On a recent visit to England's capital I took the opportunity to visit the famous Borough Market in SE1. It is the oldest food market in London, set up when the Romans built the first London Bridge on the south bank of the Thames.
A Unique Place
It is now the premier specialist food wholesale and retail market in the country. Its reputation as a genuine foodie’s paradise has travelled worldwide. Friends who had visited had been telling me for a long time that this place was very special.
Mmmmm...The Aroma...
My expectations were high as I went through the old walls that form the main entrance. All of my senses were immediately roused as a fusion of aromas swirled around my nostrils. I came into an area crammed with people meandering around or leaning forwards over counters closely examining amazing produce.
The Range of Food
For a time it felt like the 4.8 million customers that it is reported come along each year had all arrived together and the sheer quantity of multi-coloured counters and stalls offering a range of high quality produce was overwhelming at first. Counters were loaded with a staggering range of every kind of fine food.
The Produce for Sale
Saturday morning is the most popular day and the atmosphere was lively and cheerful. Bunches of tables and chairs were pulled around coffee purveyor’s counters. I stopped to accept almost all the offers of a free sample of produce from the ebullient sellers. I tasted sips of the finest teas; honey spread on warm baked bread; samples of exquisite biscuits and lots of tiny pieces of cheese.
Mmmm... The Great Bread
The displays of beautifully baked breads, with their knotted patterns crisscrossing their lengths, piled high on the counter, were a delight. I followed the puffs of dark grey charcoal smoke to find the stand where the irresistible wild beef sausages were being cooked on the open grills. 160 traders come to Borough market every week from all over the United Kingdom and beyond. There were stallholders selling the finest aubergines; fruits of all colours and origin; delicious pork chops; gorgeous flowers; potent cider; baguettes and bagels filled with luscious cheeses.
Cheers for Beers
A long queue waited for beer behind a big blue wooden sign ‘STRAIGHT FROM THE BARREL’. A child walked from one of the many stalls selling excellent vegetarian fare, the essence of joy on her face as she took a large bite into a big, round roll.
Panoply of Tastes
I could hear English spoken in a multitude of accents and snatches of many different languages. The customers were as racially and culturally divergent as the vendors. Every kind of national speciality dish of fish, meat or vegetable was on display from all over the world. The counters were loaded with Turkish baklava; Welsh cheeses; French breads; Japanese sushi, and, sure enough, the local East End of London dish of ‘pie ‘n’mash.’
Stimulating all the Senses
All and sundry were visibly intent on enjoying the gastronomic experiences. The sunshine seemed to stream down in approval onto this wonderful open air market. Added to the promise that had undoubtedly materialised, of a matchless array of specialist food and an atmosphere of culinary distinction, the multicultural quality of the experience was the ‘icing on the cake.’
