Sunny Intervals
Welcome, Guest
Stroudgreen.org is mostly for people who live near Stroud Green Road in London. But we're not exclusive. Much like Stroud Green itself. Sign in if you have an account, or if you're N4 or N4-curious, apply for one below
-
Feeds
Vanilla 1.1.5a is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.
Local discussion: Woody's
-
- CommentAuthorMisscara
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
My neighbour told me that Woody's is turning into a Sainsbury's. Anyone else heard anything about this? -
- CommentAuthorAli
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
I guess if that happens CostCutter wil have to renamed “Squeezed”
Who is going to "nick" the sheep ?
-
- CommentAuthorkrappyrubsnif
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
Drat. No more 24-7 shopping. -
- CommentAuthorADGS
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
There's always whatsit, Sunshine? down on Seven Sisters Road. Not as convenient, but still not as far as all that. Still, this does sound like a bad plan, if true. -
- CommentAuthorgodzilla
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010 edited
Is it a franchise, or a proper Sainsburys? The Tesco (surely a franchise - it had the same floor riles as the previous shop) that replaced Londis on Seven Sisters is perhaps the grottiest and most poorly stocked 'supermarket' I've had the misfortune to visit.
It's a grumble-thon on here today! -
- CommentAuthorMisscara
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
I once saw two mice crawling over the freshly baked goods in that tesco on SS rd. Another customer had seen them too. We told the assistant, who made a show of looking at the display then went back to whatever he was doing. When I asked him if he was going to remove the goods from display he said he couldn't do that as he hadn't seen them himself. I asked to speak to the manager and was told that he wasn't on duty and he was the supervisor and he 'knew there were no mice'. I pity the poor unsuspecting people who came in after me and bought bagels, or whatever, covered in mice wee. -
- CommentAuthorkrappyrubsnif
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
@Misscara - you should have reported them to the council. Nothing could provide more exquisite pleasure than seeing Tesco done under food hygeine laws. -
- CommentAuthorpoxy
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
On Saturday I saw a stray dog take a piss on the fresh produce outside two shops on SGR. -
- CommentAuthorIan
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
Please let this be true. Woody's closing and turning into a Sainsbury's would be absolutely brilliant. I hate Woody's. I have had so many bad experiences of terrible, rude service and poor quality produce that I now refuse to shop there.
The final straw was an argument when they had "wrongly priced" some cheese, I said that was their problem - they had to sell it to me at that price. They refused to. Eventually, after explaining the law and how they were wrong, I just gave in and paid their price only to find it was basically inedible when I got it home. The staff on the tills are unbearably rude and surly. I wonder sometimes why they work in a service industry.
Roll on Sainsbury's if true. I could even give them advice on how not to set up till shifts like Tesco's where there is 100% staff coverage from 10 until 3 and about 60% from 5 til 8...
-
- CommentAuthorDavid
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
We are NinjaWoody's isn't perfect but replacing all these shops with the big guns will erode the streets character. I say boo.
-
- CommentAuthortosscat
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
It's 'invitation to treat' Ian, they were right.
-
- CommentAuthortosscat
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
In the pricing/charging exercise anyway v
-
- CommentAuthorAmanda
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
Being new to this site, I hesitate to join in but I do feel strongly, both about the takeover by big chains and about the potential loss of a more distinctive shop. Where else around here (as opposed to Green Lanes) can you get such an array of yoghurt, yufka or olives? We will end up with absolutely no variety ... The process is probably inevitable but when I think of what Stroud Green Rd was like even 20 years ago, I am quite depressed. -
- CommentAuthorDavid
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
We are NinjaI'm with you Amanda. The idea of Woody's being a Sainsbury's kind of kills the top of stroud green road, Woody's probably anchors it while tesco's and to a lesser extent costcutter and miso slowly erode that individuality in the middle before the wigs and meat take back over towards finsbury p.
-
- CommentAuthorIan
- CommentTimeJan 5th 2010
@ tosscat - no they are not, the Consumer Protection Act (1987) makes it a criminal offence to give consumers a misleading price indication 'by any means whatever'.
