindisa charcuterie, Jules & Sharpie hot pepper jellies, Amedei chocolate and other delectables hand-picked by charming manager Lisa Salter.

Hamish Johnston
48 Northcote Rd, SW11 020 7738 0741

Fabulous seasonal and artisanal cheeses and highly knowledgeable staff plus Bath Cheese Company biscuits, Morecambe Bay potted shrimps, great choice of mustards and foodie larder essentials.

Kelly’s Organic Food
46 Northcote Rd, SW11 020 7207 3967

Great rigorously seasonal fruit and vegetables plus more unusual salad leaves, traiteur, good for organic Asian larder essentials and irresistible brownies.

Lighthouse Bakery
64 Northcote Rd, SW11 020 7228 4537

Fabulous choice of bread baked on the premises ranging from rye and linseed, sourdough to chocolate bread and chollah.

Macfarlane’s
48 Abbeville Rd, Clapham Common, SW4 020 8673 5373

Hugely friendly, highly foodie neighbourhood deli with excellent cheeses, good on Scottish specialities, pasta and charcuterie from Machiavelli Foods, and plenty of prada for the larder.

Moen & Sons
24 The Pavement , SW4 020 7622 1624

Atmospheric butcher/deli: definitive sausages, game, mutton, wild mushrooms and mesmerising choice of deli goodies.

Moxon’s
Nightingale Lane SW4 020 8675 2468

Serious fishmonger who buys mostly from Dorset and Cornwall and offers not only more esoteric fish including razor clams, but plenty of less known sustainable species such as megrim sole. Plus Japanese and other more rarefied deli essentials.

Northcote Patisserie
Address: 148 Northcote Road, London , SW11 6RD
020 7228 1377

Simply the best Portuguese pasteis de nata (custard tarts), especially when still warm and wobbly, beyond Lisbon’s Antiga Confeiteria de Belem plus all manner of home-made cakes and exceptional mince pies.

The Pantry deli/café
342 Old York Rd, SW18 020 8871 0713

Great for decadent breakfast, Irresistible cakes especially honey & pistachio, good sourdough bread and plenty of Daylesford delectables.

I Sapoori
146 Northcote Rd SW11 020 7228 2017

Stylish deli run by former Michelin starred chef Stefano Cavallini: irresistible charcuterie, cheeses, homemade ravioli and traiteur dishes, bottarga, farro, and choice artisanal prada for the larder.

Trinity Stores/cafe
5 & 6 Balham Station Rd. SW12 020 8673 3773

Impeccably stocked new deli with excellent bread, local vegetables, homemade soups, terrines and enticing prada for the larder.


Around London I thoroughly recommend "better foodie" shopping at:

Arigato Japanese Supermarket
48-50 Brewer St. W1 0207 287 1722

Stock up on fresh udon, miso paste, dashi, konbu, rice vinegar, saki and yuzu juice besides all manner of pickles and spices for the adventurous foodie.

L'Artisan du Chocolat
89 Lower Sloane Street SW1 020 7824 8365 l'
artisanduchocolat.co.uk

Unabashedly one of my favourite shops in the world, selling only Gerard Coleman's exquisite handmade chocolates with sophisticated and often cutting-edge quirky flavours. Definitive salted caramels, Moroccan mint
thins, and much more.

Baker & Spice
47 Denyer Street, SW3 020 7589 4734

Extraordinarily tantalising choice of breads, definitive cheese straws, outrageously moreish spiced nuts, irresistible cakes and luscious, exotic salads plus prada for the larder.

Bluebird Epicerie
350 King's Road, SW3 020 7559 1000

One-stop shopping for definitive epicurean luxuries and more rarified ingredients including Gascon black pig charcuterie, best Iranian pistachio, vintage sardines and piment d'esplette plus Amaedei chocolate.

Books for Cooks
4 Blenheim Crescent, W11 020 7221 1992
www.booksforcooks.com

I adore visiting this incredibly well-stocked bookshop which includes vintage cookbooks, foodie literature and stationery besides every conceivable specialist cookbook I could possible hanker for. Great café and cooking classes too, including new literary lunches.

Brindisa
32 Exmouth Market, EC1 020 7713 1666

Essential better foodie haven for treats including Joselito pata negra ham, cecina, lomo and chorizo, superb olives and olive oils, Pedro Ximinez and sherry vinegars, recondite cheeses, smoked anchovies, inimitable chickpeas, turrón + Moro's fresh tortilla each lunchtime.

Cheese
4-5 Leadenhall Market, EC3 020 7929 1697
www.cheeseatleadenhall.co.uk

More than 100 beautifully kept cheeses from around the world, tended by former Harvey Nichols cheese buyer, plus the best of the essential accompaniments and tempting cheese dishes to eat in too.

& Clarke's
122 Kensington Church St. W8 4BU www.sallyclarke.com

Aside from the legendary breads - rosemary and raisin is a favourite, the daily seasonal tarts (from abricot to aubergine), cheeses, and exemplary prada for the larder including many Breton gems and unusual seasonal fresh
produce (Sally is a huge fan of cobnuts) are a must.

Divertimenti
33-34 Marylebone High St W1 020 7935 0689
www.divertimenti.co.uk

Bucolic mooching for the culinarily obsessed, like myself, who can always justify more enticing accoutrements for the kitchen and discerning selection of knives, pans, coffeemakers and more obscure gadgets plus fabulous cooking classes.

East Dulwich Deli
15-17 Lordship Lane SE22 020 8693 2525

Tantalising choice of cheeses, charcuterie, treats for the larder and their own excellent Born and Bread sourdough baguettes and brownies.

