London - Maltby Street

Some are now saying that Maltby Street is better than Borough Market, so I decided it was time I paid a visit to investigate...

My first stop was the Monmouth Coffee Company, who moved there in 2007 when they had outgrown their original premises in Monmouth Street, Covent Garden (should they change their name to the Maltby Coffee Company?).

Here they sell their beans, drinks and pastries, but they're only open to the public on Saturdays (9:00 - 2:00) as in the week they're busy roasting:

for their other shops.  It's good coffee, and not over roasted like some of the popular high street brands.

Monmouth Coffee Company

34 Maltby Street

Bermondsey

London

SE1 3PA

Web: www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk

Next door is Gergovie Wines, who have a growing reputation for their wine and food.  The market then continues, if you leave Maltby Street and stay with the railway arches on Rope Walk. 

One of the highlights was Hansen and  Lydersen who produce some of the best smoked salmon, to a Norwegian recipe in Stoke Newington!

They use a blend of juniper and beech wood, which you must try!

Next door was a stall selling fresh fish:

and crabs, lobsters:

and oysters:

Nick and Sarah Greeff, who've spent eight years deep in the African bush running safaris, sell their award winning hand made Isle of Wight Biltong:

Tozino have a ham stall:

and sell Iberico Ham from Guijuelo

and also Teruel Ham PDO and Sierra de Albarracin Cheese.  Samples are freely given and you can tell they're passionate about what they sell. 

Not every stall was selling food, you could buy a 1930's Ford Model Y (see top of this post) or a Dutch bike:

The Butchery sells rare-breed, free-range meat sourced from small farmers:

and besides selling meat they also offer courses on butchery.

The Ham and Cheese Company source their unique range of charcuterie and cheese direct from butchers and farmers in Italy and France.

If you think all Mozzarella tastes the same, come here and try their Buffalo Mozzarella from the Piana del Sele.

Outside there's rare breed salami from the Basque country:

selling Chorizo, Saucisse Seche and Jesus du Pays Basque Salami.

By this time I was ready for another coffee, and happily had got to Coleman Coffee where I had another completely different, but very nice, coffee:

I then walked up Druid Street to Käse Swiss

who sell Swiss cheese.

There's Dutch cheese next door, I always like an aged Gouda or Gouda with Cumin:

I then went on to Jacob's Ladder:

who have organic and biodynamic farms in Kent and Sussex.

They specialise in Sussex beef, Romney lamb and rare breed pork.  They also  sell naked oats, sourdough bread and these pretty rare breed eggs:

A helpful lady called Jayne told me what breed produced which colour eggs, but by this time I was distracted by a sign next door, advertising hot Staffordshire oatcakes (made with oats from Jacob's Ladder) and Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese!

I'd not come across Bea's of Bloomsbury before:

There's some seriously good looking meringues, 

Duffiins (baked doughnut muffins):

passion fruit marshmallows:

banana/carrot/chocolate and Guiness loaf cakes:

and I've now learnt they're famous for their cupcakes:

Clearly I need to get to Bloomsbury to do more research!

In the same area are Reiner's, who sell fine foods from Austria:

including their pumpkin seed oil:

and Mallafre flavoured oils from Catalan Cooking:

Next stop was the St John Bakery, whose breads include white, brown and 100% rye sourdoughs: 

and the St John's custard doughnuts have quite a reputation:

There's a better picture here, on their web site.

Just in case my doctor is reading this, I should point out that there shops selling fruit and veg:

My doctor would also recommend the exercise to go on a 10 minutes walk south to Frean Street, where you'll find Kappacasein dairy:

The cheese is made on the premises (with organic milk from Bore Place Farm in Kent).  You can buy it as a toasted cheese sandwich:

There's a video here of the whole process, from cow to cheese making to Bermondsey Frier!

Next door are South East Fruits selling more vegetables:

and fruit:

Sadly the Ice Cream Union:

was shut when I called, but that's good - as I want an excuse to go back.

So, did I prefer it to Borough? I think I probably did (although I like both).  There's a bigger proportion of people buying food compared to tourists taking photos at Maltby Street.  Also it's quieter - so there's a better chance to have a natter with some great people who produce something that, as Monty Python might say, is completely different.

Getting There

To get to the south eastern end (the last three entries) - it's about 6 minutes walk from Bermondsey tube or put SE16 4RP into your SatNav.  To get to the North western end (where I started this post) it's 15 minutes walk from London Bridge tube, or put SE1 3PA into you SatNav.

Web: www.maltbystreet.com