The great thing about chain supermarkets is they give you good produce at reasonable prices, that is why they always beat independent retailers. I'm always baffled by the idea that what we want is more shops that are badly run with higher prices. If they were the opposite, we would go there all the time and they wouldn't get taken over.
-
- CommentAuthordorothy
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
I too agree with Amanda, I'd miss the bread, olives, sticky honey sweets, feta, big bunches of parsley and the big beans in tins. I go to tescos a lot because its closer to me and for things woody's are not so good on. I think they compliment each other. I wonder why they're giving up (if they are at all). What was better 20 years ago though? My favourite restaurant used to be the Magical Busker, just past where the Larrik now is. -
- CommentAuthorbennyfromtheblok
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
I'm in the pro-Woody's camp, not because I think Woody's is great, I just don't want another Sainsburys there. There is a decent sized Tesco at the end of the road and a huge Sainsburys a 5 minute drive away. Do we really need another "lite" supermarket? I don't think so.
Being half Spanish, I like that you can get all the Mediterranean beans, olives and other bits and bobs from Woody's - they also sell mega cheap wine perfect for Sangria. No doubt it could be a much better shop, but I'd be sad to see it go. -
- CommentAuthordion
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
A Sainsbury's that small would have a poor range - nowhere near as large as Tesco. The Sainsbury's local in the petrol station on Hornsey Rise recently closed and turned back into a normal petrol station shop which makes me think that they are not thinking about expanding in the area.
@ g-unit - Tesco doesn't do franchises so the Seven Sisters one will be fully owned by Tesco plc.
@ misscara - when did you see the mice?
-
- CommentAuthorandy
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
We are NinjaWoody's is bonkers and most of the time I hate it, but I think I'd prefer it to a Sainsbury's that only sells sandwiches and frozen pizza.
-
- CommentAuthormapsa
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
Ian - I'm pretty sure Tosscat is right. It is only an invitation to treat under English law, they don't have to sell it to you at that price. You could report them to Trading Standards for breaching the CPA, but if it the wrong price was just a mistake, I can't imagine they would be interested.
-
- CommentAuthorwideboy
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
The "Local Superstore" on Seven sisters Road (was this what ADGS was referring to?) had a facelift recently and looks remarkably like Woodys now. Maybe they moved-ing.
And ditto krappyrubsnif @Misscara - you should report the mice for everyone's sake! -
- CommentAuthorkrappyrubsnif
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
I'm all for Woodys. I agree the checkout girls mostly seem miserable or downright rude, but my guess is that's a cultural thing and I can put up with it for the sake of the olives, nuts, bread and weird tins of beans. Sainsbury.....bleugh, no thanks, there are plenty of those around. -
- CommentAuthorADGS
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
Wideboy: No, though now you mention it there is that too (though did it not change its name again recently? I can't keep up, was certainly Bright something for a while). I meant the one next to Barclays, just opposite the entrance to the bus station, which goes back further and has a wider range of goods than I had long thought, having only ever used it for late night snack requirements. -
- CommentAuthorFin
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
Woodys is fine although pales in comparaison with the Turkish supermarkets on Green Lane. They could do a lot better and on balance I'd welcome a Sainsburys. That space was a different Turkish style supermarket barely 5 years ago and before that was a furniture shop so maybe it needs a chain in there to it settle down.
Most importantly however we should campaign for a blue plaque or something as Woodys was the supermatket used in several episodes of Peep Show.... -
- CommentAuthorkrappyrubsnif
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
Andy - poll? -
- CommentAuthorAli
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
Was Magical Busker mentioned above the Polish Restaurant that used to all pine like a sauna inside as that was the days that Stapleton Hall Tavern (now Larrick), Marlers (now the Nobel) was the centre of action around here.
I also didn’t realise that there had been an in between Turkish shop on the site between the Furniture shop and Woodys ! Thought it was the same place with a change of names ? There used to be a big department store on that site on two stories according to a little old lady I once got talking to on SGR a few years back Maybe Busby might be able to comment. Woddys is on the corner of SGR and Hanley Road. -
- CommentAuthordorothy
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
@Ali, yes it was the sauna place, Jewish/Polish. I thought it was very sophisticated at the time. I'm glad someone else remembers it. I went into their kitchen once and was shown how to make Kugel (Noodle pudding). -
- CommentAuthorSimonB
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
I hope SGR doesn't end up like the Crouch End High Street ... M&S, Budgens, Tecos and Waitrose all within 2 minutes walking distance ... (even though the Budgens is really good) -
- CommentAuthorsg_mike
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
Would be good if we could have a co-op store there instead, I'm struggling to think where the nearest one is around here? -
- CommentAuthorkatiejane
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010 edited
Budgens really good. Really? I think it's diabolical.
