Borough Market: The Melting Pot

Borough Market has been an active market for over 1000 years. It became a staple in the 12th century when it saw the building of the Bishop of Winchester's Palace only a few meters away. Borough Market was the source of fresh fruit and vegetables for the people of London living and working on the other side of the Thames. It wasn't until the twentieth century when the market lost its identity to the growth of supermarkets and convenience stores.

Normally, I'm quite sceptical of gentrification of neighborhoods; they have a tendency to lose their character, but in this case the Borough market needed to and found a new identity. Riding the wave of interest in organic foods the market expanded this niche market and gained popularity in the 90s. Now it is a vibrant spectacle of produce and ready made meals. You can find specialty items as well as daily produce at reasonable prices. The mushroom stall above sold variety packs for only a few pounds.

I have a general rule of avoiding intensely public places around London on Saturday afternoon and Borough Market is no exception. And worst of all, went at lunch time. Not my smartest move, but I was in the area anyway. I did it today and found myself moving at a snail's pace. However, I found I was "forced" to stop and try the food at every stall. Sorry I'm not sorry. Instead of a set lunch I highly suggest this method of consumption. I left quite satisfied without having to spend anything.

However, I would be lying if I said I didn't buy anything. I went to the place above called The Urban Cheese Maker. The people here are super friendly and the cheeses were above par. The are located around Tottenham Court, and recently won the Bronze medal for their "Alexandra." The cheeses are of a mild variety, which for me is ideal, but if you're after the Münsters then this might not be your stall. They also have a great Stilton without the blue vein. Blue cheese without the blue is easier on the palate.

If you haven't smelled a truffle then get yourself to Tartufaia quick and try it. It took all of me to remove myself from this stall. Certainly the samples here were the highlight of my visit. You can get Truffle oils, pates, and all sorts of wild mushroom products. I was specifically shopping for a dinner party and could not bring myself to just buy truffles for the sake of it, but it was tempting.

One aspect among many that I admire about Borough Market is that it has become a melting pot of diverse products and foods. You can get just about any delicacy from around the world, and all of it fresh and quite a few are from sustainable organic farms. You get the feeling that you aren't supporting Big Business, but rather the people of London. It is one of the best markets in the city for experiencing the cosmopolitan nature of London that it prides itself on.  Although it is by no means the best structural representation of Victorian buildings, and has expanded from its original purposes in the Middle Ages, this Market has become a top attraction in London and for good reason.