Cudi is a wonderful place, the mongrel of fruit and veg shops. Like all mongrels, its better than its dopey, thoroughbred pals (pedigree chums?) and we love him all the more for it. Part south asian fruit-and-veg, part mediterranean, part Polish deli, it has:
European and 'exotic' fruit and veg, halal butcher, turkish and greek yoghurts, cheeses and eggs, dried fish, herbs and spices, fresh olives, in-store bakery selling delicious poppy seed bread, freezers with indian snacks and green veg, range of polish jars and tins of pickles etc, sauces, antipasti, pitta bread, booze, rice and grains, sweets, and occasionally fresh carp.
And its cheap. Not quite as cheap as the people flogging stuff out of silver bowls, but there's more choice and better quality. It's open early til late. Also, they've recently renovated the front of their store so it's now less crowded and more presentable, with a better choice of herbs including basil and tarragon, (last time I checked) to compliment the usual mint/coriander/parsley.
UPDATE: Cudi have been in a bit of trouble with the law recently, for selling booze in the early hours. This seems a bit harsh considering there's a load of bars just down the road that do exactly the same thing, but it does give me the opportunity to say that the guy running this place is no cudi-two shoes... read more