I'm with Ian on this, bring on Sainsbury's. I hate Woodys.
And there's a co-op at Archway which is really crap.
Sorry to be so negative and all. -
- CommentAuthorIan
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
If Woody's was any good there would be people in it, but there never are.
-
- CommentAuthorcrouchend tiger
- CommentTimeJan 6th 2010
I'd be sad to see Woody's go. It's a bit of a beacon when you're staggering home at the end of a night. I bet Saino's won't be able to help with my post-pub cashew habit. -
- CommentAuthorj
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
Not trying to dampen enthusiasm for the debate but does anyone even know how definite this is, beyond a rumour? -
- CommentAuthorandiebrown
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
I really hope this isnt true. I do most of my veg shopping in there because they have a good selection and its so much cheaper than Tesco. Also, its open all year round, 24-7. I hate the idea of a Sainsburys. I echo the sentiment of someone above with regards to Crouch End. I went there for the first time in ages, last week, and i felt a little depressed at the abundance of chain coffee shops etc (although i do actually think that Budgens is pretty good).
Also, as someone who uses Woodys practically every day, i am surprised to hear someone say it is always empty - its not when i go in there! Granted, there are times when i've been slightly disgruntled with some of the service but to be honest, i was appalled at the way some of the staff in Tesco spoke to customers today (myself inlcluded). I also think i'd prefer to visit every single one of Dante's circles of hell than go to Tesco after work... Please, don't let this be true... if i want to go to Sainsburys i can go to the Hades that is Sainsburys Green Lanes or even the one at Angel. No thanks. -
- CommentAuthorDavid
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
We are NinjaThere's a new Tesco's opened up along the tracks near the stadium in Drayon Park, which I'd say is a little bigger than Woody's but it does give an idea of how supermarkets struggle to keep a good range in smaller spaces. I stop off there on my cycles home sometimes and invariably they don't have what I was looking for.
I'm with the idea Woody's dovetails quite well with the Tesco's down the road. Sainsbury's would merely mirror Tesco's, but probably not that well as its a much smaller space.
-
- CommentAuthorandy
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
We are NinjaCo-ops are mostly rubbish. May as well stick with Woodys.
-
- CommentAuthorPapa L
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
My favourite Woody's moment. Going in there a few months after 24 hour licencing and trying to buy some booze only to be told I couldn't. The reason given: we're applying for a 24 hour licence. But I've always bought booze here late at night, I replied. Yeah, but we're getting a licence now, so we have to stop selling it while we apply, came the answer. Genius.
-
- CommentAuthorstaplejack
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
coop on Caledonean Road. Get the 91 (if you must). -
- CommentAuthortwinspark
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
@sg_mike There is a Co-op in Crouch End, small one next to YMCA at petrol station, used to be Somerfields otherwise Kentish Town road.
Co-ops with their dividend points are the best but thin on the ground in these parts - if I was PM I'd nationalise the supermarkets and make Co-op the stakeholder/managing partner [ actually ditto for the banks!]
I'd prefer Woody's to stay an independent store - I live nearby and use it for fruit and veg. and non-staple stuff. Goes without saying another chain outlet would be horrendous - esp. Sainsburys, original home of the mimsy and smug before M&S started to sell food.
Two or three points about indy stores;
Who created the expectation that they should sell everything from a sink-plug, to Buffalo Mozzarella, or a newspaper? Was it us I wonder?
