ROAST CHICKEN & OTHER STORIES

Yesterday morning, before heading to meet M for tea at Browns, I sauntered down to Borough Market in search of something for Sunday lunch.

I always get down there about 9am, just before it becomes compulsory to have a baby stroller before entering the market. I am in and out in 30 mins usually with a standard bag o goodies. However, this time, no visit to Neal's Yard or Brindisa as I was in a hurry. Instead, I came home with

A Chicken from Furness
A black pudding from the same
A small pork pie from Mrs Kings - by far the best exponent of the art.
Some baby turnips from, er Turnips
Chard from the same.
A few rashers of fatty longback bacon from The Ginger Pig.

Not a bad haul but, as is standard on a shopping trip to BM, you do come home laden with food but a good deal lighter of pocket.

So, this morning, after a couple of hours in the gym pumping tinfoil and a short perigrination around Spitalfield Market, the estimable Hermano Primero and me were back home, glass of something in hand ready for lunch.

To begin with, some caramelized apples with black pudding and longback bacon. The pudding was quite different from some of the other puddings I have bought from the market. It reminded me more of Spanish Morcilla than a Bury black pud. Very nice indeed although we did need to take a few moments before moving on with lunch

Then, the chicken. The Furness chicken is by far the best I have tried anywhere. The first time I tried it, they said not to even season it. The guy on the stall said just to roast it on its own. I did and it was sensational. Now, I just put half an onion and half a lemon inside and that's it. Today, as I had bought it from the market, I added some strips of the longback bacon over the breast.

Served with roasted baby turnips, steamed carrots and bread sauce ( of course ) and washed down with a bottle of Mercurey,it was hard to fault. I am pressed to think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon that does not involve thoughts of Jean Seberg and a darkened room.