London's best food shops
 

Can fodorites please recommend which food shops are best in London. I am aware of Fortum and Mason, the foodhalls at Selfridges/Harvey Nichols/Harrods. Where else should I go in London. I am interested in sampling different cheeses and deli meats. Thanks in advance.

Neal's Yard Dairy in Covent Garden for cheese

The traditional answer for cheese is Paxton & Whitfield in Jermyn St, behind Fortnum's (and a lot better than Fortnum's for cheese). But these days, its not that much better than a good supermarket (not that it's got worse, but that supermarkets have got a lot better). Any large branch of Waitrose, in particular, will have a good range of cheese, especially from the British Isles, and knowledgeable staff.

Deli meat is more of a problem. Britain has neither a tradition, nor recent fad, for making this kind of thing - whereas we really do make outstanding cheese. There's a fair range of stalls at Borough Market (www.boroughmarket.org.uk) with cold meat - but a train to Calais will usually get you a much better selection.

Partridge's Grocery on Gloucester Road is neat. We bought wonderful savory tarts for take-out lunch (and they warmed them for us) as well as dessert and candies.

Herrod's.

Bluebird on The King's Rd has a great selection of items...and also a neat kitchenware shop next door.

Patisserie Deux Amis and, next door, the Bloomsbury Cheese Shop on Judd Street (opposite St Pancras, leading down to the Brunswick Centre & Russell Square tube station are both extraordinarily fine.

And what's the name of that fantastic Chocolaterie/Patisserie opposite F&M on Picadilly? My eye's glaze over and my stomach summersaults in paroxysms of(unrequited! - I have a figure to maintain!!)desire every time I walk past.

Dr D.

get thee to Borough Market on a Friday or Saturday morning, where you can munch on a hot venison burger whilst perusing the fabulous deli-style food selections. Have you heard of Jamie Oliver? (British celebrity chef). Get there early enough on a Saturday morning and you may be lucky enough to bump into him.

In Exmouth Market, EC1 there is a Spanish specialist food shop associated with Moro, indeed it is next to Moro that sells everything Spanish, from indulgent chocolates to fine aged hams.