Why do we have to get everything from one store in a smash and grab raid? [ much better to buy fresh food every 2 or 3 days instead of once a fortnight and buy ingredients not ready meals]
The quality of produce is down to the supplier as much - sometimes the produce available to the retaileer just isn't so good, lettuce is feeble or tomatoes small etc. As for the way it's kept? This problem applies equally to Tesco, Sainsburys etc. even with their acres of polythene bags as camouflage, as much as to Woodys and indy stores. Take time to choose rather than grab and rush home to find it's no good - you might even have to change your selection if you can't find the veg. or cheese in good condition but you'll probably get over it. -
- CommentAuthorADGS
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
"much better to buy fresh food every 2 or 3 days instead of once a fortnight and buy ingredients not ready meals"
Possibly, but who except TV chefs and the unemployed has the time? And the unemployed don't have the money (I speak from current experience). -
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
With care it's cheaper to cook than get ready meals. Courtesy of Woodies I made a vast beef and chorizo stew last night from which I anticipate getting about ten servings, judging by what was left after three people ate last night. The ingredients cost slightly over £12. A large tuppaware container of beefy goodness is now in the freezer.
It took an hour and a half from prep to plate, much of which was spent listening to it simmering while watching Inglorious Basterds, which I can also recommend.
B -
- CommentAuthortwinspark
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
@ ADGS
When budget is tight and we've all been there then buying fresh every couple of days is the way to go,[ you can buy 1 potato, 2 carrots, 1 onion or even 2 sausages, 2 rashers, 2 eggs etc.]
It's worth making the time - it's not that long and you can always multi-task if you must - although
@ Arklady I was with you until you slipped the Tarantino thing - what an overindulged spoilt brat of a director he is!! a modicum of talent stretched way too far - it would have been much cheaper for Harvey Weinstein to adopt as son or two rather than cow-tow to QT's tantrums. -
- CommentAuthorAli
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
I agree make it yourself. Have a couple of hours of a cooking and freeze if you can. Works really well if you do a Floyd and have a few glasses of red wine while cooking ! I can make a Chilli, mince from Tony the Butchers a couple of onions, carrots and a bag of dried kidney beans ( not tinned as they are expensive, cook the dried ones in a pressure cooker!) approx £4 or so. Takes about 45 mins of effort and gets ten servings oh you will need rice as well.
5 pints of carrot soup, 6 carrots , two onions two stock cubes, water about ten mins prep, sweating the onions etc, 35 mins simmer, whiz add some orange juice and milk season, lunch for 5 days cost £1.20 ! Making soup is so easy
-
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
It didn't think it wa a masterpeice - and it was very oddly paced - but it was good fun. Especially the scalpings.
B -
- CommentAuthorkrappyrubsnif
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
Hey - Stroud Green Org lunch club! -
- CommentAuthormissisclack
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
It would be nice to establish if fact or fiction before I start to rage at the prospect of a Sainsbury's. Pleeeeeeease no.
It's all been said before, but Woody's is best for bread n olives n beans-in-tins n herbs. I buy at least one bunch of something from them every other day, their herbs are always the freshest on SGR.
The Fruit Basket (is that what it's called?) next to the post office and the flower shop used to be good for all this produce until they sold it on 4 years ago or so.
Also, thie girls on the tills in Woody's are usually quite nice to me Well, they sometimes pass a compliment on rings/gloves/hat/bag.
They did short change me for a fiver on a tenner once 'though. And they would always charge full price for 6 cans of whatever was on 6 for a fiver deal, until I'd point it out at the checkout. It was always a bit of a battle to only pay the fiver.
We should start a save Woddy's petition, the way that above mentionned Fruit Basket started one when there was talk of Tesco opening 24hrs!! -
- CommentAuthorIan
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
I always get my fruit and veg from the stall outside the tube. She's really nice and the stuff is cheap and good.
What would the point of a save Woody's petition be? "Please don't go bankrupt or continue running a low turnover business if you have a better offer". They are not in the business of social policy these shopkeepers you know. There is opportunity cost here - people might use an alternative store more.
Go and use the shop more than you would us a Sainsbury's. When there are 2 or 3 more tills, with queues at the tills like there are at Tesco's then I'll believe you all that Stroud Green residents love Woodies.
Once I've got a Sainsbury's on that site I can start putting energy into getting a Starbucks nextdoor :-)
-
- CommentAuthorrainbow_carnage
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
Woody's used to be good several years ago. They had a decent selection of cheap fresh veg. Now the veg looks manky. The tinned beans and things are no cheaper than at Tesco, and Tesco delivers.
