While seeking refuge from the cold rain, I stumbled across two grocers I'd never noticed before near Spitalfields Market: Verde & Co. and A Gold.

Verde & Co., as it turns out, is a little grocery shop run by Havery Cabaniss, former chef of St. John and Urban, and owned by Jeanette Winterson (the only connection you see is a book of hers in one of the shelves in the shop). The shop stocks high-end goodies such as chocolates from Pierre Marcolini (a small bar of what's probably 250g is about £9, although they do charge by the weight as well if you're not inclined to spend that much), a bag of three brownies from Clarke's (£5.10) and a bag of maccarons (£5.80 for about ten to a dozen), squid ink tagliatelle and Japanese breadcrumbs (evidentally coated with honey). As a plus, the shop even sells gorgeous orchids! Even though I don't splurge on food all that often (preferring to reserve that for clothes), it's good to know because I've been meaning to check out Clarkes' brownies, having sampled some of the best in London including those from Flour Power City, Bullet and Konditor & Cook.

Right next to it is A. Gold, most likely the only shop in the city devoted entirely to British food such as cheeses, chutneys, cakes, sweets, scotch eggs and of course, pies. Drinks are on offer as well, with some of the most incredible lemonade I have ever tasted. The shop is incredibly quaint, furnished with all sorts of antique finishings. It's well worth a visit, even if you, like I, do not usually frequent places nicer than Tesco.

Verde & Co.
40 Brushfield Street, London, E1 6AG
Tel: 020 7247 1924
Monday to Friday: 8am - 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11am - 5pm

A. Gold
42 Brushfield Street, London, E1 6AG
Tel: 020 7247 2487
Monday to Friday: 11am - 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11am - 6pm