It’s been a long time since I’ve found myself a reliable, local deli. We’ve got a few Italian’s near us, a Portuguese one which goes in and out of being good and a nice Spanish deli who sadly charge insane prices, for not great quality food. But that’s old news, because I’ve come across what may now be my favourite deli in the whole of London – Market Porter Bar. It’s small, concise, knows exactly what it’s offering and the quality is astonishing. On an absolutely freezing cold Sunday afternoon we crossed the Battersea Bridge and made our way to the new Embassy Gardens development – that one you keep seeing in the papers with the 35-meter high glass swimming pool (not yet implemented). It’s a great new development and while it is quiet at the moment, this will soon be THE place to be.
Originally starting life online as Meat Porter, the brand has only very recently changed its name to Market Porter and offers a superior quality range of produce, only available on its website or at this new store. “It’s all about top products from the best small producers – straight to you door” according to their website. Everything’s all British too which I love, we sometimes forget what amazing products Britain has to offer. Inside this new space it’s looking great too. Simple, warm, clean, cosy and importantly a place you want to be. Products in store to take-home range from hams, cheese, pantry foods, juices, quality coffee, chocolate and wine – lots of it. All the wine comes from online retailers Naked Wines. I’ve always dismissed the brand in the past, with no good reason – but I won’t be doing that again. We guzzled down a stunning Viognier – full of ripe stone fruits, a rich and oily textured body and lovely lingering finish. It was a bargain too.
Aside from the deli section of the store which you can pop into and grab a few things to take home, there’s also a fantastic range of simple dishes on the menu such as smashed avocado on toast, some amazing sounding salads, toasted sourdough sandwiches and of course – the charcuterie and cheese. We couldn’t resist and ordered both the cheese and hams to pair with our wine and words don’t even begin to describe how good each was individually. The sweet olives were perky and nutty. The bread was the perfect accompaniment – none of those worryingly stale crackers. Cheeses were fresh and each full of intrigue – but the hams stole the show with that richly flavoured salami being probably the best I’ve ever had. There is no doubt that these guys know good produce.
Dessert isn’t something you’d really visit Market Porter Bar for, but slices of homemade cake and these ice cream sandwiches would easily satisfy and are always on offer. If you’re looking for an afternoon out with copious amounts of good wine and charcuterie, a simple coffee and cake to take away – or even just a reason to stock your fridge up at home – Market Porter Bar can offer it all. I’m told this is only a pop-up, so lets hope it turns into a permanent site – because it would be a sad day if Embassy Gardens had to say goodbye to this hidden little gem anytime soon.
