Adamantia Velonis, Founder, Marmalade + Kindness shares her personal shopping guide to Oxford and the beloved products getting her through lockdown 2.0.
As the ‘non-essential’ shops shutter their doors, one of the joys we still have is buying our daily bread. Local food stores in Oxford remain open, providing not only nourishing, seasonal produce, but also a sense of community. Here are some of my most cherished places.
Brew
No day is complete without an early morning visit to Arthur and his team at Brew. The coffee is on point, and they stock an extensive line of speciality coffee beans and teas. Thursdays are now the best day of the week, as you can add a fresh Pippin doughnut (my pick is Apple and Blackberry Custard) to your daily brew. Oh, and did I mention they even have special treats for four-legged friends?
No 2 North Parade
Further up the street, you’ll find Pete and Vicki at the No 2 North Parade Food Store. They stock all your cupboard essentials, dairy and local, organic fruit and vegetables, from Worton Organic and North Aston Organics. The line is long, but worth the wait, as you anticipate your turn at the window. Like the grocers of yesteryear, the team is ready to provide seasonal updates and recommendations. A few items regularly appear in my bag over winter: buttermilk from Ampersand Dairy for weekend pancakes, and Ossa Chicken Bone Broth. I warm it and drink it neat with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of Maldon salt.
Branca Restaurant and Deli
At the end of Observatory Street in Jericho, you’ll find Branca restaurant and deli. While sit down service may be closed for now, you can take away their range of salads and lunch meals, including baked gnocchi with spinach, mushroom, goats cheese and mozzarella.
As well as fresh food, their range of provisions are second to none. Here, you’ll find the full range of Seggiano products (including their Sicilian cherry tomato passata and seasonal panafortes). Their selection of cheeses never fails to transport me to another time and place – from German smoked ham for a midday snack, to Tuscan truffle pecorino for a lazy weeknight pasta.
Manos Café and Deli
When I am craving a taste of home, you can find me in Manos, sinking my teeth into a slice of homemade spanakopita. Layers of crisp phyllo pastry, encase crumbled fetta and mixed greens. They have a rich selection of Greek olive oils and I always stock up on Aoritiko Cretan honey, with its notes of thyme, pine tree and wild herbs.
Gail’s
In the heart of Little Clarendon Street you’ll find Gail’s Bakery. The one is an oldie but a goodie. It was one of the first places I fell in love with when I first visited Oxford over two years ago, and their London stores were a constant companion when we lived in town. Their earl grey tea is balanced and floral, and is the perfect companion to one of their many scones: traditional, cherry and chocolate or my favourite, maple and pecan. Their brownies will take you back to your childhood dreams, while their blueberry custard brioche bursts with comfort and joy.
And if your sweet tooth hasn’t had it’s fix, you can pop next door to the Jericho Cheesemonger and pick up an assortment of Pump Street’s craft chocolate (a chunk of their Grenada 70% with notes of bitter blackberry will hit the spot after dinner).
First published: The Oxford Magazine