We get most of the basics delivered either from Ocado or Tesco. Our veg comes from Abel and Cole, which is worth every penny. When the weather is better, we walk to Green Lanes. I have the time to buy fresh produce every couple of days, but I'm too lazy.
The only thing I'd miss about Woody's is that it's open 24/7. We went in at 10pm on Christmas Day.
I can't imagine that a Sainsbury's that size would be very different from a Tesco Metro, which we already have. I would like a large Sainsbury's nearby, but there's no space for it. We used to live in Camden back when the large Sainsbury's was open all night five or six days a week. It was brilliant.
-
- CommentAuthorBeek
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
Do you remember Woody's was called Yesim when it first opened? Far better name (and signage - whopping orange glowing letters) imho.
I love the staff in there - especially the guy who used to have a mullet, he's such a dish now he's had a haircut! And what happened to their mini shopping trolleys?
-
- CommentAuthorsg_mike
- CommentTimeJan 7th 2010
Wow, never realised there were so many co-ops around here. I guess they've never been able to crack the SG market though!
I liked the co-op when I was in Oxford, it had way better fresh food than the sainsburys nearby. But there again that was a few years ago now, I guess the smaller ones can be a bit ropey. The food at tescos always seems to go off far more quickly than at sainsburys or anywhere else.
I'll go the co-op in CE this weekend to buy a pint of milk, loaf of bread and a carrot and report back on its freshness. Unless I get distracted by the pub. Again. -
- CommentAuthorSgEnquirer
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
@ Arkady
Your stew sounds lovely... can I have the recipe plzzzzz? Or should we just start a new Recipe thread??? :) -
- CommentAuthorSgEnquirer
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
Oh also isn't there a co-op near the arsenal stadium? -
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
@SGEnquirer:
No specific recipe I'm afraid! The trick is to heat up a big pan on the hob, then fry a load of chopped (and peeled if you prefer) chorizo until it starts to release it's oil - then add garlic and onions. Once they're starting to brown, add a dangerous slugof red wine. Reduce, then add stock and a couple of bay leaves, canned peeled tomatoes, butter beans, chopped potatoes, sweet potato, butternut squash, leek, the beef (which I browned separately and added with the veges this time, but sometimes chuck in with the chorizo early on). Then cover and simmer until everything's tender. Uncover to reduce it for a while if necessary, then season & scoff.
All bought from Woody's ;-)
B -
- CommentAuthorJungleFaceJake
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
I hear that Walls have bought The Noble and are going to change it into a Cornetto Dispensary!! -
- CommentAuthormiss annie
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
My goodness, that stew sounds completely delish! Deffo whipping that up at the weekend. -
- CommentAuthormissfrancesca
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
While i'm not a fan of the big supermarkets moving in, it would be nice to have something other than Woodys in that spot. I won't shop there any more, having been over-charged, forced to pay more because of 'pricing mistakes' and finding phantom items added onto my bill too many times. I was popping in there on my way back from The Noble usually so I suspect they assume the tipsy are fair game and unlikely to notice but it happened almost every time I went in (until I stopped).
Secretly I dream of having an M&S but a good independent & open late place would be great. -
- CommentAuthorADGS
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
These various stew recipes and similar - do they involve any herbs, spices, any of that, the sort of thing which people who can cook just assume we all have in our kitchens? Even salt? Because I don't have any of those so right there, that's an extra expenditure.
And because I'm in shared accomodation, any savings reliant on making huge amounts and freezing loads are out - I have one small freezer shelf, normally occupied with bread I got cheap by timing my visit to Tesco right.
Then factor in that my cooking skills are such that I can only get porridge right about a third of the time...and I think I'm still better off buying a cheap can of soup from Tesco. -
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
I tend not to season much, and when I do it's the 'pinchful of whatever comes to hand' technique. But you seem to be saying that you're a)massively lazy, b) culinarily incompetant and c) without means of effectively storing food. That being the case you may be better off with the 99p pizzas from Londis.
B -
- CommentAuthorSgEnquirer
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
Thank you Arkady it sounds delish and will be tried and tested :) -
- CommentAuthorAli
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
ADGS
You are certainly going to get your salt if you eat all that soup !
