Pistachio & Pickle Dairy, Islington cheese shop

"Pistachio & Pickle Dairy is retail therapy for those who browse country cottages on Rightmove. The Islington cheese shop is charming—from the cobbled Camden Passage street it sits on, to the higgeldy-piggeldy steps leading to a well-loved seating area upstairs, to the toasties served on wooden boards that could double as a hobbit’s front door. Downstairs there’s a big fridge full of cheeses, chutneys, and pickled bits that all fall under the category of ‘fancy picky bits for tea’. Fill a bag with Baron Bigod and chilli jam, but don’t leave without a toastie. Oozy, with a satisfying blend of cheeses that tick all the right tangy, stretchy boxes, it’s one of the best in London. If you can, eat yours upstairs. It’s a stripped-back space, but these toasties are best fresh from the grill. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch Food Rundown photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch The Classic Grilled Cheese Toastie What ails you? It doesn’t matter, this toastie is the answer. The bread to cheese ratio is 1:3, there are lots of crispy, almost-burnt-but-not bits, and the finely sliced spring onions are a lovely touch. The cheese is a mix of mature cheddar and Red Leicester. It’s not too fancy or messed around with, and it’s so much better than anything our George Foreman has produced." - Sinéad Cranna

"Islington was once London’s dairy district, counting around 170 dairy retailers in the 19th century that supplied the city with milk and its derivatives. Though little remains of the former glory days, neighbourhood darlings Pistachio and Pickle are flying Islington’s dairy flag today. It started out as an underground supper club, catching the attention of the Evening Standard and eventually setting up shop permanently — in a coffee bar and deli on Liverpool Road and a cheesemonger in Camden Passage. The former serves Monmouth coffee and a pleasing menu of cakes, pastries, salads, soups and sandwiches, of which the grilled cheese is, naturally, the most formidable. the latter stocks 70-odd predominantly British varieties of cheese, with accoutrements including as fresh bread, relishes and crackers, wines, sherries and ports. Grilled cheese sandwiches are served throughout the day, and on weekends the first floor parlour opens to wine and cheese lovers, of which there are plenty in the neighbourhood." - Daria Kyrilova