The days of long ‘working’ lunches – leisurely affairs, enjoyed without clock-watching , washed down with copious quantities of wine – belong to a different era. Most office lunches are hasty affairs, with recent research revealing that office workers now spend just 29 minutes on their lunch break. While most City employees simply don’t have the time to go for a big meal at lunch time, there’s no reason, though, simply to stick to boring old sandwiches. These days The City is choc-a-bloc with choices of tasty and interesting foods on offer aimed at people in a hurry.
Adding a touch of contemporary class to City dining is the new Ottolenghi deli and restaurant, discreetly positioned in a side-street by Spitalfields Market. This latest offering from the acclaimed chef Yotam Ottolenghi and his business partner Sami Tamimi is a stylish affair, with the white walls an effective contrast to the vibrantly colourful, cosmopolitan food which is their trademark. Flavour combinations such as roasted sweet potato with burnt aubergine yoghurt with basil or char-grilled broccoli with chilli and garlic ensure that these are salads which are a pleasure, rather than a duty, to eat. In a nod to its City location, this is the first Ottolenghi to feature a ‘grab and go’ element, with two fridges filled with pre-packed meals and drinks. Alternately, get to choose your own combinations from the Salad and Cake counter, feasting our eyes on the options as you do so.
The redevelopment of Broadgate Circle is breathing new gastronomic life into the area. Among the newbies is recently opened Aussie independent Beany Green, a 30 seater café next to its popular coffee kiosk. The company made its name with its impeccable flat whites and powerful espressos, with the coffee beans carefully sourced and lovingly roasted. In this new City venture, Beany Green is venturing beyond simply coffee to go. The café here offers a lively, all-day food offering, inspired by Melbourne’s café culture, with a menu strong on fruit and veg elements – look out for broccoli bread, avocado as part of a ‘Full Bondi ‘fry up breakfast and their ever-popular banana bread. On offer for lunchers in a hurry looking for a healthy eating option are dishes such as protein balls, toasted spinach wraps and salad-crammed Detox boxes.
A taste of Italy can be found at L’Anima Café, the informal sister restaurant, offering pizza and pasta, opened by acclaimed chef Francesco Mazzei, who made his name with his stylish L’Anima restaurant nearby. The deli section offers an appetising array of panini, salads and cakes – and, in the best Italian style, you can grab a quick, caffeine-rich espresso to get your adrenalin racing before you return to work.
Britain’s lively street food renaissance – fuelled by the exciting thought that there could be more to street food than deeply dodgy hot dogs, topped with fried onion – has done much to enhance life for office workers. A stroll down Whitecross Street during a weekday lunchtime sees an array of stalls selling everything from traditional British pies and hog roast to spicy dishes from India and Vietnam. Look out for Luardos in their striking turquoise-coloured van offering a fingerlickin’ taste of Mexico in the form of their famous burritos.
The Good Food Markets, set up by John Shepherd of Partridges food store, are another tasty presence in the City, found every other Tuesday at Finsbury Avenue Square, Broadgate, on Fridays at One New Change Shopping Centre next to St Paul’s Cathedral and monthly at New Street Square. A visit to the recent Broadgate Good Food Market (pictured top) revealed an impressive selection of food on offer from 16 stalls, with recent offerings including posh bubble ‘n’ squeak, Peruvian dishes from Panko, tasty Argentinian empanadas, chorizo sandwiches, Portuguese cured cod and Vietnamese pulled pork banh mi. Those with a sweet tooth are also catered for by treats such as brownies, pastries and oodles of cake. The globe-trotting selection of stalls changes from week to week, offering a real variety and a chance to explore and find new favourite foods. The lure of something hot and freshly cooked – whether for bubbling curry or griddled burgers – ensures a steady stream of customers. Especially on a fine, sunny day, there is a convivial air to these markets, with people in line comparing notes on what they recommend and stallholders greeting regular customers with a smile and cheerful banter. Instead of simply treating lunch-time as a re-fuelling pit-stop, we recommend you step outside of the office – getting some fresh air and exercise en route – and choose something you really want to eat. Lunch – even when time is tight – should be a treat!
One New Change market on Fridays.