On the afternoon I visit, Gallo Nero, buzzes, filled with of the sound of the Italian and the personalities of Maria and Michele. They have been a sparky double act since Maria started working there some eleven years ago. I have been particularly fond of it since returning from a trip to Puglia for an Italian Wedding. I like many, come in in search of something that will transport me back. The life of the shop continues around us as we talk. Customers come in, some Italians, some descendants of Italians, like the Australian couple who have just moved to Stoke Newington, pleased to find a place that reminds them of somewhere similar back home. People have a chat, ask questions about the food, and Maria and Michelle flit between languages as they serve them and talk to each other. Bubbly and vivacious, she is from Sicily, first settling in Angel, then moving to Tottenham after marrying an English Man. Now she lives in Stoke Newington. Michele was born here, across the road actually, he has he tells me been a ‘Stokey Boy’, all his life. Both their parents came over in the early 50s, after the war, ‘for work ’, you needed a sponsor, who organised the work for you, somewhere to stay, you came over on a green card and every four weeks you presented yourself to the local; ‘Immigration has always been here’ reflects Michele. Their generation of migrants have worked hard all their lives. When Maria first came here it was a tough life, one of early morning starts with overtime, she worked Sundays, all the bank holidays and Christmas just to survive. Michele’s parents, like many started a business bringing something from their homelands to London; In it’s first incarnation this business was a café, founded by Michele’s parents, his ‘Mum and Dad’ she says. In 1974 it evolved into a restaurant and in 1988 it became the deli as is now. Around us is food, which has come from all parts of Italy and Sicily – from the north, and the middle, down south; Prosciutto Salami, Mozzarella from Bologna, Emilia-Romagna; Cheeses, from Sardinia, Tuscany, Capogna. From Sicily they have olive oil which is ‘nice and peppery , strong’ because of the southern sun. This is typical of olive oil from the South, Puglia and Sicily is beautiful she tells me, ‘where the sun is’ he adds…and I wonder what it is like to leave home, leave an entire culture behind. Later, Maria introduces me to some of her of her favourite things, among them Sugo Dolce Di Pomodoro, a sauce made of cherry tomatoes, perfect for time pressed hard youngsters, along with some pasta, it's the healthiest fast food on the planet, he adds. She assures me that if I try this Sugo, I will fall in love. It is of course from Sicily…I could stay here all afternoon…

Good Afternoon From Hackney, As you know, on June 10th we are planning to create a theatre, wood pallet by wood pallet, in a disused part of Millfields Park. We've now launched some new initiatives to get people involved, which we hope you'll love. We are offering little Thank Yous as rewards for pledges: £5 gets you your very own pallet with your name etched on it. £10 gets you 'in the picture' - we'll include you in our theatre art work...if you look closely you'll be somewhere in the crowd...we'll send you a medium ( a4 sized) copy of our limited edition prints. £20 gets you the double whammy - etched pallet and a large (a3 sized print) Whatever you do, you'll be a hero to us and become a little part of Hackney History. Please...Share. Spread the word. Pass it on...thank you so very much!!! Sarah @ Appropri8

Remy is emphatically European, he ‘belongs to Europe’ and exudes an enthusiasm for London and Hackney that is infectious. His father a French Algerian moved to France in the fifties, prior to the country gaining it’s independence. There he met Remy’s French mother. From the age of thirty, Remy has travelled the world as part of his work, settling in Hackney in the mid noughties and, ten years ago, he set up L' Epicerie 56 to sell high quality food on Chatsworth Road. Entering the shop one is met by a rich array of produce, much of it is organic and fair trade, and of course it feels very European; shelves are stacked with wine, hand made cakes and chocolate fill the counter, cheese, sits behind and along with bread from a London based, French baker brings a subtle aroma of France to the shop. What does he love about Europe? It’s values, democracy, the sense of openness, the acts of leaders like Angela Merkel who welcomed migrants to Germany at a time of crisis. Yes, he is ‘proud to be European’ and feels that London is a city that suits him better than anywhere he has lived. He loves it’s diversity; the fact that you can sit in a pub and speak to people from Poland, Turkey, Australia…anywhere, and that his neighbours, though English, have Irish roots. It is ‘pleasant and challenging’ to learn to understand people from other places. And France, at the moment ? He is upset that thirty percent of France voted for Le Penn but is relieved that the tide of populism has, for now, been kept at bay. And so back to Hackney, living here since the mid 2000s means that he has seen the area gentrify, he is philosophical about this, it is sad to see old neighbours and patrons of his shop move away, something of the area’s texture is lost, like the guy who was ‘part of the folklore’ of his street, who used to fix old cars outside his house, he retired to Jamaica, taking the opportunity to sell his home, he is lost to the area; it is particularly sad if people are forced to move. Then there are long standing businesses such as coffee shop Copper and Wolf, squeezed out by rising rents, but Remy is also happy to welcome new neighbours, who come and make new lives, businesses and creating jobs here. So, ultimately, he is optimistic about the future here in this vibrant part of East London...next up Michele and Maria.

Adam Bernstein has a love of food and London's history which are palpable within minutes of striking up a conversation with him. He has always loved to cook and his passion for traditional Jewish and London foods lead to the creation of Bernsteins Bar. We talked about Old Jewish London and the rag trade, the link between food and culture, the richness that waves of immigration have brought to London life, the pros and cons of gentrification and the tragedy of Brexit...On Monday I will be interviewing Adam's business partner Ben about the Antipodean side to the business...one of my favourite things in the world...Coffee!

This week I photographed the proprietor of a of one of the oldest surviving shoe repair shops this part of North-East London, which also happens to sit in one of the city's oldest terraces. The interview was part of a series I am carrying out for Hackney Stories, to be part of The Cine -Theatre project. Hackney Stories tells the modern history of Hackney through the memories of those who have migrated here, whether from near or far. Ahmed's story could be from the present day, he arrived aged 10, accompanied by his parents and siblings, fleeing war and hoping to start a new life. His father soon set up the business he now runs and like many others they became part of the rich texture of our city. He has run this shop for 35 years, taking over from his father in the late 70s. Trained by his father a shoemaker, he has a passion for giving new life to shoes and is possibly one of the most experienced shoe repair men you will find in this part of town and his shop sits in own of the city's oldest terraces.