A Wapping Lunch

On Sunday morning, I didn't have any food at home and I was also in the mood for a brisk stroll, so I walked over Tower Bridge and through St Katherine's Docks to Wapping. Wapping Market is organised by the folks behind Brockley Market, and consists of stalls selling local produce and street-food vans. It's based in Brussels Wharf (a few minutes' walk from Wapping and Shadwell Overground stations) and opens up on Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm.

Last weekend was a particularly pleasant time to visit because it was relatively warm and sunny, if blustery, and the trees that line the docks were bright with splendid autumnal hues. As with Brockley Market, there is a real family atmosphere at Wapping Market. There are a few tables and chairs set up at the back, but there are also plenty of walls around the waterfront on which to perch.

It's always difficult to turn down my street-food favourites, such as Mother Flipper and Swine Dining (who do epic bacon and avo sarnies), but in the interests of trying something new, I went to Pasta e Basta for my main course. As you might expect, pasta is the only item on their menu, but to say they serve 'just pasta' undersells them somewhat because all three options sounded great. In the end, I went for the gnocchi with roasted peppers and pesto (£5.50), which was delicious and filling.

However, it turns out that pasta is not basta for me, and I soon found myself in the queue for Crosstown Doughnuts, a doughnutteria whose wonderful wares I have sampled previously on Leather Lane. I quite like Crosstown's take on a PB & J, although I think I'd prefer PB & chocolate, but on Sunday I tried the chocolate chilli cream doughnut (£3), which was amazing. The chocolate cream filling had just enough of a chilli kick to keep it interesting without putting off spice-wusses like me.

After lunch, I walked through the produce section of the market. I stopped by World of Zing to pick up a bottle of Bermondsey Tonic Water, which I've sampled many times at 214 Bermondsey Street. It's £15 for a bottle, but because you mix it with soda water (and gin, obviously), you get 20 servings from it and it's so much nicer than Schweppes. Plus it looks very cool on your bar cart.

Wapping Market. Brussels Wharf, Wapping Wall, London, E1W 3SG (Tube: Wapping Overground or Shadwell Overground/DLR). Website. Twitter.