Anderson & Co. Review: We Could Bistro All Day
Tuesday, May 31, 2016A quarterly digital magazine delivered directly to your inbox relaunching in 2020. The Playbook is a multimedia treatment shared privately and exclusively with our community members. From foodies and fashionistas to fitness enthusiasts and culture lovers, there is a story for everyone through the return to our origins of bespoke, inspiring, and taste-making content for the busy, modern lifestyle.
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A STORY FROM THE ARCHIVES in EAT:
“Peckham is so pretty,” I mused to my companion. We were walking towards the station after watching morning shift to afternoon over brunch. Ade - the content creating cool kid behind adzvice.com - repeated “Peckham is pretty,” his tone inflecting on mine. We laughed to ourselves but he did agree, adding that Londoners should enjoy it more. We did just that when we were at Anderson & Co.
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Anderson & Co., 139 Bellenden Road, SE15 4DH
Nearest station: Peckham Rye / Parking: Pay & Display
Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Cost: ££ - Fairly priced
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Our colourful spread.
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Ade had a pastry beforehand so wanted something light, he opted for the ‘Vegan Special:’ curly kale, roasted vegetables, sweet potato patty, and chilli. He was pleasantly surprised, astonished even by how filling it was. I couldn’t stop admiring the colourfulness of his dish but started with the ’fresh fruit breakfast’ from the daytime menu, a gorgeous glass of apple, pear, dried apricot, dried cranberries, fennel syrup, and mixed seeds. I have a mild apple allergy so I couldn’t actually eat it but I can report that it travels well as I took it home for my brother to enjoy instead. He especially liked the touch of fennel syrup, saying that its depth complemented the sweet flavours of the fruit and provided balance.
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Fresh Fruit Breakfast: £4.50
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I also ordered the avocado on toast like the Basic™ I sometimes am - it came on a thick bed of sourdough toast with chorizo, poached egg, and rocket leaves - I added some halloumi for good measure. The ingredients were fresh and the dish was finely presented, however the chorizo was overdone. Similarly, the avocado was packed on a little too generously which weighed the toast down and made for an awkward combination of using cutlery and hands. Overall I did find the dish to be deliciously hearty. Washing it down with an elderflower Luscombe drink was refreshing as the bubbles perked me up.
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Avocado toast: £7.50
Halloumi side: probably £2.00-3.00
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A perfectly poached egg.
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Wild Elderflower Bubbly: Roughly £3.00, if not less.
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The room in which we ate was whitewashed and airy with an open kitchen but there was much more to see so after our appetites were sated, we explored the rest of the space. Hannah and Louise Anderson - the mother-daughter pair who own the bistro - have arranged the space quite thoughtfully. At the back there is a small, intimate garden with a transparent roof meaning you can eat al fresco and enjoy natural light in any weather. Whilst snapping away I found these curious, miniature dolls perched on discs in the walls, they were perhaps an inch tall at most! The staff explained that they were installed by local artists as a quirky touch to the decor.
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Fellow brunchers enjoying the garden.
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The garden.
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Miniature people engaging in some PDA. How unbecoming.
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More miniature people!
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Returning inside and to the front of the bistro there are again whitewashed walls warmed up by the glow of low hanging pendant lights. Together with monochrome frames, exposed wires, and a woodlog counter Anderson & Co. has the trendy, industrial aesthetic down pat. Thankfully without the excess noise, the establishment attracts locals who are students and professionals as well as young families with pushchairs but the atmosphere remains notably calm.
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Collages of portraits and sporting photographs hang on the walls inside monochrome frames.
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The front of the bistro where you can order pastries or delicatessen from the counter.
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#EATtheFiveEs at Anderson & Co., 139 Bellenden Road, SE15 4DH | andersonandcompany.co.uk
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If you live locally, you can also pop into the bistro to purchase some freshly baked bread from the selection of loaves displayed by the front door. The scent certainly compels you as you walk in. Just choose your loaf and take it to the counter where it will be wrapped for you!
Have you considered checking out local cafés and restaurants in Peckham? Tell me about it in the comments below!
Have you considered checking out local cafés and restaurants in Peckham? Tell me about it in the comments below!
3 comments
Are any of you from Peckham or nearby? Would you check this place out? Comment and share your thoughts below!
ReplyDeleteEsmé Xo
I'd love to live closer to the city, purely to explore independent places like these! I loved your descriptions of the flavours, plus your writing style was a joy to read! If I lived closer you can bet I'd be in there on weekend mornings to pick up some fresh bread!
ReplyDeleteSinéad ♥ fabuleuse, toujours ♥
Yes, the number of independent places available around London is one of this city's special charms - I'm always thankful for them!
DeleteEsmé Xo
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