-
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
I'm happy people are enjoying my menu suggestions, and await reports back from (hopefully) satisfied diners. Other cheap & tasty suggestions from others would be very welcome. However I must protest at the use of the horrible abbreviation 'delish' by two seperate people on this board. Please, please, make it stop!
Suprisingly cheap and immensley tasty, I can strongly recommend my signature dish, stolen from Hugh-Fearnley-Whittingstall: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jan/26/foodanddrink.recipes
[Tosscat will have to fix the link, though if someone tells me how I can do it I will...]
Get it while it's pheasant season. And yes, I'm addicted to chorizo.
B -
- CommentAuthorIan
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010 edited
-
- CommentAuthorAli
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
Pheasants were 5 for ten quid at the Ally Pally Farmers Market just before Christmas.
Where do you get the pigs trotter or could a Cows foot be used as it is more local ?
-
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010 edited
They did sell trotters at the butchers in Chapel Market in Angel where I got the (frozen) pheasants from, but to be honest I'm not that brave. Last time I did it my pals picked up the pheasants at Ally Pally as you suggested, and they were both fresher and cheaper than the aforementioned frozen ones!
Bloody gorgeous though. i recommend sweet potato mash as a side...
B -
- CommentAuthormissisclack
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
Ian - the petition comment was tongue-in-cheek (double exclamation marks). I'll remind myself to stop making little jokes with people I don't know.
Ali & Arkady - you can buy pig trotters in Ridley Road market, not that I ever have, but they are plenty. -
- CommentAuthordorothy
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010 edited
@ADGS, reminds me of when I lived in house shares, one of the things I used to cook then and I still do now, was smoked mackerel with plantain. Peel and slice the plantain put that in the oven first with some oil and after it looks softened, put in the fish as well. You can do all in one dish or in foil and has the added advantage of smelling so much, it keeps other housemates out of the kitchen.
@Arkady, what's the Woody's Chorizo like? Must be cheap if you got all those ingredients for under £12. I never really thought of Chorizo as an economy food, but maybe you're using it in that anchovy style in that a little goes a long way. I've always just found it hard and full of gristle, too expensive. How do you get addicted? -
- CommentAuthortwinspark
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
I hear Fox is especially tasty this time of year! -
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
@ missisclak - what's Ridley Rd Market like, I've never heard of it - or of Ridley Rd for that matter.
@ Dorothy – I’ll hold my hands up; now I come to think of it I may already have had the chorizo in the fridge, but I only used half a sausage – a little goes a long way. I find it a touch tough and gristly myself if eaten cold – though if you chop it up small enough it’s quite nice with cheese. But slice it and throw it in the pan and it browns and softens, and releases a tasty oil which permeates your meal… sometimes so much oil comes off that you really have to pour some away or it can be a touch overwhelming – in pasta dishes especially. But in stews or hotpots it’s perfect. I actually use it more often than not when cooking, which is a touch disturbing now I come to think about it.
I love processed and cured meats of all kinds. The more processed the better – I can eat my own bodyweight in pâté in a single session.
Arky -
- CommentAuthordorothy
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
@Arkady, mmm, you really are addicted. I'll try cooking it for longer and getting the juicy fat out of it though, thanks. -
- CommentAuthorkrappyrubsnif
- CommentTimeJan 8th 2010
@twinspark - I hear squirrel goes down a storm if they're not hibernating -
- CommentAuthorADGS
- CommentTimeJan 9th 2010
Arkady: I'll happily put my hand up to 'culinarily incompetent' and 'without means of storing [much] food', but I object to 'lazy' when I'm the only person I know who considers Holborn walking distance from FP.
99p pizzas, though - ugh. I may not be much in the kitchen, but I can still make a cheese toastie that tastes better than those (or most oven pizzas, for that matter, but that may be my reverse Midas touch with the oven coming in again). -
- CommentAuthortosscat
- CommentTimeJan 9th 2010
99p pizza = analogue cheese
-
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 9th 2010
ADGS: Apologies, I see you're a fellow trapiser. I'm doing a masters degree at Birkbeck in Bloomsbury, and regularly walk back to SG from there. You probably have an extra mile on me if you're coming from Holborn, depending on where you are in SG. I walked the length of the Parkland walk today - gorgeous in the snow - thence to Wood Green (urgh) to meet a pal for a pint, then back via Hornsey Vale. Only slipped over once, sadly it was on the steps leading up to Archway bridge so my arse hurts.
