Carpo, an emporium and cafe offering a simple selection of “nuts, chocolate and coffee” (there’s dried fruit and a few other products as well) has recently opened near Piccadilly Circus. So what? So … fantastically flavoursome pistachios, delectable honey with a hint of thyme, exquisitely juicy candied mandarins, figs covered in chocolate that are worth dropping whatever you’re doing at this very moment to rush over for a taste of and a whole lot more – that’s what.
And now you can buy yummy stuff like that (running the gambit from healthy snacks to cheeky indulgences) in any quantity and at a reasonable price (a snack-sized bag of, say, roasted peanuts would probably set you back a couple of quid).
I paid Carpo a visit last week and was slightly overwhelmed by its vast selection and very much delighted by everything I sampled. Stocks are freshly maintained and much (maybe even all) of the nuts on sale are roasted and seasoned in the shop. If you like buying whole foods in bulk, Carpo’s worth keeping in mind as it is for grabbing a quick treat when you’re on the go and craving something to tide you over between meals.
You can get a decent cup of coffee at Carpo too. For a bit of open flame theatre, ask for a Greek coffee. I reckon it is a smart place to keep in mind for gifts as well with plenty of refreshing alternatives to the overplayed bottle of wine or an inevitably wilting bouquet of cut flowers. I’d love it if somebody showed up at my flat with a bag of those aforementioned chocolate covered figs.
Kostas Kontopoulos: is this man nuts to open Carpo in London?
The shop is the second venture for Greek company Carpo Hellas whose outlet in the Kolonaki area of Athens is apparently a huge success and loved as a retailer offering fine food at affordable prices. Owner and founder Kostas Kontopoulos believes the London Carpo to be “a completely unique concept in the UK” and that shoppers will enjoy the “theatrical shopping space dedicated to top quality product”. I thought Carpo’s down-to-earth approach to selling basic and great tasting snacks was more than commendable and deserving a mention here on my blog.
Carpo is located at 16 Piccadilly, W1J 0DE. Visit the shop online at carpolondon.co.uk.
