It is a misty day, exactly how it is a common day in London. After a few curious and ephemeral comments about gentrification in progress in the big cities with some friends, we decide to investigate what is happening in Elephant and Castle area.

We have heard about Mercato Metropolitano – in London – following the success in Milan and Turin – and we have got inquisitive regarding the relation between gentrification and quality food. Let’s go to see.

Fantastic, after the London grey morning – we are in the middle of colours, smells, atmospheres, flavours and chatting typical of an Italian Market.

There are specialities and delis from different Italian regions, from North to South, showing all details, origin, and certifications which only Italian experts are able to really understand and appreciate.

We accidentally bump into a lovely English couple which is having Italian pizza for lunch and the wine they have chosen to match with it is actually, with our great surprise, from a well-known winery of our small but unique region, Molise.

Obviously we could not help ourselves but start talking with them asking the reasons of the choice. Bravi !

We saw and tasted, observed and appreciated specialities from almost every Italian region (Umbria, Molise, Piemonte, Basilizata, Lazio, Campania…), plus those ones from several countries of the world and eventually… we ordered a Pizza !

Walk around, talk, taste, look, meet, chat, discuss, but Pizza makes us join the group and we ended the day with a Margerita  and craft beer talking about “gentrification” with our new friends.