Moen's: Quality Comestibles

M. Moen & Sons is, as you will see from our sidebar, a food shop we love. They describe themselves as butchers, and indeed they are, but to call Moen's merely a butcher's shop is a little like calling Fauchon a sweet shop. Sure, Moen's does meat: it does organic and free range meat of absolutely stunning quality and variety; from game birds and beasts to top-quality beef, from superb home-made sausages to patés and home-cured deli specialities. But it also sells fruit and veg, fresh bread, smoked salmon, olive (and other) oils, various vinegars, pesto, sauces, pickles... to enter Moen's small but beautifully laid out space is to be instantly surrounded by a colourful and enticing cornucopia of culinary delights.

There is an eclectic cheese counter filled with British and continental varieties. There are luscious olives of many types, some of which have marinades so delicious it's tempting to finish them off with a spoon after the olives are gone (a temptation I rarely manage to resist).

In spite of all the vegetarian diversions, Moen's is still primarily about meat. It's a carnivore's paradise. I haven't found a better place in London for a truly top-notch steak or a juicy, flavourful sausage. But I must just mention the egg custard tarts. Egg custard tart is a traditional British dish made primarily with eggs, butter, sugar, cream and flour, and usually topped with a sprinkle of nutmeg. It's delicious. My mother's version is wonderful, but it can't compare with the moen... I mean moan-inducing, melt-in-the-mouth ecstasy that is the Moen's individual egg custard tart. I don't know what they do to make them so special. They're a little sweeter than a typical example but that alone cannot fully explain their almost crack-like addictive qualities. When I was recently in London I bought four of the little beauties, intending to have not more than one per day. Riiight. After two days I had to go back to stock up. Ann knew I'd be indulging in such sinful custardy ways and (this is true) set her Facebook status to,  "Ann is unhappy that Jack will be having Moen's custard tarts and she will not", for the entire duration of my stay. Moen's produce does this to you. It ruins you forever. In the best possible way.

Comments

[Sophie]

they look so good! you'll have to take me there the next time we go to london...

[Lisa]

Jack,
Nice you're back..your posts have been very fun.....arm chair traveling for me.....

[Jack]

Hi Lisa - I hear Ann showed you Moen's when you were in Clapham. You should have tried those tarts...