Have you been to… Broadway Deli, High Street, Worcestershire

On Broadway high street, in a row of historic Cotswold buildings, resides the delight that is Broadway Deli. An independent double fronted shop with large, rounded bay windows. Inside the left window perches a vintage orange Fiat 500 evoking thoughts of old Italy,garlic, olive oil and rich delicious food. A quirky clue as to what lies beyond. Outside the shop sits on one side a wooden trolley and on the other a Tuk Tuk -both heaving with fruit and veg. It’s a playful theatrical scene that compels you to go inside.

I found entering the deli a rush for my senses, it’s an old building and a little dark with an array of colours and smells. It’s like entering the pantry of some mythical culinary wizard. There’s the sweet, pungent freshness of a greengrocer, a waft of dried herbs and spices and the deeply comforting smell of fresh bread and coffee. It’s a joy to simply stand and inhale deeply, preferably not in someone’s way though, because quite frankly it gets pretty busy.

The deli ceilings are low, and the shop is nicely cosy. It’s an Aladdin’s cave of food with every available space stacked with an array of packaged high-quality food stuffs from all over the world. Initially you can hardly take it all in, it’s a feast for the eyes. The brightly coloured tins, packets and jars ignited an almost childlike desire in me, and I swiftly deposited the biggest jar of pesto I’ve ever seen into my basket (30cm’s tall if you’re asking). Happily resigning myself to the fact I may leave with things I didn’t know I needed.

I turned a corner and found rows of booze stacked floor to ceiling and my inner child rapidly gave way to my inner pirate. I seriously considered buying a bottle of something amazing called ‘Spit Roasted Pineapple Gin’. Instead, thinking of dinner that evening, I reluctantly opted for some imported Italian pasta and a slab of chunky parmesan. I also grabbed a Swedish tart from the deli counter and admired the array of picnic bits available; a particularly fine-looking quiche and some stinky cheese catching my eye. I wandered upstairs and found some solid wooden kitchen utensils to replace the tired ones we had at home. Then, to top it all off, I sat outside in the deli café consuming tea and a slice of lemon drizzle cake whilst admiring the well-kept garden. The deli has a lively buzz about it, and I enjoyed sitting in the middle of it all drinking it in.

Broadway Deli is a welcome reminder of the sheer joy and magic of food. It’s a remedy to the monotony of the everyday that can slowly numb your imagination and rob you of the pleasure of cooking. They work really hard at making a visit there an experience, and in every corner of the deli there is careful attention to detail. It has atheatrical, almost Dickensian quality. You certainly don’t need me to tell you that if you’re passing through Broadway you should stop by – you’ll inevitably just be drawn in. Then, no doubt it’ll cast its spell and you’ll leave pepped and ready to create some culinary magic all of your own.

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