On the art of making a latte last two hours…

There are few things I like better in life than the indulgence of very slowly sipping a cappuccino in a coffee shop, and watching the world go by…While some people like to go bungee jumping or water skiing on their holidays, my idea of bliss generally revolves around sitting in a leafy European square somewhere with a cup of something hot and frothy, a cake and a good novel.

I’ve never been to Vienna, but I’ve often fantasised about the quality of the coffee houses, the precise flakiness of the strudel. It’s no surprise that Paris is one of my favourite cities, a place where the café culture (rightly) dictates that chairs face outwards to encourage blatant people watching.

London is getting better and better at doing decent coffee, but it’s still not quite as good at providing the places that allow you to really linger (perhaps it’s to do with our distinct lack of squares and leafy boulevards). There’s a fine art to making a tall latte and a cinnamon bun last two hours (still a rare affordable luxury, even in a recession). But in many establishments before you know it, an over-eager waitress will have whisked your tepid, half-drunk coffee away.

Chains, and their special brand of faceless anonymity – same furniture, same wall colour, same cake selection, same piped music and pictures – are sometimes better at allowing you stay as long as you want. But that’s mainly because the staff just don’t care. Better by far to choose a local independent café, to support someone’s family business, and become a familiar, welcome face. They won’t mind if you’re the kind of customer who spends two hours consuming one Americano and an apricot Danish, because they know you will be back tomorrow, and that you not only know their wifi password off by heart, you’ve also only got two stamps to go on your loyalty card before you get a free mochaccino.

Of course, some people wonder why a cup of coffee costs over £2, and feel that they are somehow being ripped off. ‘But I can make a cup of coffee at home for virtually nothing,’ they protest. That’s missing the point entirely. When you go to a café alone, you are not just paying £2 for the cup of coffee. You are paying to have a few moments of peace in a busy day, to have a space to ponder and be alone with your thoughts. You are paying to escape the familiar grottiness of your own home or workplace. If you like, you are effectively renting a table on a very short-term lease in a calm place where tasks and errands and unpaid bills and dirty dishes aren’t calling you. (How many novels and great ideas have started in coffee shops? How many writers still sit hunched over their netbooks, waiting for inspiration?) You are paying for the overheads of the shop, the rent, the staff, the lighting, as well as the coffee grounds. All that for £2 suddenly seems like a bargain.

So where are the best slow coffee spots in London? My favourites change from month to month, year to year. In central London, I have a perennial soft spot for the café at the top of Foyles, mainly for the free wifi, the jazz soundtrack and the eclectic mix of ‘starving-in-a-garret’-type individuals who appear to be writing screenplays on Mac books, while spinning out a cold espresso and a glass of tap water.

Out east, Counter Café, is a not-so-hidden urban secret – an Aussie-inspired joint tucked in a corner of Hackney Wick, with battered chairs and brick walls, that does seriously good flat whites and food. There are other cafés I love even more for the aesthetics, the buzzy atmosphere, the delicious cakes. But you can’t necessarily hang around in them, or guarantee you won’t be hurried along. And that is the key to slow coffee happiness.

Cheryl Freedman

I cooked a horrible meal last night. It had grit in it. I must have failed to wash the spinach.

Or perhaps it was that crafty little pak choi. But no, I can’t blame the vegetables – it was all me, and my lack of attention to detail in the rush to satisfy my rabid hunger.

However, all is not lost, for the experience has inspired me to launch a new diet plan. It’s called The Grit Diet, and it’s for people who love food but tend to eat more than they need. The basic premise is simple: cook your favourite meal and then put some grit in it. You’ll never over-eat again!

Grit is so versatile; you can sprinkle it on anything, and your appetite will be completely curbed! I went to bed hungry and this morning the memory of all that grit put me off my breakfast! Fantastic. As Britain battles with obesity, I may have just found the antidote.

They’ve given me an advance on the book already – it’s going to be called “Grit Your Teeth: A Journey Towards Food Intolerance.” I used to wish I was intolerant to cheesecake, but now I just carry a handful of grit with me and the temptation disappears! Magic.

You can reserve your copy of “The Grit Diet” (£12.99 inc. P&P) here. One to one coaching is also available.

Annalie Wilson
www.annalie.co.uk/

Read more of Annalie’s blogs: The London Loaf

Image: Pak Choi by Simon Aughton

Ed Gillespie (pictured), Director at communications agency Futerra will talk about his journey around the world without planes for his ‘Slow Traveller’ series for The Guardian, and discuss the philosophy of slow travel.

Hayley Cull, co-author of Slow London, will run a Slow Writing workshop and will also share ideas to help you live more and fret less.

