©Photo by Junjie Dou

To meet an old friend at his lunch break, I took the 12 am tube to London Bridge station. One simple transfer made me half an hour early, so I strolled to kill time. Turned from a road corner, I found myself in a congested street. People shuttled in and out. Some looked hasty while others paced slowly like me. The cooked meat aroma guided my eyes onto a calzone stand, which plants a queue of professionally dressed people. They must be the office workers along the Southwark area like my friend, grabbing something brief for lunch.

The Rendezvous

Going deeper to the street, a vast space warehouse showed up—-a market. Green frameworks and slim poles held the paper white roof, through which the Friday sunshine dripped, and fell onto the strolls mildly. Rectangle posters hanged down straightly from the top. Suddenly I realized it’s the Borough Market they mentioned to me. I felt lucky to find the place without much effort. Because I assumed this farm market far beyond reach that only restaurant owners drove there for large purchase of cheap food. But like so many things in London challenged my old common sense, borough market was no exception.

Hospitality

Giant green fingers on plastic posters guided me to more sellers. The market has a variety from big shops to small taste test stands. “Please ask for a taste” on little blackboard said all the sincere and generosity. Stores themed in certain nationality or a particular food genre are the most crowded ones, like a BRINDISA Spanish Foods or Furness fish markets. Products and food samples on gingham covered tables attracted many attentions as well. Mushroom cream and fruit jams were recommended for their freshness, pureness, guarantee of additives and preservatives free. Total Organic offered “Shot of Wheatgrass”, claimed to be equivalent to one week’s green vegetable. Apples were laid out in order, shining under the sun, like red gems.

International Cuisine

Where there is a vegetarian, there must be a carnivore. Hunted hares were bundled together above a tile of chicken. Juicy meat loaves sizzled on a stove, looking perfect for a burger meal, good with a cup of 3 pound mulled wine. Orange salmon meat would make a great sashimi dish. Prices for crabs are just written on the shell. Clams were happy to see me. Oysters made cracking sound on fire, matching some garlic or cheese would be a total upgrade. Grilled chorizo, chicken curry and Chinese dumpling, you name it, all the greasy treats were hotly available. Their plastic bag wrote: “If you can’t find it here, it might not be worth eating”, sounding like a catering mafia, dominating the food world. We can’t blame her—-many stores started from the 1800s that the market deserves the credit.

Opened less than an hour, the market was already in order. Mongers impressed guests by serving them good food—-treating fish fast or slicing ham thin. They were pleased to give food recommendations and share recipes. Some decorated their stall with thoughtful creations. The eye-catching wooden buckets and ladles on the olive stall were all hand made. Customers enjoyed choosing their favorite olives from these old-fashion containers. Olive oil was sampled in small dishes before the coordinate bottle line. Artisan loaves piled up, although not half high as the brownie tower. It must be hard to load food everyday, and I couldn’t help wonder how did they maintain them? Could they sell all in a day?

Landscape and Around

Bright sunshine, fresh air, St Joseph’s RC Primary School Choir singing Christmas carols in the back court started my afternoon perfectly. I tried to sort the visitors by age or nationality, but failed. Borough Market turned out to be everyone’s favorite. However, yellow signs were posted everywhere about pickpockets. And no dog is allowed in the market unless their masters were blind.

Went back to the station to see my friend, he told me more about the area.—- Southwark Cathedral, the old Critique Museum, River Thames, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Tate Modern are all in short distance. With a history of 250 years, Borough Market is having more visitors today for its wholesome and rare food—-it is now one of London’s must sees. Next time I will come with an empty stomach.