Diverse delights

Maltby Street between the showers today was full of pleasant surprises (but then, we are by now unsurprised by the existence of pleasant surprises at Maltby Street, if that isn't a sort of Möbius argument). Whether it was the delicious meats on offer at Jacob's ladder, or the return of the fenugreek-studded sheep's cheese from Terschelling at Boerenkaas, every arch brought something new. At Aubert and Mascoli, four very different wines, including a left-field vitovska (white) from right up against the Slovenian border, just inside Italy. At the Ham and Cheese Company, meltingly glorious Jésus du Pays Basque salami, and at the Kernel, a drought-rasping pale ale made with Japanese Sorachi hops. And much more. As ever, vaut le détour.