Article on East Dulwich's food scene

[Gimme]

Weird experience in The Mag yesterday. We got there and ordered but they couldn't do any of the veggy dishes due to not having spinach or butternut squash. In the end they combined all the bits of the veggy dishes they DID have into one plate to satisfy the veggies.

That said, if the Mag doesn't win the next 'Best Burger in London' competition then something is wrong. And their mayo is fab.

Among other things we did yesterday on the ED food scene:

Bought a delicious leg of venison (Muntjak deer) from Sparkes for ?9

Got really nice cream cheese from the Cheese Block

Spent loads in SMBS including spinach and a butternut (The Mag - take note!) and some of the best icecream around (Purbeck award winning clotted cream ice cream). Loved the fact you can buy Edamame there.

Oggled the cakes at the cake stall on Northcote Road

Took a good whiff of the brilliant coffee at the coffee stall on Northcote Rd

Bought amazing smoked haddock for a very reasonable price at Moxons.

Resisted the temptation of the parmentier and pear and chocolate tarts at Lucas's.

Yep. Great food scene in ED!

[Gimme]

Doh! Keep saying Northcote, but meaning Northcross. I've only been here for 2.5 years...

[Horsebox]

Not East Dulwich but close enough, The Lido Cafe @ Brockwell Lido is a new place to check out.

In the interests of being open and frank, it is owned and run by 2 very good friends of mine. Foodmag, I'm sure that if you popped in and had a chat with Dan or Duncan they would be happy to offer their opinions on food in the area.

www.thelidocafe.co.uk

[simonethebeaver]

Gubodge Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If you're going to mention butchers, it would be

> criminal not to mention Libretto's on Woodvale.

> The best in the area and predates the development

> of ED's 'thriving food scene'. He also should come

> top of the list of interesting foodie characters.

> He knows everything there is to know about meat

> and views every sale as an opoportunity to pass

> that knowlege on.

Absolutely. Kim the butcher is one of my favourite things about living in East Dulwich. He is very friendly - knows my name and all about my life - has fantastic meat which he cuts to order and loads of expertise about cooking and preparing it. The reason he has queues is that he chats to everyone, and it's always a bit like a party in there, with a real community feel. For his son's 21st recently, who also works with him in there, they put out sweets and cakes for everyone. I almost don't want to recommend him because it's nice not to have the William Rose crowds there.

An article on Kim would be fascinating. He used to be a wrestler but has had his shop now for around 30 years, with very faithful customers from all walks of life.

[SimonM]

Libretto's is indeed a fine shop, although of course not quite in East Dulwich...

[Sue]

Gimme Wrote:

>

> Among other things we did yesterday on the ED food

> scene:

> Bought a delicious leg of venison (Muntjak deer)

> from Sparkes for ?9

>

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

One of my most treasured memories is being face to face with a couple of Muntjak deer in a little wood near Oundle :-S

[Gimme]

Oh, apparently the butcher sources his venison from Oundle.

The leg we ate was probably from one of those two...

[thebestnameshavegone]

Fuschia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Votes for Jacks Cafe

> The Magnolia

> Green and Blue

> The icecream parlour

> SMBs

> Cheese Block

> Pretty Traditional

> The deli-type stall in Northcross Rd market

Hardly a 'scene' though is it?

"we have a few places that do food that aren't greasy spoons"

8-pager in OFM it isn't.

[SteveT]

Foodmag wrote:- why it has such a large amount of good independent food shops

Probably because the nearest decent supermarket is too far to walk to, and worse to walk back from laden with goodies.

[Abigail_Lola]

A real estate agent recently told me that some years ago the council gave out big incentives for independent retailers to set up in East Dulwich. I'm not sure how true that is, but it was a good story. It would follow that independent food retailers would be encouraged along with others.

[foodmag]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of your input. I thought you might be interested to see the finished article - click this link to read and scroll through the pages to 52:

http://www.f1colour.co.uk/DE/Food&Travel/JAN10.htm

If anyone's interested in buying the magazine I know the newsagent near Green and Blue stocks it.

Merry Christmas!

[dulwichmum]

I love the images of East Dulwich. Well done.