#SE23 Christmas Shopping No. 5: Jumping Bean

For the last few years, Jumping Bean on Honor Oak Park has been the provider of all my Secret Santa gifts. An easy stop from when I get off the ELL at HOP, I often do go in for a mooch around on my way home - which is one of the things I especially like about this place - it is open at hours that are convenient for me.

With my SE23 shopping challenge hat on, I went in and had a good look round the other Monday after work (open, on a Monday, love it). There is a lot of stock, in a fairly small space, so it does to take your time. I noticed quite a few things for men, which makes some difference to a lot of other gift shops - think cuff links, scarves etc. as well as some nice picture frames. I know they also have a little den of kiddies stuff at the back (due to my allergy to children, I have never been in that bit).

As usual, I saw quite a bit I fancied for myself! Indeed, I wish I had seen this iPad case when I was looking for one a few months back. At £15.99, I think it is a lovely item. I ended up on etsy for mine, which is a shame, because I did look around Forest Hill first.



The other thing I thought was great were these porcelain measuring spoons - not terribly practical, but very cute.



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Hop and a skip to Hopscotch for a burger

Hopscotch on Honor Oak Park has really grown on me.

The first weekend they opened, I got as far as the door, then ran at the sight of buggies and screaming kids through the steamed up windows.

Since then, it seems to have settled into a more adult affair. Not that kids aren't welcome, but adults are welcome - so many places round here seem to have to chase the buggy crowd for midweek revenue - but lets face it, if I want a quiet cup of coffee with a read of the paper, I wouldn't go to a creche.

It has more recently opened up on Thu, Fri & Sat evenings. I have passed a few times when it has been crowded, but last Friday it was just me & hubby. We both had a drink and a burger, and they were superb. The burger with stilton and bacon hit the spot for me. (The lager hit the spot for hubby!). Despite the fact that the place was empty on this visit, the music and ambiance honestly meant I didn't notice.

I hope this becomes a winner for the area, cos it sure is for me.

Looks like they are on twitter @hopscotchbar - I'll be following.

Hills & Parkes Deli Stall at HOP station

I have been following the threads on www.se23.com with interest re a new deli opening in HOP. Ms Hills & Ms Parkes impressed me with their market research (a monkey survey) and their genuine and professional interest of what locals were looking for on the site.

Unable to (yet) find a shop, they have set up a weekend stall by the station. My first visit was on a very damp (and miserable) Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks ago - and I was impressed. I picked up a really nice loaf and a cheeky brownie, as well as the leaflet shown above. The food was great and their level of professionalism again set them out from some of the others (read ED!).

This weekend, when the other half suggested we stop in East Dulwich to pick up some bread, it was great to tell him to drive on and we'd pick something up in HOP. The stall was packed and deservedly so. This time I got some chutney, coffee as well as the loaf. Cheeses, meats, pies as well as Christmassy treats were on offer.

It's great to see a nice, new business in the area. I think this one deserves our business. Hills & Parkes Artisan Foods is open Saturdays 9-5 and Sundays 10-4.

Go, shop!

Sunday brunch at Tapastry

This is the current favourite of the bf & I. Lazy Sunday, read the papers & a late breakfast at Tapastry in Honor Oak. Splendid.

Usually, they play cool music and you can lose the day in here. More recently, a tv seems to have appeared, and I have to imagine that the owner likes his footie. Having said that, it isn't too loud and surely it isn't on every day...

The food though is spot on - a healthy grill sources top quality ingredients and sets us up for the day. The service is friendly if a little scatter brained. But you do get the feeling that the owner really does like his little joint, and honestly - so do I. Possibly with more competition, I might shop around, but for now, this will do nicely.

Burns Night with the SE23 club

My second dinner with the SE23 club was a Burns Night at the Honor Oak pub on the corner of St German's Road and Brockley Rise. Over 20 people attended and we filled over 2 tables at the pub, which seemed like a good effort for a cold January evening.

The Honor Oak put on a free starter (haggis) and then everyone ordered and paid their way as usual. The haggis was excellent. As a Scot abroad, I do have haggis fairly regularly, but always the supermarket ones, which are fine, but this one was a lovely, peppery little number. Special mention has to go to Rob Winton's dad who addressed the haggis. A nice touch and well received.

We sat next to two couples who lived very near us and had a good chat about the area and what we liked about where we lived. We really enjoyed the evening and personally I think this is an excellent way of getting locals to try out and patronise local restaurants where they may not have done otherwise. Even better, the bf has agreed that he may come again!

One Tree Hill

I have to own up and say that until I moved to the area, I did think that One Tree Hill was a spectacularly bad American drama series in the Dawson Creek vein.

Turns out it has a stupendous view of London. I've only been there in the winter, so not sure how much that you can see in the summer when the trees are in leaf. If you walk up from HOP train station, just follow the path past the church. When you get to the top there is a small clearing and a bench.

The story goes that on 1st May 1602, Elizabeth I had a picnic at the summit whilst on route from London to (somewhere further south..). Having hiked up there, I frankly very much doubt it. My guess is she walked round the side - if you were travelling past, I doubt you'd walk to the top - as it is a hike - but that is what gives you the view.

Cheese!

In the run up to Christmas, Mr Love (I kid you not) is selling cheese from a stall outside the Honor Oak Pub every Sunday. It is nice to see a little bit of Borough Market closer to home and I enjoyed some stilton and something with bits in the other week.

This week it looks like olives are also on offer and someone was selling Christmas trees too.

Good on the HO for letting their outside space be used.

23 club does Honor Oak Tandoori

The 23 Club is an offshoot of the Forest Hill Society. On the 23rd of the month, you are invited to go along and dine en mass at a local eatery. I say invited, this month's night out was hidden well within their website and not terribly well publicised. So, this Thursday was the first time I managed to go. There were 6 of us.

This was a shame as the chosen venue the Honor Oak Tandoori, did us proud. On Thursday & Sunday nights, they do a special offer of starter, main, side dish and rice or nan for £6.95. Now that has to be good in anyone's language, but added to this, the food tasted great and as the restaurant is a skip from the train station, this has got to be a good thing on a Thursday night after work (or a Sunday night when you can't face going back to work!).

I hope to go again, hopefully with the bf this time (he didn't come..). Not so sure about the Forest Hill Society next night out. If it is another cold & wet night out and it isn't well publicised, I reckon I'll get a take away - possibly from the Honor Oak Tandoori.