Dandelion Health Foods

as each day customers can be seen pouring in and out of this health shop. It only takes one visit to this store to be converted into a life-long customer, as each visitor is treated with care and consideration by the owner Hillel, his right-hand-lady Kate and their team of trusted helpers. What I really like about this shop is that every time I go in there, people are smiling and chatting, just like I remember in the village store when I was small. Dandelion is an organic food emporium and is the only organic food shop to remain on Northcote Road. This May, Hillel and his team celebrated 20 years in business and many know this place as a true corner stone of this special South West London street.

Exiled from South Africa in 1977, Hillel began his life-long study of nutrician and foods in the UK and later embarked on a degree from the University of Westminster to study the subject in depth. Hillel says his customers receive free nutrician advice without the obligation to buy, which results in him seeing many people per day as is needed. Whilst we talked, a local lady walked past with her dogs and Hillel told me he had recommended the greyhound take some green lipped mussel oil to ease his old joints; keeping up with his lurcher companion on the walk was testimony enough that it had worked. Everyone is made to feel welcome at Dandelion foods and whilst I am there I see a mix of young mothers and their children, fellow traders and of course all the locals mingling together in the shop, most of whom greet Hillel by name. This long list includes the presenter Fiona Philips (GM TV,) who's children call Hillel "Gandalf" (Lord of the Rings) as they know him as the tall man who produces the magic potions which make them feel better.

I have begun to understand Hillel's mantra: "food is medicine and medicine is food". The groceries section of the store is complimented by a huge range of supplements and Hillel greets another customer who tells him her young daughter is suffering breathing difficulties.. I watch as the mother's tense expression eases, as she listens to Hillel's carefully delivered advice on which remedy and the dosage to neutralise the problem. Here is an independent business owner, fully involved with his subject and dedicated to providing healthy organic produce and supplementsto his customers - truly deserving of the description many give of him: a pillar of the community.

The delicious, freshly made daily, vegetarian take-away is enough to get you hooked on Dandelion foods and all food lovers will be interested to know that Hillel and his team are hoping to organise organic food stalls alongside his store. This "organic food corner" aims to preserve the "foodie" presence on the road and Hillel expresses his dismay at the dwindling collection of food based shops embodying individual character. It seems here there are more people concerned about the fast-changing character of Northcote Road and Hillel warns of the impending holocaust-style exit of the small, characterful and quirky shops from across London due to greedy rents. If we don't want to lose these special businesses, we must support them; at Dandelion foods there are plenty of good reasons why this is an easy choice.

Visit the Dandelion Health Foods microsite on northcoterd.co.uk