market – The Cultural Exposé

What we’ve been up to… Druid St Market

The Cultural Exposé — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 10:00:11 +0000

Al fresco dining was the order of the day this glorious weekend – and we couldn’t have done it better than at the new Druid St food Market. This compact strip in Bermondsey has been home to a delicious mix of creative food vendors, bakers, breweries since July – and we reckon they’ll soon be giving the nearby Maltby Street market a run for their money. We haven’t stopped harping on about the New Orleans inspired food from Decatur London (their grilled oysters are a beaut) or the ice cream sandwiches from Blu Top Ice Cream, a quirky mobile van that’s also taken tips from the USA. Elsewhere, the yummy meats from Blackhand Charcuterie seem like the perfect pairing with the artisan cheeses from The Cheeseboard, or even the breads from Lonzo, a spin-off from the popular Lardo and Coppa restaurants in Hackney. And drink wise, you might want to see if Black Box Coffee can hook you up with an iced coffee with cacao as an alternative to their artisan lattes – we gulped it down within minutes.

There’s loads of other vendors we can namecheck – but the best bet is to trawl this impressive little drop-in yourself the next time you’re south of the river – it’s a real contender.

Open every Saturday from 9am-4pm. For more details visit their Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram. Check out pics from our recent visit below!

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Somewhere you should go… The Bit Beyond Market

The Cultural Exposé — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:00:22 +0000

The last weekend of August welcomes a new market to East London with a difference. Running twice a year, The Bit Beyond features social enterprises and ethical start-ups that are all determined to contribute to the greater good – and they’re doing a mighty fine job too. Take Give Me Tap – they sell water bottles that support water projects in Africa and Jollie’s Socks give away a pair to homeless shelters for every pair they sell. The day will also feature healthy treats, ethical fashion and handmade products all up for grabs, offering you plenty of cool wares to take home while giving you the chance to do your bit for society too. The market, based inside Spitalfields Church, Commercial Street, runs from 12:30-5pm and for more info visit www.thebitbeyond.co.uk. You can check out pics from last year’s market below:

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Somewhere You Should Go… Santo Remedio Mexican pop-up

Lucy Palmer — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:00:31 +0000

When I think of Mexico, I think of great food and great parties and the Santo Remedio Mexican pop-up in Tooting over the weekend promises to deliver on both.
Taking place in the indoor market, your ticket includes entertainment including live music, the chance to enjoy that Mexican staple Tequila and your choice of dinner on the Saturday night or a mid morning brunch if you go on the Sunday.

The traditional food on offer includes Grasshoppers Tostada, pan fried in garlic infused olive oil with homemade chipotle sea salt served over fresh Guacamole. For the less adventurous there’s Pozole, the traditional dish to celebrate Independence Day, a bowl of delicious silky broth served with pulled pork and hominy topped with shredded lettuce, radishes, oregano, chile piquin pepper and tostadas on the side (what more do you need in a bowl?). And if you still have room for more there’s a spicy mexican chocolate sorbet on offer for dessert served with an orange sponge cake.
Santo Remedio regularly host pop up nights around London and are known for their authentic and delicious cooking and stylish and fun atmosphere – so with tickets including a complimentary cocktail and gift bag, your weekend should definitely start here. (Words: Lucy Palmer)

For more info, visit www.facebook.com/santoremediouk

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Somewhere you should go… Secret Emporium Christmas Market

Jane Duru — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:00:10 +0000

If you don’t like Christmas shopping (and really, who does? Too many people, too much tat and not enough mulled wine to numb the pain) then you’re in for a treat this December. Eschew the usual department stores and swap Oxford Street for Hearn Street where you’ll find Factory 7, the site of the return of Secret Emporium. It’s a Christmas market with a twist, but instead of the usual selection of stollen, schnitzel and bratwurst, you’ll find a showcase of Britain’s best independent designers. If you’re on the lookout for original gifts that are handmade and unique, you’ll be in heaven here.

There’ll be bright geometric print cushions from Camille Walala, an interior designer stocked at fashionista favourtite Darkroom, the new ready to-wear collection from Isobel Webster (designer of outrageous bodysuits for artists including Jessie J and The Correspondents), delicate insect jewellery from concept jewellers Thor & Wistle, and a whole host more. With over 40 designers it’s unlikely you’ll get bored, but just so it’s not all about the shopping, entertainment ranges from interactive performers dishing out hot mulled cider and roasted chestnuts, live music from Secret Garden Party favourites The John Langan Band, The Turbans and wonderful food by Moro. (Words: Jane Duru)

Secret Emporium runs 15 -16 December at Factory 7, Hearn St EC2A 3LS. For more info, visit www.secretemporium.com

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Somewhere you should go… Hewett Street Block Party

The Cultural Exposé — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:00:44 +0000

What’s better than a party on the East side? A FREE party. So clear your diary this weekend as a massive bash is going down on Saturday at Hewett Street, bringing together the best in design, food, music and art to celebrate the creative block before the area is sadly no more.

There will be stalls from renowned locals including Not Another Bill, GetMe!, super/collider, Jaguar Shoes Collective, live painting and exhibitions from Rockwell House, PayneShurvell and Not Tom, complimentary shaves courtesy of the premier Murdock, bike signage and cycle merch from Ornamental Conifer and Aesop’s Tokyo Bike – and of course, a crazy amount of food. Elliot’s (and their infamous burgers), American-styled Rita’s Bar & Dining and pop-up market Street Feast will be rolling through, while exclusive drinks from the Protein “locals only” bar include London Fields Brewery lager, Dalston Cola, Hewett Street Slushies and that good stuff from the DunneFrankowski coffee shop.

