Maria’s Market Café – Borough Market London

October 20, 2015 by Rich - Foodie Reviewer

Maria’s Market Café – Borough Market London

Another little excursion out of sunny Essex this week folks! I hope you don't mind, but this ones a good’n! A few weeks ago I treated Lou and I to a couple of Champions Day tickets at Ascot. You just can’t beat a day at the races. All my favourites rolled in to one; food, drink and gambling (gosh alcohol and gambling, this could be a recipe for disaster!!) But, it’s a great opportunity to chuck on your glad rags, and just have a jolly good time! However, before you embark on such a day, it’s so important to get a good breakfast. I knew just the place.

We were leaving Waterloo for Ascot pretty early, and Waterloo isn’t too far from London’s ultimate foodie paradise; Borough Market. We just had to give Maria's Market Cafe a visit! Maria has been serving up good honest grub to market goers and traders for over 50 years; she is a borough market legend! Also a firm favourite amongst celebrities, famous chefs and even royalty. Recently Kate and Wills dropped past for a mug of tea, apparently Wills has two sugars! I reckon she has served more ‘A’ listers than the head chef at the Ivy, so you'll never know whom you might bump in to!

Maria is fondly known as the ‘Queen of Bubble’. Her bubble and squeak is served with almost everything and as soon as you arrive at her ‘hut’ you see a huge pile of glorious bubble and squeak cooking away. I referred to her place as a hut, and that's exactly what it is, a kind of static caravan in the heart of the market. With just a few tables and chairs outside it does get a little chilly in the colder months, but that just adds to the charm. Just cuddle up to your mug of tea that'll keep you warm. It's also a perfect start to a festive day at the market. Christmas is nearly upon us, so why not do exactly what I did last year. Brekkie at Maria's, then off for a wander around the market with nibbles, mulled wine, mulled cider, maybe a craft beer or two! Oh my, that was a wonderful day, even the old Sally Army were playing Christmas Carols; a textbook festive experience! Sorry chaps I went a little off piste then, but Borough Market is marvellous during the run up to the festive period. Any way, back to the matter in hand, a hearty brekkie and lining our stomachs before Ascot!

We arrived at Maria's by 9am; already the market was busy with foodies hunting out the best produce in London. You have got to get here early. Once I tried to get some pork belly from the Ginger Pig, undoubtedly the best butcher in the market. It was a Saturday, but past 11am. The butcher just answered my request with ‘ sorry mate all sold out….you snooze you loose’! So, an early start is essential. Today we didn't have time to wander the market; we were hungry, and needed Maria's help! Just order at the counter, find a table and when your food is ready, Maria will holler your order as only a well seasoned market trader can! Whilst waiting to be served, Maria was bellowing to other customers; ‘Sausage, Egg and Bubble’ and ‘Bacon, Mush, Egg and Bubble’!! This food looked good. We ordered our breakfasts, together with the obligatory mug of tea, found a vacant table, and awaited our order to be announced. A few minutes passed and our time was up, Maria yelled out what I had been waiting to hear ‘bacon, egg black pudding and bubble, twice’ that's ours! Man alive, this was just what I needed to set me up for the day. Two rashers of bacon, double black pudding, a fried egg and a glorious pile of bubble. The bubble really is the star of the show. Cooked just how I like it, all those little crispy almost burnt bits of potato mixed through the bubble are just superb. Combine this with the bacon, egg and black pudding; this surely is the breakfast of champions! It beats muesli any day!

Now the big sauce debate! This I am sure could be argued for days; do you have tomato or brown sauce? I love both. Lou doesn’t like either, shocking I know! Either would have been great with this breakfast, but you’ve got to choose one, after all you can’t have both on the same plate that would be wrong. This is where it gets difficult, and I did have to quietly contemplate this for what seemed like a few minutes, whilst staring at my food. I am sure quite a few of you will agree, this really is a tough and serious decision, possibly one of the toughest I have made this week! But after weighing up the pro’s and cons of both, brown came out on top. A perfect accompaniment to that wonderful bubble not forgetting a bit of egg yolk and bacon, delicious. So, with heads down we got stuck in and devoured the lot. Just to add, I don’t drink tea, I am a full on coffee addict. However, at Marias, it’s just got to be a mug of builder’s tea, and it wasn’t too bad at all, it just all fitted together wonderfully.

With our bellies full of rather calorific bubble, egg, black pudding and bacon we headed off for Waterloo to make our way to Ascot. We needed a good fill, in anticipation of our day ahead, and Maria’s ticked all the boxes. A good breakfast such as this, really does see you through the day, and it certainly did, we didn’t feel hungry again till later that evening, so don't panic about those extra calories, you need them. Super value too, only £12 for both and no lunch required, not bad eh! So chaps, if you find yourself in Borough Market, maybe in need of a good set up for the day as we did, or the ultimate hangover cure just visit Maria's, I am certain the rosy faced queen of bubble will not disappoint.