Youth Food Movement UK, a network of young people committed to food that is good, clean and fair will be exploring the importance of family recipes and recipe writing in a session called ‘Recipes for Remembering’.

Surprisingly, London, one of the most frantic cities in the world is also one that offers amazing opportunities to slow down and enjoy a re-discovery of the senses. This rediscovery is the basis of the ‘Slow’ movement.

This movement is spreading and reaching many different areas that celebrate the idea of stepping back and taking the time to look around. This event will introduce ‘slow’ travel, writing and cooking. The speakers will share examples of their own experiences of slowing down and tips to enjoy a differently paced London lifestyle.

Image: Ed Gillespie

The day will begin with a session on developing mindfulness, trying out simple meditation exercises which help us move out of ‘automatic pilot’ to bringing awareness into everyday life. Then awaken your taste buds as the Youth Food Movement presents a slow food tasting and discussion. After lunch, explore the little pleasures of London with Hayley Cull, co-author of Slow London. And finally, rediscover the joys of putting pen to paper with poet Miriam Nash.

You can book your place now on the Foyles website. (Please scroll down).

The day’s schedule:

10:30-10:45 –Welcome from Slow Down London

10:45-11:45 Being Mindful
Start the day with a session on developing mindfulness with Tessa Watt and Deepa Patel, directors of Slow Down London. How often are we caught in a whirlwind of speed and stress, missing the present moment because we’re constantly thinking about what we have to do next? Explore simple meditation exercises which help us move out of ‘automatic pilot’, bringing awareness into every day activities like breathing, hearing and walking.

12:00-1:00 Slow Food
The Youth Food Movement will host a session on what’s in season, the ways in which we use our senses when cooking and eating, and the fantastic flavours unlocked when we try foods that are local and ‘slow’.

Lunch break – weather permitting, join us for a picnic in nearby Phoenix Gardens, a small city centre idyll run by local volunteers. Bring your lunch or buy food nearby.

2:00-3:00 The little things
London is full of places that invite you to stop and stare and listen; histories and secrets lay in every old street or snippet of conversation. This depth and texture makes London a perfect place to go slow. In this session we’ll share our favourite little things about the city and encourage you to explore the area with a slow mindset. Led by Hayley Cull, co-author of Slow London published by Hardie Grant.

3:15-4:15 – Snail Mail
When was the last time you wrote a letter? What happens when you start? Developed in partnership with Slow Down London, this creative letter writing workshop explores the forgotten art of letter writing, opening new and unexpected doors to creativity. Led by poet Miriam Nash.

4:15-4:30 – Closing from Slow Down London

To book a place please visit the Foyles website:
http://www.foyles.co.uk/events.asp(please scroll down)

Image: jcoterhals

Sample and buy from over 30 stalls offering sustainable and traditionally prepared produce:
•organic and off-beat wines, ales and beer
•artisan cheeses
•craft bread
•exotic spice blends and oils, vinegars
•gourmet burgers from 21 day aged beef and rare breeds of beef, lamb and pork
•spiced Venezuelan hot chocolate shots
•award winning marshmallows, Halloween toffee apples as well as British honey and jams
•sizzling hand dived Dorset scallops fresh from the grill, fresh sustainable fish, oysters

Drop into the Slow Food demo tent for free weekend events.

Saturday 31 October 2009

12.00 Apple bobbing & pumpkin carving!

13.00 Sarah Moore: Mushroom risotto

14.30 Mark Temple: ideas on how to cook with pumpkins and squash

15.30 A talk and tasting of British Native Oysters from 5th generation oyster grower Richard Haward

16.30 Isabelle Legeron: Wine tasting & comparison

17.30 Phil Godsmersham Game: Cooking venison

Sunday 1 November 2009

12.30 Tim Robins of Rainha Santa: Portuguese roast lamb with fennel

14.00 Masterchef star Steven Wallis will be creating an unusual and rich classic dish “Pepian” which has its roots in Guatemala and is normally eaten on “the Day of the Dead” (El Dia de los Muertos or All Souls Day – 1st November)

15.00 Darren Brown: how to skin a rabbit and cook it

Admission is free.

Southbank Centre Square
Belvedere Road SE1 8XX

www.slowfoodlondon.com

Image by Amy Miller (Flickr)

Some people say that if you don’t drink, smoke or pursue – ahem – other worldly pleasures, then you don’t live longer – it just feels longer. On the other hand, research suggests that a glass of wine a day can add five years to your life.

Between these perspectives lies our modern confusion over pleasure – should we indulge ourselves, or should we abstain? At a Slow Down London evening called ‘Wine and Words’ last week, everyone seemed to keen to plump for the former. But this wasn’t just your average midweek booze-up. Hosted by poet and former wine writer Harry Eyres, natural wine evangelist David Harvey and natural wine producer Frank Cornelissen, the event aimed to introduce people to the ancient way of enjoying wine – slowly, and with words.