Fortnum & Mason
181 Piccadilly W1 020 7734 8040 www.fortnumandmason.co.uk

The transformation to high foodie emporium is almost complete promising a wonderful choice of fresh foods besides the definitive choice of exquisitely
packaged prada for the larder including exceptional biscuits, unparalleled piccalilli and rose petal jam.

Flaneur
41 Farringdon Rd, EC1 020 7404 4422 www.

Exceptionally committed to Slow Food principles which is reflected in stock of rare and arcane specialities. Good for cheese, charcuterie and unusual French delectables besides vegetables/salads from Secretts Farm.

La Fromagerie
2-4 Moxon Street, W1 020 7935 0341 www.lafromagerie.co.uk

The ultimate better foodie feast for the senses. Besides the astonishing collection in the temperature controlled cheese room (burruta must be ordered), defnitive Robert Wilson tea, Ragiode coffee, the best bread, La
Fromagerie made jams/chutneys and all manner of prada for the larder including exquisite saffron and rose syrups.

Green Valley
36-37 Upper Berkeley Street, W1 0207 402 7385

Endlessly intriguing Lebanese deli with unusual fruits and vegetables, Middle Eastern traiteur including good labneh, excellent nuts and pastries, and known to be a favourite of Claudia Roden.

Harrods
87-165 Brompton Rd, SW1 020 7730 1234 www.harrods.com

Mesmerising and ultra-grand and exceptionally well-stocked with obscure ingredients for adventurous cooking besides the legendary fish and meat counters. Morelli's ice-cream makes a great better foodie in the making
treat and a visit to Laduree for macaroons is a must.

Harvey Nichols
109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1 020 7235 5000

Particularly good for rarefied oils, vinegars, unusual Australian comestibles and one of only a handful of outposts for Amedei chocolate plus fabulous choice of US and Australian foodie magazines.

I Camisa
61 Old Compton Street, W1 7437 7610

Reassuringly old-fashioned deli crammed with charcuterie, cheeses, awe-inspiring choice of dry pasta and superb freshly made pumpkin and sage tortellini.

Japan Centre
212 Piccadilly, W1 020 7255 8255

Where else can yo find organic sushi rice milled on site, freshly baked Japanese breads and panko crumbs, unusual vegetables, edamame, vast choice of tofu and excellent, modestly priced sushi by Yoshimo.

Manicomio
85 Duke of York Square, SW3 www.manicomio.co.uk

Showcase for Italian food importer Machiavelli's superlative produce used by many top restaurants. Incomparable mozzarella, gorgonzola, truffled pecorino, fabulous charcuterie (including lardo di colonnata) , fresh
Italian vegetables, eggs, artisanal pastas, coffee and more.

Melrose & Morgan
42 Gloucester Avenue, Nw1 020 7722 0011
www.melroseandmorgan.com

Artistically presented, mouth-watering dishes made by the in-house chefs including definitive sausage rolls and Bath buns, plus choice British artisanal meats, fruit and vegetables plus all manner of prada for the larder including honey from bees on Hampstead Heath.

Melt
59 Ledbury Road, W11 020 7727 5050 www.meltchocolates.com

A stylish new arrival on the hand-made chocolate scene: the passion fruit truffles are superb. Regular chocolate tasting events too.

Mortimer & Bennett
33 Tuurnham Green Terrace, W4 020 8995 4145

A divine gem of a deli crammed with the best and the most arcane deli and larder delectables chosen by Dan Mortimer an eagle-eyed extreme better foodie invariably in the vanguard of the most desirable ingredients.

Neal's Yard Dairy
17 Shorts Gardens, WC2 020 7379 7646

Definitive and ever-increasing range of artisanal British cheeses plus wonderful yoghurt, cream, farmhouse butters and proper oatcakes and other essential cheese accompaniments.

Le Pain Quotidien
72-75 Marylebone High St W1 020 7486 6154
www.lepainquotidien.com

Excellent sourdough bread, croissants, tartines, lemon tarts and chocolate bombes, besides jams, condiments and a convivial café.

Paul A Young
Gorgeous chocolate atelier where every superlative chocolate is handmade by Paul in kitchen below. The collection changes each day and also includes
exceptional chocolate pastries.

Poilâne
46 Elizabeth Street, W1 020 7808 4910

The ultimate better foodie sourdough made with wheat and spelt four and violet imbued sel de Guerande and baked in wood-fired ovens The rye, milk, and walnut and raisin bread and biscuits are superb too. Personalised
Poilane rolls can be ordered.

Reza Patisseries
345 Kensington High Street, W8 6NW n 020 7603 0924

Gorgeous aromatic Iranian pastries imbued saffron, flower waters, pistachio et al and good for fresh dates, top quality pomegranate molasses and more.

Selfridges
400 Oxford St. W1 020 7629 1234

Verde & Co
4 Brushfield Street, E1 020 7247 1924

Exquisitely presented largely Italian and British seasonal produce and rarified delectables in restored Georgian premises, owned by novelist Jeanette Winterson.

Villandry
170 Great Portland St. W1 020 7631 3131

Beyond London, a few of my favourite gems are (hopefully I will update and expand this list shortly)

William Curley
10 Paved Ct, off King St. Richmond TW9 020 8332 3002

Small, yet exquisitely formed patisserie - chocolate mille-feuille, Japanese inspired fruit tarts, biscuits and memorable chocolate truffles.

Although internet food shopping lacks the sheer sensual pleasure of smell and touching to whet one's appettie, there are an increasingly number of excellent websites for the foodie, particularly good for tracking down recondite and rare ingredients.