Chefs Elizabeth Haigh, Philip Juma & More Set-Up Shop At Borough Market’s New Food Hall Concept
By Something CuratedBorough Market starts a new chapter in its story with the opening of The Borough Market Kitchen. It was in 1998 that Borough Market, then facing an uncertain future as a wholesale fruit and veg market in a landscape dominated by supermarkets, set out in a brave new direction by offering a home to a diverse array of produce traders eager to sell high quality seasonal ingredients direct to the public. That decision proved to be an inspired one. Now, 21 years later, the retail market is celebrating its coming of age with another significant leap forward.
Later this month, on 18 November 2019, The Borough Market Kitchen will open in Jubilee Place, a sizeable space at the north end of the Market’s sprawling, atmospheric estate. Here, 20 stands will serve up an extensive menu of freshly prepared food, both hot and cold, which can be enjoyed at large communal tables. All 20 stands, including many old favourites that are relocating from the Green Market, as well as several new faces, have been selected for the quality and provenance of their ingredients as well as the skill and creativity of their cooks. Among those setting up for business this month are, Mei Mei, from ex-Pidgin chef Elizabeth Haigh, Batera, Pintxos Bar, Arabica, Brindisa Kitchen, East London Liquor Co., Elpinki, Gastronomica, Horn OK Please, JUMA Kitchen, La Tua Pasta, Oroshi, Padre, SHUK, Applebees Fish, Gujarati Rasoi, Joli, Khanom, Krok, Nana Fannys, Pochi, Rudie’s Jerk Shack, Scotchtails, The Bath Dairy, and The Black Pig.
In line with Borough Market’s commitment to sustainability, The Borough Market Kitchen will be entirely free of single use plastics, and the tables and seating will be constructed from sustainably sourced materials. A high proportion of the produce used in the vendors’ dishes will be sourced directly from the Market’s produce traders – the shortest supply chain possible, measuring mere metres. Together, they offer a reflection of the striking diversity of the community they serve, offering everything from the definitively British scotch eggs of Scotchtails and the traditional Jamaican dishes of Rudie’s Jerk Shack to the Basque pintxos of Mimo and the Iraqi cuisine of JUMA Kitchen.
At Borough, JUMA Kitchen will serve a small but lovingly handmade selection of Kubba, Iraqi dumplings, which are a staple part of the country’s food culture. Founder, Philip Juma, tells Something Curated: “I can’t think of anywhere better to showcase the breadth and richness of Iraqi cuisine than at Borough Market. I wanted to serve something delicious, authentic and original. Kubba ticks all those boxes. At my supperclubs, I’d offer a 5-course tasting menu and Kubba always stole the show. What better way to celebrate this gem than by dedicating JUMA’s first permanent site to it?”
As well as providing a convivial place to enjoy high quality food and drink, The Borough Market Kitchen has also been designed to ensure that the experience of shopping for seasonal ingredients elsewhere in the Market is as straightforward and intuitive as possible. Following the opening, Three Crown Square and the entire Green Market area will be dominated by producers and produce sellers, some of whom will be shifting from their current positions to make the most of the freed-up space. Rochester Walk, which feeds into the Jubilee Place space, will continue to offer an exceptional blend of ingredients and prepared foods from the likes of Elpinki, Gastronomica, East London Liquor Co, Arabica and Brindisa.
The Borough Market Kitchen will be open from Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm (6pm on Fridays). Once the kitchen closes for the day, the space will revert back to its current use as a hub for wholesale operations.
Feature image: Elizabeth Haigh’s signature Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Caviar Katsu Sando (via @the_modernchef)