Traders of the month

Thea Wunderer’s Alpine Deli offers a snapshot of the cuisine of South Tyrol, the most northern region of Italy. The cured meats are made by a family that has been in the business for decades – if not longer – using recipes handed down through generations. The region’s defining foodstuff is Speck Alto Adige. A ham with Protected Geographical Indication status, it can only be made in South Tyrol and has a distinctive taste and texture. Other products include mountain salami, alpine bresaola, pancetta, venison prosciutto, smoked sausages and biltong.

Borough Kitchen sells a curated collection of kitchen tools and tableware – basically everything a home cook needs to prepare their Market ingredients – from an impressive shop space beside the Market Hall. Each piece of equipment has been selected based on functionality, performance and quality from a range of specialist European producers, artisans and global brands, so you’re sure to find the best tools for the job: whether you plan to open oysters, pin out pastry, temper chocolate or just slice a few onions.

Founded by Syed Usman Shah, Date Sultan is a social enterprise that imports premium dates from the Middle East while using its influence to help combat modern slavery, a pervasive practice throughout much of the region’s agricultural sector. When setting up contracts with farmers in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Palestine, Date Sultan ensures that everyone in the supply chain is paid fairly and treated well, backed up by personal visits and regular audits. The stall sells numerous varieties of date, all of the very highest quality, and has also pioneered the filling of Medjool dates with flavours such as salted caramel and candied ginger.

Founded in 2017, Heritage Cheese brings the best British and Irish artisanal cheeses to Borough Market, seeking out traditional suppliers and unearthing innovative gems from across the isles including Quicke’s cheddars, Cropwell Bishop Beauvale, Ballylisk Triple Rose and Corleggy farmhouse goat’s cheese. Working on the principle that every cheese tells its own story, they work closely with their cheesemakers to bring the history, terroir and seasonality of each cheese to life. As voted for by the public, Heritage Cheese was awarded Slow Food Cheesemonger of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Self-taught British-Iraqi chef Philip Juma brings traditional Iraqi cuisine to Borough. Expect classic dishes such as fattoush, alongside his signature handmade ‘kubba’: fried and braised stuffed dumplings in a variety of textures, shapes and flavours. Specials include vegan options such as warming bamia okra stew, all made with the finest quality ingredients. All food served is halal.

Maria’s Market Cafe is a Borough Market institution, named after its founder Maria Moruzzi, whose parents opened Borough Cafe on Park Street in 1961. After many decades of frying bacon, brewing tea and serving everyone from market porters to Hollywood film stars, Maria has finally retired, but her legacy lives on. Now under new ownership, the cafe, which is located in the heart of Three Crown Square, continues to be the place to go for its famous bubble and squeak, hearty breakfasts, lunchtime sandwiches and hot drinks.

Fabien Joly and Florent Gacon are a couple of young Franc-Comtois with a passion for food, wine and the artisan traditions of their native region of France. They come from a long line of farmers and craftsmen who have been producing food and running market stalls for generations. They bring the flavours of the region’s mountains and forests to Borough Market, including slow-smoked saucisse de morteau, a delicious amber-coloured pork sausage that follows a traditional method from the 16th century. Look out for regional specialty cancoillotte, too – a little-known runny cheese flavoured with champagne, garlic, vin jaune or walnuts.

Run by the founders of Utobeer, Richard Dinwoodie and Mike Hill, The Rake is a speciality beer bar. The beer selection is impressively large, while the seating area is famously small, making this a warm and intimate place to explore the world of brewing. Beers come from all over the world – though there’s a slight focus on American craft beers – and there are always at least five draught beers, three real ales and a fridge choc-full of bottles at any one time.

Found in the Green Market, the We Juice It team can get you started in the morning with a choice of fresh juices such as the carrot, apple and ginger – depending on what’s in season and what you’re in the mood for. All juices are squeezed fresh on site each morning. If you need an extra boost, try their wheatgrass shots.