Borough Market - the best there is, the best there ever will be.
No, seriously, I love this market!
I do like the local Farmers Markets that take place in London throughout the week - especially the one in Marylebone, next to La Fromagerie and Ginger Pig is beautiful!
But when it comes to the one event that keeps dragging me out of bed on a Saturday morning - its Borough Market.
YES - early morning.
Because this market is everybody's darling.
Locals get there for brunch, Foodies shelve up for their weekend dinner parties, and tourists hop in to take pics ..
.. hence, odds are you drown in masses of people squeezing through the narrow streets, and spend your time queuing for anything that you might possibly long for, if you decide to roll over again and snooze for another hour.
SO - as humans are not made for queuing (at least I am not made for this ..) - I'd recommend to aim for the first coffee before 8am. If you like to see the traders getting ready for the rumble, be there at 7am.
In any way, Monmouth will reward and soothe you ..
Sitting next to some strangers at the big family table, in combination with a golden croissant and espresso - highly recommended.
Alternatively, you might want to head straight to Maria's Marketcafe and defeat your grogginess munching on a lamb bap with rocket, olive oil and tracklement's mint jelly.
Obviously, the food and produce is marvelous at Borough Market!
Even though the place is flooded with tourists later on, prices are still reasonable.
(At least that's what I think, given the quality that you get and the fact that this is London)
More often than not you are invited to taste almost everything before you buy, which transforms the shopping into a leisurely mix between brunching, wandering, and chatting - an excellent way to spend the morning doing nothing but enjoying life.
.. Oh, by the way - having oysters for breakfast is also a great start !
But what makes Borough Market truly London are the people that work there.
It's harder to put in words than to describe in pictures what always makes me pause for a while and watch them, feeling good about the way things are ..
Living here in the UK made me aware that there should be room for pride and tradition -
Because those are vital ingredients to let something grow and attain character, together with all the little details and institutions that arise only when something can develop over time.
Old things that people would miss if abandoned are kept ..
.. new things are added as they come along.
Well, I just love Borough Market.
It is one of the reasons I cannot but feel homesick when I am away from this great city.
Take care, and enjoy !
