The Parliament Hill Farmer's market is back in full swing this weekend, after a short summer holiday...
This is the first of many posts in which we are going to decode an area for you. We’ll be picking places in London to go and discover of a lazy day because there’s nothing quite like heading to a previously unexplored spot. Our guides will give you the places we rely on but please add any recommendations you have yourselves.
We’re starting with a place close to both of our hearts…
Q: “Where do you live?”
A: “Dartmouth Park”
Q: “Where?”
A: “Parliament hill?... oh never mind. Between Camden and
Highgate.”
As is the case with any place in London not within 5 minutes
walking distance of a tube stop – people just don’t know Dartmouth Park by
name. Growing up here both Flo and I (and all of my oldest Dartmouth BFFs) had many
a conversation like the above zzzzzzzz…
In the last few years 2 happenings have put Dartmouth Park
more firmly in Londoners’ mind-maps: the opening of the Parliament Hill
farmers' market and the sprucing up and gastrofying of The Bull and Last pub. Last
Saturday, Flo and I got together in our area to taste the best from both places
and of course, to walk Biba.
The Parliament Hill farmer’s market is every Saturday
10am-2pm in the William Ellis school car park. You have to go into the heath
and then turn right at the tennis courts but it’s well sign posted, as Biba
will confirm.Biba consented to be left at the dog crèche but only because
she wanted to ask these two where they got their colours done.
First up: bread. The Born and Bread bakery (written up by The Guardian here) travels North from Dulwich to grace us with their floury goodness every week. The best thing from this lovely lot has to be their olive breadsticks, which are more succulent green olive than they are dough. Encrusted in rosemary and rock salt these are utterly mouth watering and I’d challenge anyone to make it home with any still in their shopping bag.
Their pagnotta (sourdough loaf) is excellent too: not too chewy, nor too heavy but risen just right with a thick bitter crust to get your teeth into.
Next: cheese… what else would you put on bread? The Wyfe of
Bath by The Bath Soft Cheese Company is like a gouda but less bitter and I would probably marry her if she
asked (lame. Sorry).
Then to the tomatoes: my mother’s kitchen wouldn’t be the
same without the lively polka dots of red and yellow tomatoes in earthenware
that we’ve become accustomed to nibbling on before supper. They are worth the
trip alone and are made in The Isle of Wight by these lovely people at The Tomato Stall.
Eden Farms has a great selection of unusual seasonal veg in all the colours of the rainbow. We suggest not turning up with a recipe in mind as this is one of the best places to be inspired. I bought jalapeno sausages and chose miniature yellow squashes to roast as an accompaniment.
These chickens are something else. Unlike anything you can
buy in a supermarket in flavour and freshness. They are from Fosse Meadows Farm, who you can follow on Twitter to see where else they'll be. All their chickens are free-range and sold with giblets so you can really make the most of
your chicken (Flo and I always make a soup from the stock). If you can’t wait
until you get home then you can have a chicken mince burger straight off the
grill too.
The soup stand sells fresh, healthy or naughty soups (that’s
without or with crème fraiche) soups at good prices. The pea and mint is particularly
good. They also have excellent fresh pesto for your bread and cheese or salsa
depending on what you’re making.
Poppy’s Kitchen serves French Style sweet treets all hand made by Poppy herself (and we're guessing, her unbelievably cute daughter and Twitter cover star too). Choose
from a selection of tarts including crème brûlée –
the French equivalent of a pasteis de nata. Mmmm…
If you're buying to entertain, you can get flowers here too... we were particularly struck by these, which solve that problem of how open a flower to buy, as they look gorgeous when closed too:
Once we had done the circuit, we headed to Parliament Hill’s summit to enjoy the famous view out over London. You can see right to the city from there so it makes for an impressive sky line at night too.
Once we had done the circuit, we headed to Parliament Hill’s summit to enjoy the famous view out over London. You can see right to the city from there so it makes for an impressive sky line at night too.
Then down to The Bull and Last. If it had been a Sunday, we
would have turned up here a little later in the day and had a roast (booking
essential). As we were early, we shared a freshly made scotch egg, which we
agree is the best thing that they do. The pictures say it all.
If you remember, last Saturday afternoon was somewhat apocalyptic in weather-man terms so after shopping we stayed in and ate Al Parco pizzas for supper... the best in the area. Located by the Swains Lane park entrance. When it's sunny, this is the ultimate low-effort heath picnic with a bottle of wine from Corks of Swains Lane (over-priced but good selection).
Everyone was perfectly refreshed...
 |
| Their Marina - a basily, garlicy pizza is only £6.something |
So that was our Saturday just been. We hope you make it your
Saturday coming up… let us know what you think.
 |
| The afternoon was spent doing this... absolute bliss. I want it back. |
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