Catching Brixton Village as it peaks in trendiness

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After half a decade of shunning the last stop of the Victoria Line tube in London, last week I was persuaded by a friend to spend an evening at Brixton. I had heard of the transformation of this erstwhile slightly terrifying part of London into a new trendy locality. It seemed  worth checking out.

On exiting the tube station I saw the high street now has more than the Pound-stretcher and betting shops. Rubbing shoulders (well almost) are some typical high street retail chains like H and M, and Marks and Spencer (if that doesn't break the rule of the number of 'ands' in a sentence I don't know what does. My blog software goes nutty if I use ampersands).

We wandered down to the fresh fruit, vegetable, meat and fish market. Even at dusk, it all looked pretty fresh. However, after 10 minutes wandering down the lanes I confess I dragged my friend away as the sight of so many carcasses does tend to make me squeamish. But not before she managed to buy two huge onions for 60 pence. I can confirm that the market remains a great haunt for bargain prices and fresh fare.

Next we wandered to the large square and the cinema - just for a peek. This is the bit of Brixton that feels almost posh in the evening. As our stomachs started rumbling we headed to the much- recommended Brixton Village which is not a village at all but a covered building with little lanes along which are dotted about a dozen restaurants.

I would be understating if I said we were spoilt for choice. There is a definite Afro-Caribbean presence but also fantastic Latin American (Los Platos de Colombiana), Thai, Japanese and other European style eateries. If you are celebrating then the Champagne and Fromage bar as well as the Oyster bar are the places to go to!





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 We settled for the Thai place. It was chilly as a lot of tables are located in a semi-open area. This is the British winter version of al fresco where you don't see the sky but are kind of sitting on a covered street. Although there were overhead heaters, we were grateful for the blankets provided for our laps (or to cushion your bums if you wish).
 
 
 


 
 
 The food was yummy albeit a tad but spicy for the faux Indian that I am. I feel compelled yet again to remind everyone that my family's cooking style is influenced by some old communities residing in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is shockingly mild, perhaps a low 2.5 out of 10 on the great Indian chilly-o-meter.

Future visits are being planned even as I write this. Colombian, Japanese cuisine high on my list. And the Fromage & Champagne bar await - a spring party perhaps?
 

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