Wiping Down: East Street Deli

It’s difficult not to linger when dropping off at East Street Deli, whether it’s catching to Simon and Claire, or grabbing supplies for later, it’s one of those places that’s difficult to leave. We caught up with Simon recently to find out a bit more about East Street Deli’s origins, and to find out what cheese he’s bringing to dinner…

So, a deli. You’ve been supplying Wimborne with awesome cheeses and fine foods for a while now. How did that come about? What made you start a deli, and why Wimborne?
I’ve spent my whole working life in retail and had always wanted to run my own business. The opportunity in Wimborne arose when The Hungry Bird closed and despite it being at the start of the Covid lockdown in 2020 my wife Claire and I decided it was time to put our experience to good use and go for it. Wimborne has always been a special place for us. It’s where we got married 10 years ago and the close knit community is the ideal location for the type of store we wanted to create. Our ethos has always been very simple, we just want a store that we’d be drawn to shopping in ourselves. Something that looks inviting, is packed with great food and drink that has a story behind it.  

You’ve been invited to a party, but you have to bring the cheeseboard. Which three cheeses are you bringing?
This is such a tough question and one that we’re often asked but our answer changes every time! For the cheeses I’d go for a blue, a soft and a hard. Cornish Kern is certainly an all time favourite. Similar to an aged cheddar but with an almost Comte-esque vibe, it’s delish! To compliment that I’d be reaching for an Isle of Wight blue, soft, gooey and strong, if you like blue cheeses then this one is for you. For the soft cheese I think it’d be Delice de Bourgogne, a triple cream French brie with a hint of crème fraiche that gives it a little tang, it’s an absolute winner for any dinner party. The accompaniments should be just as much the stars of the show as the cheese so I’d be taking Perello Gordal olives, some Membrillo quince paste and some Dorset comb honey to drizzle over the cheese.

Last three songs on your Spotify?
Emmylou by First Aid Kit, Beyond by Leon Bridges and Luke Combs, Positively 4th Street by Bob Dylan……not as cheesy as it should be for a deli!

What’s great about food and produce in our area?
I think we’re a very underrated county for food and personally believe we’re blessed with producers in Dorset and the surrounding area. Our shelves are full of great products but the heroes are the locally produced ones. One of the best things about owning a shop like this is meeting the people behind the products. We try to get out and see as many as we can and learn about the stories that fill our shelves. From the Book and Bucket Cheese Company in Cranborne, to The Real Cure Charcuterie at Compton Abbas, or from Langham Wine to Chococo chocolates near Wareham, we’re very lucky to have so many passionately run producers on our doorstep. We never stop looking for great new products to fill our store and go into our foodie gift hampers.  

It goes without saying you probably start your morning with a coffee, but what’s your go-to snacks and side pieces for that morning brew? You must have some cool bits in the shop to slip alongside, right?
Of course, there’s never a day that goes by without a cup of Bad Hand being made but after that it’s a case of checking the cheese is still in tip-top condition (all in the name of quality control!) so a few slices of fromage are tried and tested. After that we’re looking for a morning treat, which is often a Stroopwafel brownie or a Hoxton Bakehouse Choc Chip Cookie.

Lastly, when you’re out and about, where are your favourite places to go when you’re off work?
It goes without saying that we need a great coffee so anywhere that uses Bad Hand is a must for us! After that we love getting out and about and finding new places to eat and drink. Some of our current favourites are Rye Bakery in Frome, The Yard near Winchester and Soulshine in Bridport.