Village Raw - ISSUE 1

VILLAGE RAW
WELLBEING
WALK AND TALK
(AND EAT )
London is such a sprawling
metropolis that it’s easy to get
distracted. But when was the
last time you took a step back
from the never-ending chase
and took a moment to breathe?
Words by Aimee Charalambous.
Photos by David Reeve.
The Walk and Talk Club offers a way for people to get mobile,
make new friends and, most importantly, take a much-needed
break from the rat race.
Walk and Talk Club is about health and meditation. Research
has demonstrated the overall benefits walking has on our
health: not only can it help you shed those extra pounds, but
it can reduce the risk of heart disease and other health conditions,
keep your mind sharp, and promote a good night’s sleep.
The meditative aspect comes from the walks, which are undertaken
in silence, with the social side happening afterwards.
I joined the club on one of their healthy living events: a Sunday
walk to the farmer’s market to buy fresh produce, followed
by a Tuesday walk to a restaurant where the produce was prepared
for lunch. A small group had already formed by the time I
arrived for the walk, and they were quick to make me feel welcome,
as well as tell me why the club was so popular. Flora, one
of the club’s founders, spelled it out: “People spend their whole
lives living in an area, but never take the time to discover all it
really has to offer. Spend a few hours with us and we’ll show you
a different side to the place you call home.”
Initially, as a renowned chatterbox, I struggled with the
‘no talking’ rule but after a few minutes (and a few whispered
questions) it was easy to see why the silence is enforced. It
gives you a new perspective, both on what’s going on around
you and also what’s going on in your head. This isn’t a voyage of
self-discovery though - these guys walk fast, and if you spend
too much time musing you’ll find yourself playing catch up with
an 80-year-old in hiking boots (and from experience that’s not
as easy as you’d think).
After the 30-minute walk we stopped to refresh at the Grove
Café, where we were permitted to break the silence. Booming
out of the open doors came the first few bars of We No Speak
Americano quickly followed by Ciro (the café’s thoroughly Italian
owner), who was carrying an inflatable guitar and giving out funny
hats and novelty sunglasses. His personality was infectious
and within seconds everyone was clapping, singing and laughing
so hard it hurt. This is the kind of ridiculousness that most
adults rarely indulge in - a joy for the soul.
Brimming with positive energy, we set off for the last part
of the walk to Alexandra Palace Farmers’ Market where the final
activity of the day (apart from pondering how to get our hips
to move like Ciro’s) was to hunt down some fresh seasonable
produce. After hearing from some of the traders about their approach
to bio-dynamic farming (where the ecological, spiritual,
social and ethical combine), we left laden with a cornucopia
of seasonal veg, plus some locally produced eggs and goat’s
cheese thrown in for good measure.
It was on a slightly damp Tuesday that we found ourselves
arriving at Chriskitch - the perfect spot for sharing food, coffee
and stories. The chef, Chris Honor, arrived with a selection
of platters, overflowing with our farmers’ market finds, transformed
from a collection of muddy roots into a healthy feast.
Chris’s creations were fresh and packed full of flavour, drawing
on influences from around the world. Mushrooms grilled and
dressed with chilli and lime. Squash, dripping with tahini, sumac
and honey blossom. Celeriac, roasted with capers, topped with
gloriously oozy poached eggs and hard goat’s cheese. And the
show stopper? A towering plate of raw beetroot salad. Sliced thinly,
then prepared as a quick pickle, the crunchy bites of beet were
complemented by crisp green apples, dill and pomegranate.
Accompanied by new friends and interesting conversation
(did you know honey goes through the stomachs of three bees
before it reaches us?), Walk and Talk Club well and truly proved
to me that being healthy shouldn’t be a chore, no matter what
age you are. Bringing mind and body together to create a sense
of wellbeing and belonging is not just enjoyable, but once you
get going it is pretty easy - particularly when you’re part of the
Walk and Talk community.•
Find out more at: www.walkandtalkclub.com
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