34 Comments
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Felicity Jones's avatar

Trying to recall the point of avocado emergence … and now look at us. Still struggling with rock hard purchases.

Vanilla Black's avatar

Just a few days, that’s all.

Felicity Jones's avatar

The wisdom of Donna should be a series in its own right.

Felicity Jones's avatar

You carrot peelers …

Giovanna Solimando's avatar

I think I remember when people started using the word “hipster.” I was living in the UK at the time. So is Shoreditch still hipster? And is avocado on toast a London thing? It’s very popular here, always thought it was Californian (I must say, I don’t remember eating it in London). Now I’m wondering: did hipsters start here too?

I may need to study the origins of both hipsters and avocado on toast lol

Vanilla Black's avatar

Actually, hipsters started to get a bad reputation. So they backed off into the shadows. And Shoreditch became very commercialised, as you can imagine.

Lisa McLean's avatar

The good water an all, gee I can’t wait to read what happens.

Vanilla Black's avatar

Way too generous.

Shell Plant's avatar

Ah, so much I loved about this post. So, my sister was (well, still is) an East London hipster who lives on a canal boat and loves an avocado on toast. And I have worked as a PR! Never wore big shoulder pads mind.

I miss the days when the biggest scandal in the news was MPs fiddling their expenses.

Vanilla Black's avatar

Oh your sister is hardcore hipster.

A friend of ours lived on a canal boat in London, and they were vegan.

I think you would suit shoulder pads.

Shell Plant's avatar

She was also vegan for years! I reckon she and your friend are probably mates. It does seem like a lovely community.

Vanilla Black's avatar

You’re probably right actually. She owns Club Mexicana.

Annada D. Rathi's avatar

I’m so curious abt your cooked avocado dish. I have thought so many times abt how best to cook an avocado & still derive all the benefits of its creaminess.

Vanilla Black's avatar

We’ve done it a few times. Always best to keep it in large pieces as small pieces go mushy. And it needs that acidity. We tried lemon instead of lime but the lime gave an interesting back flavour.

Annada D. Rathi's avatar

Thank you so much. I will try making a warm avocado salad with your tips.

Mark Diacono's avatar

A poached egg is never not welcome

Vanilla Black's avatar

Gan canny fella, the hipsters are watching.

Paola Bassanese's avatar

Baked avocados with an egg in the middle are very nice (I cooked them in my air fryer), I like the idea of the candied chillies ketchup!

Vanilla Black's avatar

You live on the edge.

Paola Bassanese's avatar

Pushing the boat out and all that

Scott Elliott's avatar

Guacamole toast. Avocados mashed with a little bit of medium hot tomatillo salsa and a little citric acid, on toast or a baked sweet potato. Also good with a little bit of sliced turkey on top.

Vanilla Black's avatar

There we go, hipsterness extended.

Neil Revell's avatar

Avocados really are a pointless food (in my opinion) tried once and never saw their appeal. Tasteless.

Vanilla Black's avatar

Maybe you need to become a hipster.

Francesca's avatar

Hahahaha! Hipsters everywhere 😜

Vanilla Black's avatar

With their fancy cocktails and flat whites.

Francesca's avatar

😅 I do miss London with its funny characters but I don’t think I’d ever move back there. Funny post from you today - well they’re all funny as I think you know, I just sometimes don’t get to read them, it depends what’s going on, I’m forever chasing my tail with social media and particularly Substack

Vanilla Black's avatar

Agreed. A great city to visit but working there is hard. Thank you, much appreciated.

Matt Inwood's avatar

Whilst arguably being closer to hip replacement than hipster, I have long favoured avocado on toast as my breakfast of choice. I usually spike it with a dash of very good balsamic. Minted peas and lemon take it up a notch. And, if I'm with more time than usual, then a poached egg is a very fine way to crown things. I suspect I began this affair around the time of Nadhim Zahawi heating his horses' stables courtesy of the Exchequer. PR companies... I look forward to seeing how you fare... It feels like you have come a long way from Uri Geller.

Vanilla Black's avatar

You’re an adventurous chap Matt. That truly is a fancy breakfast. Yes that’s a good point, Uri seems like a long time ago.

Betty Carlson's avatar

It's funny to think of a time before avocado toast! I've never really understood the appeal, despite liking avocados!

Vanilla Black's avatar

Agreed. Not really fussed.