Revellers can also take part in a raffle with prizes from Dishoom, Nike and Secret Cinema, and all proceeds from the day will go to children’s charity Hackney Pirates. Sounds amazing, right? We’re always down for fun and food in the name of creative community, so no guesses for where we’ll be on September 22nd between 12-9pm…

For more info visit http://on.fb.me/Pjbrez

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Somewhere you should go… Maltby Street market

Jane Duru — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:10 +0000

Borough market on a Saturday has gone from being a Londoner’s haunt to a tourist destination in its own right, up there with the London Dungeon and HMS Belfast. As good as it is, its popularity means the market can be overwhelmingly full come lunchtime. Luckily, for those craving the ethos and artisan quality of Borough without the scale and the crowds, there is a nearby alternative: Maltby Street market.

A 10 minutes stroll away in Bermondsey, set against the background rumble of passing overhead trains lies Maltby St, where a small cabal of stallholders and producers sell their wares from under the railway arches and various stalls. Consisting of no more than 25 producers, it’s a sort of foodie parade rather than outright market, starting with coffee enthusiasts’ favourite Monmouth Coffee selling their wares and ending with patisserie Comptoir Gourmand where, amongst other treats you’ll find pink raspberry meringues and giant chocolate cookies.

In between lies a range of stalls – and fish-lovers should try the smoked salmon from Norwegian producers Hansen and Lydersen, or alternatively, there’s barbecued mackerel baps marinated in Moroccan chermoulla from nearby Christchurch Fish. If meat’s more your thing, on offer are pastrami sandwiches from Monty’s Deli, and if you’re ever in need of wild boar salami, Maltby Street is the place.

It’s not all about the food though – LASSCO, the architectural salvage company, have their warehouse based here, the grittier counterpart to their Brunswick House outpost in Vauxhall. It’s well worth a detour to see all manner of rescued treasures, from large enamel sinks once owned by school art departments, to industrial light fittings; there’s even wooden planks from the Natural History Museum.

So next time a sunny Saturday rolls around and you want to get your foodie and furniture fix in one go, head over to the arches of Maltby, and stall-hop to your hearts content. Just don’t tell the tourists. (Words: Jane Duru, Pic: Marina Vidor)

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Somewhere you should go… Keen Green & Ethical Trade Market

The Cultural Exposé — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:00:36 +0000

As spring starts to emerge, there’s now more of a reason to reconnect with mother nature and consider green living – so expect a little help from Spitalfields’ new Keen Green and Ethical Trade market.

Trading every Tuesday and Wednesday, the weekly market – which has been touring the country since 2007 and now makes its way to London – encourages practical energy and money-saving, offering eco-friendly inventions and initiatives to help you along to way. Fresh food and eco-fashion is also available (you could be rocking a recycled tyre on your arm!), while there’s homegrown arts, crafts & home furnishings and unique wares from Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, India, and South America. There’s also a chance to support Cambodian welfare projects with your purchase, so pop round the next time you’re in the city, as it’s a great opportunity to make a difference and maintain a greener peace of mind.

Here’s what you can expect from the market (as listed on the website):

A commitment to sustainability within local communities
Local and regional eco-friendly initiatives
Healthy, informed eating through clearly traceable ingredients
A buy local policy – we ask that our hot food stalls buy their ingredients locally
Ethical trading policies both at home and abroad
Focus on small business at home and among developing nations
Eco-friendly practices
Recycling
Plastic bag free environment
Product background information indicating value and validity
Promotion of ‘traditional’ arts, crafts, clothing, jewellery, food and drink

For more info, visit www.marketsquaregroup.co.uk

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Somewhere you should go… Brixton Village

The Cultural Exposé — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:00:53 +0000

Formerly a well-kept secret known as Granville Arcade, Brixton Village became increasingly popular this year, especially since Brixton local and the Guardian food critic Jay Rayner profiled it as “home to the most vibrant restaurant scene in London”. But in fact it’s much more, a perfect gem of a market that houses all a Londoner needs for a perfect Saturday afternoon: fresh coffee and juices, an Italian ice cream shop, fish stalls, Colombian butchers selling hand made sausages, greengrocers, vintage stalls…. and being Brixton, it keeps it real, multicultural, bustling and alive. Brixton Village is no Spitalfields, no sterile Covent Garden. This is where real Londoners come to eat, shop and talk.

You can access the Village through the blue arched entrances from Atlantic Road or Coldharbour Lane. And if you’re hungry, I highly recommend:

Okan, the Japanese pancake house;
Honest Burgers, for the real home-made variety made with 35 day aged beef;
Elephant for their masala chai and their spicy Pakistani street food;
Kaosarn for authentic Thai;
Take Two for its amazing jerk chicken;
Etta’s Seafood for their crab fritters and lemon calamari;
Brixton Cornercopia for modern English meals;
And Bellantoni’s or Casa Sibilla for simple yet pleasurable Italian food.

If you just want a hot drink and a chat, you can’t do better than Relay Tearoom for their spicy African chai and red velvet cake or Federation coffee for the best New Zealand flat whites in South London.

But Brixton Village is a fashionista’s haven too. Start off at United 80 for funky music, handmade leather clutches and stylish dresses made from Nigeria’s ankara fabric. Then check out Brixi for quirky unique pieces for your home, Circus for up and coming London designers, Saloon 97 and Bella West for vintage dresses and accessories as well as the Parisian run Leftovers and the 1950s vintage glam shop Rejuveante. Prices are cheaper than London’s more familiar jaunts – a vintage John Galliano dress was recently spotted at Rejuvenate for as little as £50.

With all that Brixton Village has to offer, no wonder locals long to keep Brixton Village to themselves, just a little bit longer – but if you’re a newcomer, we’ll let you off. (Words: Isioma Daniel) (Picture: Andy Broomfield )

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