“For the classical poets, wine was something magical and mysterious,” said Harry. “It inspired them to conversation and poetry. There can be much more to drinking wine than just glugging it down.”

Frank agreed: “Wine has always been our drug to get in touch with our spiritual side.”

We sampled wines made on Frank’s small estate in Sicily. These wines are made entirely naturally, and have more in common with the wines drunk in ancient Rome than with those we usually sink down the pub. “They may taste slightly strange, but that’s because they haven’t been stripped of their flavour by modern production techniques,” warned David.

So did we get in touch with our spiritual sides? It’s hard to say – but we certainly experienced something. The first wine was poured into our brown cornstarch cups, which apparently open up the wines. It was pale orange and tasted like muddy apples and grapes. Rather than clean tasting, it was ruddy, pungent and real.

“In our era, everything is about speed and technology,” said Frank, the wine warming him to the Slow Down London theme. “The world has gone mad with speed – but when wine is made naturally it is a magical product.”

When the second wine was poured I discovered it had an alarmingly meaty tang. I looked desperately around for moral support before swallowing. But as the finish developed, softer flavours came through, rounding out the initial shock with dark fruits. This is the pleasure that Frank is talking about – taking it slow and allowing the wine to work its magic.

The evening was a lesson in slowing down. We drank no more than a few inches of wine over two hours, but many people still tottered out of the room with smiles on their faces – those natural wines clock in around 14 per cent. And we learned a few new classical poems along the way.

So should we take a Slow approach to wine? The answer – perhaps unsurprisingly from Frank – is absolutely. “Wine invites us to slow down,” says Frank. “It inspires you to stop, unwind and reflect. I think everyone in London probably needs that.”

Chris Cox

Image by pizzodisevo

Bob and Violet were the last vestiges of the three hundred market traders, or costermongers, that lined the Cut, and are so vividly described by Mayhew is his wonderful work London and the Working Poor. Further down the Cut in Lower Marsh are the last few stalls of that once thriving market, just a few traders clinging on, and one has two slightly younger men, (one a rather cute blonde), who sell vegetables, nowadays brought in by a white van, but still weighed out into brown paper bags, no plastic nonsense, still a sense of place, a memory of who you are, they are always ready for a chat, a laugh, a chance for you and them to meet as humans, and sometimes on a rainy Monday, a chance for them to decide not to bother to open up, which is what happened when I went out for my potatoes this week – can’t say I blame them, it was one of those days that give Mondays a bad name.

Lyndall Stein

Please print this page to redeem your complimentary tea or coffee – available with any item from the Canteen Breakfast Menu.

Canteen is committed to providing honest food. Nationally sourced, skilfully prepared and reasonably priced. We believe in good produce provenance. Our meat is additive free, sourced directly from producers practising good animal husbandry and our fish delivered fresh from day boats on the south coast. All dishes are cooked to order and our menu changes seasonally to accommodate the best and freshest national produce.

Canteen winner of the Which? Good Food Guide ‘London Restaurant of the Year’, Observer Food Monthly ‘Best UK Restaurant’ and Restaurant Magazine’s ‘Best Cooked Breakfast’.

Slow Food Market by Belinda Lawley

From 1-4 May 2009, Southbank Centre Square outside the Royal Festival Hall will be home to the UK’s largest – and London’s only – monthly Slow Food Market. Over 40 stalls selected by Slow Food London will sell sustainable and traditionally prepared foods from a selection of leading artisan food producers, from the UK and beyond.

The Slow Food Movement’s ethos is that the food that we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean and considered way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work. One of its further aims is to protect the regional and local distinctiveness of foods from around the world.

At the festival, visitors can taste and buy produce that is truly unique, as well as listen to food producers talk about the art of food production.

Image by by Belinda Lawley

© cafe by misty (flickr)

Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. It seems pertinent that we should find a connection between the tea drinking and slowing down. The tea break is the perfect way to disguise the need to stop.

In the first book devoted to tea Cha Kung(‘the Holy Scripture of Tea’). Lu Yu says:
‘Tea was not only a remedy against drowsiness. It was a way of adding men to return to their sources, a moment in the rhythm of the day when prince and peasant shared the same thoughts and same happiness while preparing to return to their respective fates.’

So not only does it enable us to stop, relax and wake us up but it could be seen as an equaliser!
So how do I make a good cup of tea? George Orwell, yes the George Orwell has an answer to this age old question.

Deepa Patel – Director, Slow Down London