Around Town: Home edition part 2

This article was originally published in July 2020 and has been updated January 2021 to reflect suppliers still operating. This is a challenging time for food businesses so please be aware that opening times may change. We recommend checking out social media accounts and websites for up-to-date info. 

This installment covers fresh bread, cupboard staples and specialty ingredients, allowing you to cook with food that isn’t only delicious but also great for people and planet.

Grocers and Shops:   

The Deli Downstairs

Hackney 

Their web shop has you covered for all your gourmet deli delights. Fresh seasonal organic fruit and veg, meat and cheese as well as pastries and cakes, jams, and chutneys!   

@delidownstairs

Get Loose  

Hackney  

A social enterprise within Hackney City Farm with small village shop vibes!  Plastic free and with 100% organic fresh and dried produce. Including fruit, nuts, grains, pulses, dairy and cosmetics. With a new second door and one way system for social distancing.

@getloosefoods 

Petersham Nurseries

Richmond 

Collect fresh farm produce along with wine and beers from their cellars. Their delivery service offers locals their premium meat and fruit and veggies from their family farm in Devon. 

@petershamnurseries

Naked Larder

Brixton

Click and collect service for their ethical, sustainable and package free dry good, as well as ecofriendly cleaning products! By getting the dried products in bulk and measuring out to order, the Naked Larder reduce the impact, packaging and waste involved in grocery shopping.  

@LarderNaked  

Naked Larder Refilling. Photo: Phili Denning

 

Made in Greenwich  

Delivering across London 

Made in Greenwich brings together all the local creators from food and drink, to cosmetics and toys, giving them a platform to sell their wonderful goods. Check out their collaboration with the Royal Arsenal Farmers’ Market where they have put together Market Bundles featuring selections of amazing products from the market for lots of different occasions.  

 @migreenwich 

Shop With Out Packaging

Lee Green  

With a zero waste ethos SWOP rejects single-use packaging and allows you to shop with much lower impact. Selling food, groceries and household products which all strive to be organic, Fairtrade, local and ethical.  

@swopzerowaste 

Shop Without Packaging. Photo Harriet Hemsley

 

Village Green Grocers

Charlton Village 

A local shop with artisan producers including; Kentish fruit and veg, organic groceries, cruelty-free products and low packaging. They have also been doing local deliveries during lockdown so everyone around can get hold of the good food.  

Crop Drop

Haringey

A not-for-profit veg box scheme working with small farms in and around London to bring Haringey residents a weekly delivery of organic fruit and veg. There are 11 drop point locations across the borough from Highgate to Tottenham for nutritious food with minimal mileage!

@cropdrop

Unpackaged

At Planet Organic Chiswick, Balham, Ealing and Spitalfields stores

Bring your own containers to refill cereals, grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, chocolate and even cleaning products– save money, reduce food waste and avoid unnecessary single-use packaging.

@unpackaged

 

Bakeries: 

E5 Bakehouse

Hackney

An East London artisan bakery, café and mill passionate about organic, traditional baking using locally-sourced ingredients. Open for takeaway of homemade cakes, their own small batch roasted coffees, daily-baked breads and lovely lunches.

@e5bakehouse

Hen Corner

Brentford. Preorder and collection each Friday 

Selling a wide range of breads, buns, rolls, and cakes from their micro bakery as well as eggs, honey and veggies from their amazing kitchen garden featuring 20 hens and two honeybee colonies!  

@hencorner 

Today Bread

Walthamstow, delivery to E17 and E10

A small organic sourdough bakery in the heart of Walthamstow, selling cakes and pastries all made on site and delivered by bike across the neighbourhood, also open for takeaway coffees!

@todaybread

Ma Baker  

Fulham - delivery within SW6  

Fresh baked, hand crafted real breads, sourdoughs, crackers, biscuits and granola. Delivered to your door!  They have the view that ‘good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods’ and we agree.  

