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A Midsummer night’s dinner

June 21, 2009 8 Comments Filed Under: Food, Recipes, Uncategorized

Marinating the peppers in parsley and garlic

‘Sun dried tomatoes’ in reality simmered for 24 hours in the Aga. This is about half way through cooking, the ones on the left are more what they ended up like. They were very intense in flavour.

The seed edged triangles

Salad with purple radishes

The Summerhouse

MsDumpling, Lizzie Hollowlegs and Audrey

Parmesan, poppy seed crackers

Mrs Coots sings the blues


As Lizzie came in, I barely greeted her before putting her to work, saying tightly “I’ll be nice again in three hours”. Last night I had the most diners ever, 42! I spent Friday shopping for furniture rather than prepping. Hence my tension on Saturday afternoon.

Bellaphon, dear man, came over Friday night to put together some of the furniture and help me clear the summerhouse at the bottom of the garden. I now have a honeymooners suite. At the moment it’s a table that seats five, but it could be hired for a private date. The summerhouse was built almost entirely from recycled materials, retrieved from skips. It has a bed, a wood burner, electricity, a phone line…
We also got the bonfire going last night, although the fire was so fierce at one point I think people got a little worried. I’m the firestarter, twisted firestarter…
In Les Voges in France, a bonfire for ‘la fete de la Saint-Jean’ (St John’s eve traditionally held on the 24th of June) is called a ‘chavande’.
I was so busy I didn’t have time to write out menus, so each dish was a complete surprise for guests. Encouraged by Angie, MsDumpling, who helped me prep, I did a couple of little post meal talks, one in the living room and one by the summerhouse, describing each of the dishes.
Angie makes a wicked daiquiri, without a doubt one of the best cocktails I have drunk. In fact we stayed late into the night drinking more until I realised I was getting the famous ‘black whirlies’ and keeled over into bed.
Her friend Audrey, as elegant as her namesake Audrey Hepburn, came to do front of house and retained her cool and an unsmudged red lipsticked smile throughout.
I also had one very large group, from Mrs Coot’s ‘meetup’ group, Mrs Coot’s Quirky Outings. Mrs Coot who is in reality singer Anita Kelsey, gave us a couple of bluesy songs last night with piano accompaniment. Next week I think they are going for a picnic in a cemetery.
The Menu

Fresh lime Daiquiris
My marinated olives
Freshly fried padron peppers in olive oil
Marinated red peppers topped by flamed mozzarella
Dolmades stuffed with preserved lemons, cinnamon and caramelised nuts
Sweet potato and feta (cooked by Angie)
Rocket and watercress salad topped by purple radishes
Green olive focaccia
‘Triangles’ of filo pastry stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar and fresh babyleaf spinach, edged with poppy, linseed and hemp seeds.
‘Sun dried’ tomatoes (I’d cooked them all night in the simmering oven of the Aga) topped by hazelnut and almond Picada
Butternut squash with smoked aubergine, yoghurt and pomegranate molasses (an Ottolenghi recipe, told you I was working my way through their book didn’t I?)
Parmesan, Brazil nut butter and poppy seed crackers were served at the end because the Aga had slowed down so much…er well that was the ‘cheese course’ then.
Sour cherry clafoutis were served so late, some guests had to leave, for the same reason.
Was too knackered to serve coffees, little sugared almonds and aniseed biscuits I had bought.
The broad bean dip didn’t get served, none of us really liked it. That recipe (from great tapas restaurant El Parador in Mornington Crescent) needs work.
Now it’s the morning and my whole body hurts. Lovely night, shit loads of work, thanks everybody who helped.

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Comments

  1. Scarlett the Heavenly Healer

    June 21, 2009 at 10:32 am

    Wow! It all looks and sounds delicious. Thrilled that your garden house is in use.

    42 for dinner! You see, you are brilliant, word is spreading about your brilliance, and you can only win, so onwards and upwards!

    X

    Reply
  2. Josordoni

    June 21, 2009 at 10:55 am

    That was a hefty night's work.

    Did you still manage to enjoy the prep and the night, or would you be happier keeping to a lower number, and making it one of those places you have to book 3 months in advance for? LOL

    Reply
  3. Andy Lynes

    June 21, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    Sounds fantastic and really sorry I couldn't be there to help. Wii do hopefully soon.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous

    June 22, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    Miss M – it was an awesome night. Colour me one impressed first-time visitor, and I'll definitely be trying to come back sometime to enjoy your gorgeous little garden shed again. Thank you very, very much.

    Steven

    Reply
  5. Helen

    June 22, 2009 at 12:55 pm

    Well done! to all of you. A new record for the underground restaurant.

    Reply
  6. Anonymous

    June 22, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    Nice menu! I love the idea of the honeymooners suite, fantastic. Maybe I'll have a little private party at one of your Saturday evening sessions!

    That's a shame about the broad bean dip. It's one of my favourites at El Parador.

    Niamh

    Reply
  7. theundergroundrestaurant

    June 22, 2009 at 4:28 pm

    If a couple hired it say, and they wanted to get 'comfortable' on the bed, I suppose we'd have to work out a system…
    Leaving dinner outside the door?

