City Safe Haven -- Top Chef Cafe on Brockley Road

Passing shuttered businesses along Brockley Road (SE4), we head toward the sign board announcing Top Chef Cafe is open for custom.  We're rugged up against the cold wintry air, so delight in the warmth as we step inside.

The warmth extends to our welcome. Uger and Musa greet us into what is clearly a mens-zone at this point. They've been flipping eggs since 6:30, yet have energy and interest to ask about our foreign accents. Turns out they hail from Cyprus and have resided in South London for 24 years. 

No food photos, no menus and no music stack up the points in their favour when it comes to pleasing our simple tastes.  The décor consists of a rack of newspapers and six clever sign boards concerning coffee, summed up as "Life begins with coffee." And the eggs are perfectly crisped with runny yolks -- yum!  Mugs of strong steaming tea tops things off.

We notice the "City Safe Haven" poster in the window, and realize our local church's footwork has indeed made an impact on our community. 

Our church, St. Andrew's United Reformed Church Brockley (on the corner) is a paying member of South London Citizens, a branch of Citizens UK, a not-for-profit organization bringing together numerous faith communities, trade unions, and schools to address local concerns and make a difference in people's lives. 

A first focus of action, about 14 years ago, was initiating the Living Wage Campaign which has resulted in communities, corporations and government across Britain taken the steps to ensure workers a "living wage" -- enough above minimum wage to enable a worker to take the tube instead of the bus and take their family out once a week for a meal -- ensuring more family time which, one might be tempted to believe, means healthier and happier families, which, one might be tempted to believe, means healthier and happier communities.

The City Safe Campaign arises from the concern that children and youth feeling bullied or being hassled on the streets have no place to go to find protection and safety.  Historically, businesses here as in so many other cities, might keep their doors locked so young people can't come in and "loiter."  Or shoo "problem" youth out, not wanting to get involved in potential conflicts, and wanting to keep their shop in an isolated island of calm. I can understand that age-ism sentiment, and am excited about this alternative: City Safe.  Proprietors receive some training, ideally, in conflict resolution, and agree to allow threatened and fearful youth to enter their space for sanctuary.  They agree to call the police who are included in the plan, so there is immediate intervention on the behalf of the hassled youngster.  Remember, police officers here do not carry guns, and store owners for that matter, and the youth involved, legally do not carry guns. So there's the opportunity for a reasonable and safe intervention.  So, the City Safe sign in a window promises sanctuary and reasonable response in the aid of frightened children and youth -- what a concept!

We stroll home through crisp air under a brilliant blue sky.  Signs of spring abound!  Another pleasant Breakfast in Britain.

Brockley Breakfast -- where locals go

Ah! Breakfast in Britain -- Another perfectly prepared portion of eggs and toast being enjoyed by Happy Husband. Today at Central Cafe, on Brockley Road in Southeast London (SE4).  We try the fried eggs instead of poached, though poached are available; set in round molds to create perfect circles, Eastern European style.  Runny as we like them.  And the piping hot tea is brought to the table -- feels like luxury. 

Delightful display of double-decker buses passing the front windows (routes 171 & 172 stop across the street).  Minimal personality, with gold framed standard restaurant-fare pictures hanging above bouquets of plastic flowers. But bright, light and warm on a cold morning in London.

So...condiments.  What do we find on our breakfast tables?  Here at Central Cafe we find the regulars of salt & pepper, sugar, vinegar and tomato sauce.  Then there's soy sauce.  Why the soy sauce?  They do serve lunches, but on what would one shake soy sauce?  And vinegar?  Where has that tradition come from...vinegar on chips (french fries)?  I love it, don't get me wrong, but were the fried sliced potatoes of old so bad that they needed a flavour to cut the fact that they were a big edgy?  Or one day did someone just discover it's a good combination of flavours?  And no, to folks from outside the UK, that is not catsup, nor is it ketchup.  Tomato sauce in Britain is an animal unto itself.  My brother-in-law, of recent British descent, insists that there is more than vinegar and sugar in it, even real tomatoes.  

Frequent flow of customers fill the 40-seat single store front.  Some choosing take away egg sandwiches. Noticeable cleanliness -- tables wiped clean as soon as they are emptied, ready for the next diner.  As you can see, plenty of newspapers to go around.

Standard illustrated menu, immovable furniture -- parties up to 4 only, I guess, or split in two. But fine for the two of us.  Radio on, a blend of talk and music, hip hop mostly, but pleasantly unobtrusive.  Could be louder, but thankfully not. 

Brockley Road, the "high street" of Brockley, is mostly cafes, restaurants, a laundromat and a couple small shops, and there's a Costcutters for bread and bananas, but not a tourist destination.  Though St Andrew's United Reformed Church, a five minute walk down the road, is a lovely old Presbyterian style church built in 1882, remodeled about 15 years ago creating a new bright cheerful interior. (SE4 2SA)

So, in general a good review for a typical greasy-spoon cafe breakfast.

See you next week!

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