@MaBakerBakes 

Aston's Bakehouse 

Find them across London at various farmer markets  

The go to for organic, handmade breads and pastries. Rustic loafs full of character with amazing texture and flavour. They are now also selling their own milled organic flour and bread baking kits including sour dough starters. Perfect if you want to make your own at home!   

@astonsbread 

Gail’s

Delivery Across London 

Starting out in Hampstead, the popular bakery now has 50 locations spread across London and beyond. Popular because of their incredible selection of breads, cakes and pastries. A fantastic place to treat yourself to some indulgent baked goods!  

@GAILsBakery  

 

Wild Goose Bakery

Leytonstone + Forest Gate

Another top East London bakery, but this one inspired by South African recipes, traditional baking and the love of community. Open for bread, coffee, cakes and groceries.

@WildGooseBakery

 

Specialty Ingredients: 

Bermondsey Street Bees

Bermondsey  

Sustainably produced raw, single-source, English honey, which results in exceptional flavours. Buying authentic English honey supports the small producers as well as the essential honeybee population – who we rely on to pollinate all our food!   

@honeysommelierlondon

Bermondsey Street Bees. Photo: Sarah Wyndham Lewis

 

Oliveology

Borough Market 

Using only artisan independent farmers their extra virgin olive oil is not to be missed. Check out their online shop for the best Greek ingredients brought into London.  

 @oliveology

The Rustic Roots Company 

Contact Halima via email at hellogoodmoodfood@mail.com 

Amazing sugar free chili chutneys including lemon and lime, herby, and mild to extra spicy! Good-mood-food on a mission to eliminate negativity around mental health through peer support groups.  

@therusticrootscompany

Silly Greens

Delivered across London 

Living herbs delivered to your door, Silly Green’s micro herbs are small but punchy, ready to open, grow, and then snip directly into your dishes. A fun addition to any meal allowing you to experience the freshest food right from your windowsill!  

@sillygreens 

Silly Greens. Photo: Kate Anglestein

 

Tickles Pickles

Across London 

If pickled goods tickle your fancy you have come to the right place. Their natural fermentation gives their pickled fresh veg a distinctive zing. Taste the pickles from around the world including Korean kimchi and a Persian torshi.  

@ticklespickleslondon

Tickles Pickles. Photo: Nic Crilly-Hargrave

 

Well bean co.

Delivering across London 

Bean to bar plant-based chocolate made with planet friendly ingredients and packaging. From original ‘mylk’ to chocolate orange and salted caramel. Every purchase supports mental health workshops – so their bars are good for brains too!  

@wellbeanco 

Second Shot

Bethnal Green, Marylebone + online shop

A specialty coffee shop that trains, employs and supports people affected by homelessness and you can order their delicious coffee beans to your door! Open for takeaway coffees too and with a pay it forward option – so someone who needs it can receive a coffee for free.

@Secondshotcafe

Toast Ale

Order online

For drinks don’t miss Toast Ale, the planet-saving craft beer which is brewed which is brewed with surplus fresh bread from nearby bakeries with all profit going to charities fixing the food system. We recommend the chocolate stout

@ToastAle

 

Also Check Out:  

Better Food Traders 

This group of radical retailers currently include some top-quality fruit and veg schemes. Being a Better Food Trader means they ensure their supply chains are fair and ethical, so you know you’re getting the best of the veg! 

@betterfoodtraders 

Cookery School at Little Portland Street 

Virtual Classes  - new classes for 2021

Feel like your cooking skills need refining? The Cookery School at Little Portland Street has your back with their interactive classes you can participate in from your own kitchen. From crème brulées to Filo pastry, this is a great chance to push your culinary skills!  

@cookeryschoollondon

London Farmers Markets

Across London

Still open, every week, rain or shine and providing essentials and delicious, seasonal produce from friendly stallholders. They advise customers to wear a face covering and shop alone if possible.

@londonfarmers

 

Don't feel like cooking? Check out our Around Town: Home edition part 1 where we brought together all the best restaurants delivering.