Arky -
- CommentAuthorMisscara
- CommentTimeJan 9th 2010
What's your walking route from Bloomsbury and how long does it take? Maybe I could adapt it slightly to suit me, I work near there. I've walked and cycled it a few times but always got lost when trying what I thought would be shortcuts. -
- CommentAuthorADGS
- CommentTimeJan 10th 2010
I generally head for Liverpool Road (your route there will probably vary depending where exactly you are, but for me it's down SGR, along the nature reserve by the railway line, then out and across Highbury Fields at a diagonal), from which I head off to the right into Barnsbury, taking various routes but generally attempting to minimise the amount of time I spend on Caledonian Road itself. Then across the big roads by King's Cross and you're in Bloomsbury and nearly there.
Apologies if that's rather vague, I think I may have a sort of intuitive sense of direction where the ability to cook is in other people... -
- CommentAuthorkrappyrubsnif
- CommentTimeJan 10th 2010
@ADGS where do you mean by "along the nature reserve by the railway line, then out and across Highbury Fields"
I thought the way into the nature reserve was down by the old Arsenal stadium and Arsenal Tube - ie Gillespie Road. -
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 10th 2010
They've opened a new entrance between the bookies and the bridge over SS Rd near the station. Easy to miss.
Arky -
- CommentAuthormagicP
- CommentTimeJan 10th 2010
I don't often go into Woody's, but I'd happily see the back of the SGR Tesco. It's grubby and poorly laid out. It could do with being completely refurbished and having one big queue for all the tills rather than loads of queues stretching into the aisles.
The Londie on Ferme Park Road is nicer, cleaner and with a much better wine selection. -
- CommentAuthortosscat
- CommentTimeJan 10th 2010
And much more expensive.
-
- CommentAuthormagicP
- CommentTimeJan 10th 2010
Some things are more expensive, but others are not and it's a much nicer place to shop. -
- CommentAuthortbp
- CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
Hi all,
I am looking into this story for the Islington Tribune.
The shopkeepers said that they are selling up to Sainsbury's, Islington Council don't know anything about it though.
Does anybody know how long Woody's has been there?
Thanks
Tom -
- CommentAuthorkrappyrubsnif
- CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
Oooh, are you a local newspaper reporter? What's the Islington Tribune's tip-off fee? -
- CommentAuthorjandb
- CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
Apparently the tawny owls are out of control ... that'd make a better story I think. -
- CommentAuthorcopycara
- CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
Woody's has been there a good few years - 3, 4? Maybe more. It was Yesim before, same people, different name. -
- CommentAuthormissisclack
- CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
@Arkady - Ridley Road market is in Hackney (Dalston, so the Islington side of Hackney). Right opposite Dalston Kingsland Station (train goes from Highbury & Islington). Or the 236 bus goes from FP direct to the not-Kingsland-Road end of Ridley Road.
Dirt cheap fruit and veg (cheaper than Chapel Market) all stalls are priced about the same, but vary in quality/freshness, so worth a stroll up and down to check out before you buy.
Lots of fishmongers along the market drag, but the butchers are mostly along the pavement/shop fronts.
There is a massive West African and Turkish community in Dalston/Hackney and the variety of veg and especially fish & meat reflects this (fresh herbs, about 40 types of chillies, exotic fish, sheep heads, cows foot - in addition to the aforementionned trotters).
There is also your usual tat on sale too (plastic bling accessories, plastic bling bags, shiny bling leggings), big big pots and pans, incense, African and Caribbean CDs and DVDs. There is also the marvelous Dalston Mills (set back, shop front) which has all the fabric, buttons, zips, threads etc you could ask for - and super cheap too.
I work close by, go all the time and love it! Yesterday I bought 15 bananas for £1, 4 bunches of spring onions for £1, 20 limes for £1 and 2 fat sea bass for under a fiver (they gut and descale for you). Plus one fella gave me a free red chilli and thumb size piece of ginger because he thought it was hilarious that's all I wanted and not worth weighing.
