Dancing the world of Borough Market

Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market located beneath the railway viaducts and  flanked by  the river Thames and Borough High Street in South East London , just south of the London Bridge . Probably the most renowned food market in London, it spreads itself any which way in an adventure packed series of mazy streets and walkways  housed  under a Victorian-style warehouse roof.

Those who care about the quality and provenance of food will think they died and went to food heaven here. and it’s not just the food – it is that whole atmosphere of well crafted food and food tasting, the artisans who will proudly explain their age old food crafts (and offer you a free taste to prove their point) ,  and the stall holders who grow, rear, or bake the food they sell.  Some magical transformation from animal grower or cheese maker happens when they describe their products. The shift from food practitioner  to actor assaying a role would have put Richard Burton to shame. It begins with the attack on the role as they take a deep breath and then burst suddenly in staccato- speak:  excitedly, though in a lyrical cadence that reminds you of poetry.  It all becomes street theater as they define the role further, making big gestures, their eyes shining with happiness.

Food practitioner as artist.

Yet some of them would bother with the briefest responses, or sometimes even an incomprehensible grunt, too busy with the slicing, chopping, or cooking at hand. The soliloquy of work well loved.

It is a place to ask questions, to explore food, and to learn from the real foodies.  There is a friendly vibe about the place and it always fun to be there to experience its vibrancy. The market teems with artisans who create products by hand  -  this would range from sigh inducing French patés  to passionate curries  and from English preserves to meat pies.

There is the familiar of  baking or sweetness baked. Confections and patisseries exude the happy and familiar aroma of cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, fruits. It is fascinating how the sense of smell engenders such happy memories, especially that of cakes and pies.

The  grand arrays of traditional pies and breads, home made fudge, chocolates so colorful they remind you of an artist’s palette , will challenge your mouth not to water. Sin, sweet sin!

Chocolate wrapped candied fruit

Cakes to tittilate the sweet tooth!

Home made exotic Turkish delights!

You turn a corner and there are restaurants, bars, cafès . . .you can have what you want, from home made fish soups to ‘real’ fish and chips, from meat steaks to sausages and anything vegetarian. It is all so alluring and you find yourself wandering from stall to stall, from restaurant to bar, your head teeming with too many choices.

Proper Fish and Chips!

Fish and Chips with mushy peas

Raclette on potatoes

Hot chowders

It is also a cheese lover’s paradise. Cheeses from all over the United Kingdom and Europe dominate a large section, and the scents beckon. You know you are in the presence of great cheeses! Sellers will always give you a taste and the cheese is always matured to perfection. Aside from this plethora of perfection, there is also an abundance of butter, cream and yogurt – the best your palate will ever experience! The food artisans are quick to offer you a sample, whether the typical English Cheddar, Camembert, Stilton or Parmesan, or rare cheeses  such as Crotin du Chavignol.

A seller I spoke to  was extremely  proud of  the English  stilton, which he proclaimed to be  “The King of Cheeses” as he grandly offered me a taste. As soon as I tasted his stilton, my taste buds did a curtsy.

And there’s more: the freshest seafood.  You will find diver caught scallops, smoked salmon, Essex oysters – such an impressive variety, too many to mention. The seafood here come in all colors, sizes and textures. You will find salmon, oysters, monkfish, groupers, scallops, anything that swims!

Diver caught Scallops

The freshness, variety and alluring colors of vegetables will take your breath away. They sit in bins next to great selection of fruits, each a universe in itself, carrying seeds of life.

And the meats ! *Gasp* the market offers all imaginative edible meats from water buffalo to kangaroo, from bison and zebra to impala and crocodile.  You can have ostrich eggs or feather dusters . . . . Nothing is wasted and offal is considered prime cut.All this gawking, tasting, touching, smelling soon behooves the palate to respond, and there are cafe and bars where one can either dine in or carry home  heart melting food of any sort – a gourmet adventure!

And then there always those marmalade, jellies, jams and sauces for you to take home, bringing with a few pieces of the market and the astounding food experience!

Marmalades, Jellies and sauces to take home

It’s a short walk to the Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre from the  Borough Market, in case one desires to continue the journey to the sublime . . . .