It's not all fish and frolics, you know, there's hard graft involved too.
For example, I pun - it's fun - and you have no idea of the restraint it took not to title this first-ever post as 'Trout and About' - not least because it might invite comment as to whether I was the trout, which obviously I'm not because I'm the cat.
So, there I was, trawling up and down Green Lanes. I did go up to Turnpike Lane, so it wasn't as if I was out there for a couple of minutes, sniffing the air, and then beating a hasty retreat.
And it was wonderful. I found a new 'we sell everything East of the Bosphorus' (and a few other places) shop to savour - EFC Food Centre, The Parade, Green Lanes, N8 0RD. I know it as a slice of Bulgarian, Turkish, Lithuanian (great herring), Iranian heaven. I bought the herring - hey what do you expect? - it's not all about the fish, but a lot of it is - and buckwheat honey, anyone? The latter could be an acquired taste, but I have a large jar of it now, and it's quite nice, and I can't afford to dump it - so it's a taste I'll be acquiring, but perhaps when this jar is finished, I won't re-acquire it.
The liquor looked good too - vodka, wodka, Lithuanian, Ukrainian - and liqueurs - with balsam wood. There was even a vodka with honey and pepper which sounded interesting. I do like honey a lot but I had krupnik once and it was way too sweet for me so I've steered clear ever since. If I'm eating honey, then that's what I'm doing - with buckwheat at the moment, obviously - but it's eating not drinking. However, this vodka was honey and pepper which sounded good and odd - but mostly good - in an intriguing, she has an international air of mystery type of way.
Onward and downward towards home, and it's Kapadokya, 589-591 Green Lanes, N8 0RG, for some very reasonably-priced feta. The goat's milk feta, in case you're wondering - although I'm partial to sheep's milk feta too. Did I mention I'm on a budget?
Finally, it's Fairline, 13-15 Grand Parade, Green Lanes, N4 1LA for a tray - yes, that is correct, a tray - of tomatoes, and a couple of cucumbers. Total cost £2 - and I have a 2 litre mixing bowl that is brimming with tomatoes of such lusciousness that I have taken a photograph of them which appears here.
A day of firsts for me - EFC, Kapadokya, and Fairline - and a new blog is in the sphere.