Check it out! -
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
I shall, many thanks! -
- CommentAuthortbp
- CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
Thanks all! -
- CommentAuthorMisscara
- CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
@ tbp/Tom
Too long. -
- CommentAuthorandy
- CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
We are Ninja@tbp: It was a furniture shop before that. I'd guess at 5 years old.
And why are you surprised about Islington Council not knowing something?
Why not write a story about a brilliant local forum, instead?
-
- CommentAuthornorthlondonlass
- CommentTimeJan 14th 2010
I love the Londis! I used to live opposite that before it took over the shop next door and there was a crap fish and chip/Chinese shop which is now an estate agents. The woodfired pizza place, Firezza is very good too but pricey. Anyway I've walked home from Oxford Circus, takes almost 2 hours and not the most pleasant of walks, straight up via Upper St or via Camden Road. Onlyl done on a good evening though! -
- CommentAuthorArkady
- CommentTimeJan 14th 2010
I like the Londis too. I've taken to hiring DVDs from there now. They have everything - I was even able to buy a scart cable from there the other day (which helped with the DVDs).
I do think it's a shame that there aren't a few more interesting shops there, I understand that it used to be more diverse. They bitch about it a lot in the Nickelby.
Also, something ought to be done with the scrappy area of land/dumping site between the old Stroud Green station house and the bridge carrying the parkland walk over Stapleton Hall Rd - it's an eyesore.
Finally, has anyone noticed how bloody rude they are in the garage on stapleton hall Rd? the fellah deliberately blanked me for about 30 seconds last time I went. Then I asked for rolling papers and tobacco and you'd think I'd asked to murder his wife.
Arky -
- CommentAuthortosscat
- CommentTimeJan 14th 2010
I saw a very cute rat on that waste ground one morning, and now I always look for Mr Rat when I go past.
-
- CommentAuthordorothy
- CommentTimeJan 16th 2010
Went to Woodys this morning, thought I may as well get the feta filled pastry things while it was still there. The guys at the tills said they were moving out in two weeks and Sainsburys were coming in.
Wish I'd gone there more now, but they should have enticed me more I feel.
No point nicking the sheep, they're laying twisted, dirty and broken under the meat counter.
Oh god Sainsbury's, all that horrible orange. -
- CommentAuthorkrappyrubsnif
- CommentTimeJan 16th 2010
Sainsbury, aaaagh. The end of Stroud Green as we know it........now a clone of any other High Street.
I'll probably use it more than Tesco though. -
- CommentAuthorwisteria53
- CommentTimeJan 16th 2010
....and maybe there will be a Sainsburys cashpoint that doesn't charge for taking out money?
-
- CommentAuthorIan
- CommentTimeJan 16th 2010
I'm so happy if this is true.
Now Starbucks ...
-
- CommentAuthorBridget
- CommentTimeJan 16th 2010
Hooray that is great news!
Im really pleased.
I like Sainsburys and its better to have some choice other than Tescos or another budget grocery co op type thing of which there are lots.
Woo hooo! -
- CommentAuthorpredicaments
- CommentTimeJan 16th 2010
Thing is, in most other cities such as New York, Melbourne or Sydney the 'independents' are fantastic...serving up great groceries, fantastic coffee and each proprietor is genuinely proud of the food or stuff they sell.
However in this dump of a city we're faced with dirty grocery stores selling not much more crap than international phone cards and sometimes odd looking bread.
Whilst I can't stand the chains in the UK that make every town completely soulless I'll welcome them any day over the awful run down ramshackle heap of crap 'shops' or 'cafes' that are strewn all over this area.
So Sainsburys, Strada, Giraffe, Pizza Express and all those other piece of shit places - bring it on! -
- CommentAuthortosscat
- CommentTimeJan 16th 2010 edited
I don't think London is a dump - you need to get out. I hear Switzerland is jolly d.
-
- CommentAuthorColette
- CommentTimeJan 16th 2010 edited
This makes me cross. Why do we need a Sainsbury's when there's Tesco just down the road? Woody's may have its flaws, but it's open 24hrs, and on Christmas Day, which is extremely handy. Plus it has a massive selection of different types of canned and dried pulses at reasonable prices. GAH.