Posts tagged pitshanger lane

I just went to the local shop in an unsuccesful attempt to buy chick peas. Why am I getting uptight about this? The area we live in is a sort of poor man’s Hampstead. Strong community spirit and a middle class population centered around a shopping street, that supports a gastro-pub, cheese boutique, up-market wine shop and so on.

In the middle of this are two Co-ops (yes, two) who are totally out of their depth. In a typical socialistic top-down command economy sort of way they stock the same products as they would in a Salford council estate. So, no to sun-dried tomatoes, chick peas, or organic skimmed milk, but plenty of Fray Bentos tinned pies non-organic milk and baked beans.

I grant that there is a baked bean market here, but I doubt that the Fray Bentos pies have shifted since they opened the place.

 They could have a large variety of products, except that a quarter of the store is taken up by an in-house baker. Why would anyone buy their re-heated bagettes? Two doors away is one of the best independent bakers in west London who makes Pan Boule to die for.

So when I want my organic skimmed milk to froth up for my capuchino I have to trek to Waitrose, which is crazy.  This post may of course mark me out as a poncy southerner.  But sorry; I grew up in the sixties and frothy coffee was what we drank.  Any I like my homemade hummus.