Imma make a scandalous comment: Vive la gentrification. Having lived in Whitechapel and Stepney Green for going on four years now, I am ever entertained by the small business that keep trying to catch the custom of the hip set now firmly entrenched in the 'hood.
Okay, so Whitechapel market is glorious because of the brisk trade it does in produce and pajamas at rock-bottom prices, and of course, Whitechapel should not become Broadway Market... or should it? I'm open-minded.
But I have made up my mind that sleek mobile coffee stand The Urban Cafe should stay. I'm a bigger fan of coffee shops for their pastries than for their drinks, so I had to nab a particularly delectable-looking and sizable chunk of honey cake. It was huge! It was yummy! It was only £1.50! I like the Shoreditch gloss at Whitechapel prices--we'll see how long this lasts, though.
I spoke to Olivier, the man behind the stand, very briefly, and he seemed like a nice guy. Looking at his website, seems like he's ambitious, too--there's an online shop, and infrastructure to bring their mobile coffee bar wherever you need it. And they're eco-conscious! And charitable! Oh, bless them.
Welcome to Whitechapel, Olivier and The Urban Cafe! read more