    Reply
  8. James

    June 22, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    What a feast! Looks like the ultimate function room.

    Reply

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MsMarmiteLover aka Kerstin Rodgers.

Chef, photographer, author, journalist, blogger. Pioneer of the supperclub movement.

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My piece in the @hamandhigh about the 3 day @heat My piece in the @hamandhigh about the  3 day @heathostile training course. Incredibly interesting & challenging. Link: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/hostile-environment-training-9037980 to read more #hostileenvironmenttraining
Supper club dishes from Saturday: pickled beetroot Supper club dishes from Saturday: pickled beetroot eggs, cheeseboard, stracciatella & cucumber, tomato/strawberry/peashoot salad with real balsamic & spruce oil, home cured dill gravlax, smoked salmon, homemade sourdough crisp bread, potato salad with wild fennel & lots more! #supperclub #midsummer #eattherainbow (miss you @linnsoederstroem)
Last nights supper club. My first supper club in 2 Last nights supper club. My first supper club in 2 years was great fun. I’m pleased with my food, the guests were lovely, it looked magical in the garden. But the weather! I even had to bring my duvets from the bedroom out. They looked like refugees. But this brought even more laughter! Next event September
My first supperclub in two years will take place t My first supperclub in two years will take place this Saturday 18th June starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £50 byo you can book here: https://msmarmitelover.com/product/midsommar-supper-club there are still a few places left. Pescetarian menu. Scandi and botanical influences. #gettingbackonmyfeet #postpandemic #smallbusinesses #supperclub #london
I recently completed the 3 day @heathostile train I recently completed the 3 day  @heathostile training course. On the last day I was kidnapped by ex-special forces for a few hours & learnt how to deal with compliance training & a hostile environment. It was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. 3 intense days of combat first aid, navigation & how to survive in a war zone. I handled short, long guns, mortars, grenades, bullets, and tourniquet & bandaged an amputee. I learnt where to sit in a car, where to hide from a bullet, where to protect myself if in a car. It was brilliant. Highly recommended for any journalists, photographers, cameramen, charity workers, paramedics going into any difficult environment say a disaster or war. The stories from the tutors & the other participants were so interesting. My piece on it out soon. Book a course: https://hostile-environment.co.uk/  They also do jungle & desert training. I’d love to join the Antarctic expedition. Anyway that’s me hooded in the front. #adventures #het #hostileenvironmenttraining #experiences #travel
Bundoran beach, Donegal. I spent a week knocking o Bundoran beach, Donegal. I spent a week knocking on doors, going to libraries, searching through graveyards for my Irish forebears. It’s really hard to find information prior to 1850. I found this in last years trip to Arbroath in Scotland. Headstones wear out, records are lost or burnt in a fire, everybody has the same name and are known by nicknames, successive children have the same first name, that usually means they died and the next one is called by the same thing. Women did have children out of wedlock, and people remarried more often than you’d think, plus families fall out & never see each other again. I learnt that my Irish great grandfather michael went to Glasgow & met a woman who came from a similar place: somewhere wild & beautiful by the sea. Then they and their children came to london. Chasing the work & the money always. Politics and economics matter for they push people around from rural to city. And now we rodgers are Londoners. #ireland #scotland #family #travel #roots
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I’ve taken down the previous post as it’s poor I’ve taken down the previous post as it’s poor timing considering what’s happened over the last 24 hours. Being British I’ve not grown up around guns. It’s interesting to be on this course and find out more about the reality of them, although my focus is learning the ‘golden triangle’ of first aid, communications and navigation. But at the same time It’s depressing how in America nothing will ever change regarding gun law. RIP.
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in June I’m having my first supper club in two y in June I’m having my first supper club in two years: here is the link to book: https://msmarmitelover.com/product/midsommar-supper-club £50 18th June  Saturday night. Byo.
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Lemon drizzle cake. The trick is not to stint on t Lemon drizzle cake. The trick is not to stint on the citrus. I used 7: 2 Italian lemons (from Lidl):some ordinary lemons and some limes (18p) at Lidl. Don’t be afraid to mix and match your citrus. I also used buttermilk from @fenfarmdairy in Suffolk from their honesty shop. Last night we ate it still warm from the oven. #cake #lemondrizzle #homebaking #citrus #buttermilk
A Simple tomato, goats cheese and basil salad, spa A Simple tomato, goats cheese and basil salad, spanking fresh asparagus / fried in olive oil, season, then add a little boiling water, not too much, put on the lid, dressed with lemon zest & Parmesan, @fenfarmdairy baron bigod cheese, good bread. This is how I like to eat. Claire’s plates found at the beccles brocante. #suffolk #suffolkfood #supper #dinnerwithfriends  #vintageplates
Can’t wait to see what they will be like when th Can’t wait to see what they will be like when they are fired. All my favourite themes: gingham and scallops. Thanks to @clairebelljar for a wonderful weekend and pottery workshop. Such fun! #workingwithyourhands #playtime #creativity #ceramics #pottery #suffolk
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Easter Sunday. Daffodil skeletons. Easter Sunday. Daffodil skeletons.
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