• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Snapchat
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MsMarmiteLover

  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan
  • Travel
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • UK
  • Wine
  • Gardens
  • Supperclubs/Events
  • About
    • Published Articles
    • Books
  • Shop
    • Cart

Pictures and notes from The Underground Night Market

May 9, 2011 11 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

Arabian nights… sultry weather, burning wood, lanterns, swirling music and good food.

Talk about a success! Tuesday I’d sold about 70 tickets. Will anyone come? I thought. The pressure weighed heavily on me: 35 stallholders and few ticket sales. I checked my iphone weather app: rain Friday evening. Oh bugger.
Fast forward to 6pm Friday evening: the sun shone and the first of 600 subsequent people came to the door. Most stallholders had arrived at around 4pm and a small team of helpers were telling them where they could park. There were the usual minor stall holder territorial skirmishes… (I’m still recovering from joss stick wars between two rival ‘healers’ in the shed last time).  Stall holders have this urge to bring everything they’ve ever made and put it on display. A ‘one table pitch’ inevitably ends up as three tables, baskets, wooden crates, gas rings, deep fryers. Sometimes the tables aren’t terribly sturdy; more than one smashed bottle occurred in the lead up to opening time as displays wobbled.
Of course I reverted to my usual role of bad cop. “Move that!” “That’s dangerous!” “Oi, where do you think you are going?” “NO, NOT THERE!” “Why is my telly now on the other side of the room where the soap stall should have gone?” “You are blocking the stairway. Hundreds of people need to access the garden and you have put your stall at the exit point” “Where is that fucking beer?” “Please DON’T use my best glasses” “Where are my car keys/credit cards/knickers/hair brush?”
If you want to be popular don’t arrange a big event. I spent most of Friday night snarling at people. But… it was a brilliant success. Rammed and jam-packed. Speaking of jams: I had my Mauvaise Maman boozy jams and salsas for sale. There were food discoveries in every corner: raves for Korean kimchi sliders, Mauritian street food, Jon the poacher‘s nettle soup on the bonfire, Anna Mae‘s smokehouse pulled pork, Squis!to‘s home made sausages, La Cremerie and The Deli Station‘s cheeses. Being a Friday night, hot food did best, as did alcohol. Every market is different. I succeeded in my objective of bringing good food to a different audience… Visitors were younger than usual, the after work crowd.
The Dragon’s Den panel consisted of a range of people who work in food from retailers to journalists: Sheila Dillon of Radio 4’s The Food Programme; Tim Hayward, editor of Fire & Knives and up for ‘best journalist of the year’ award, Joanna Anastasiou-Milne of The Deli Station and Mary of Mount St.Deli. I got told off by Joanna for not introducing her and Mary properly whilst ‘MCing’ the Dragon’s Den. So here goes: Joanna is currently sitting on £100,000 worth of stock from Slow Food Producers in Italy, France and the UK. This is quite stressful as much of this stock has a limited shelf life. People like Joanna and her partner Ben are the unsung middle men of the food chain. People sympathise with farmers and producers. They enjoy the shops, restaurants and deli’s the produce is sold in. But no one talks about fine food distributors such as The Deli Station who source and discover product, invest money, yes hard bleedin’ cash, by buying it, storing it (properly) by renting a warehouse (expensive), deliver it and sell it. They are the risk-laden un-media friendly missing link between the picturesque farmer in his/her field and what’s on your plate.
I’ve spent time at their warehouse in Enfield, tasted their fantastic cheeses, flavoured oils, truffle honey, exquisite biscuits. They often hold wine tastings. Check ’em out. At the Christmas market Dragon’s Den they took on Hiromi Stone‘s product, ‘Kinomi’ Japanese flavoured nuts and are launching it soon to Harvey Nichols, Harrods, the Caprice group, Frosts and others. 

Treflach Farm gave a passionate speech beginning with how he gave up his former job and  took over his dad’s farm when he became ill. He also gifted me with a stack load of duck eggs. What shall I do with them? Suggestions below please…

 Aprons from Milla and Arti, the panel were very impressed with their innovative design and quality.

Denise, a finalist in Britain’s Best Dish on TV, and a Welsh supper club hostess, demonstrating her classic British trifle. 

Laurence of French Made presenting her macarons to the panel.

Jaz and Juls presented their quality hot chocolate mixes to the panel, but made the classic mistake of no samples, thereby reducing their impact. Talk to the stomach not the brain! The panel advised that they got in touch with baristas and took their product to high end coffee shops.
 There were also some beautiful craft stalls such as Galavant’s jewellery, I forgot to buy a little blue and white tea cup necklace.

La Cremerie presenting her cheeses to Sheila Dillon and Tim Hayward. 

People were partying in the bedroom.

 Squis!to artisanal deli and supper club from Warwickshire, presenting his sausages. You can club together with your mates and buy a pig to eat.

D. J in the bedroom, me old china’s hubbie!
There was a bar in the bathtub, cocktails on the ironing board, fantastic music from Shekoyokh despite the kids next door throwing a rock at them (I called the police and two gorgeous policemen turned up, leaving all the female stall holders fawning) and accordionist Tom Baker. Probably the most popular yet, the market with the best atmosphere. I need a bigger venue!
I didn’t get many pictures, too busy but please add a link to your blog post if you’ve blogged about The Underground Night Market. Here is a link to the forum I’ve set up, in which people can discuss this event.
More blog posts and photos:
  • Me Old China
  • What Katie Does
  • Hiromi Stone
  • Double Helpings
  • Pasta Bites
  • The Hungry Sparrow
  • Lex Eat!
  • Roadstar Photos’ flickr

Recent posts

midsummer supper club June 17th 2023 Msmarmitelover

My next supper club: midsummer June 17th

May 28, 2023

I organised a street party for the Coronation

May 10, 2023

The Seafood Shack in Ullapool, Scotland.

May 4, 2023

Previous Post: « The Underground Night Market: a food rave
Next Post: Oop North »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rachel at CatalanCooking

    May 9, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    Looks like it was an amazing event. But then that's just par for the course. . .

    Reply
  2. federilli

    May 9, 2011 at 5:48 pm

    Great to be part of it! My blog post here

    http://federilli.blogspot.com/2011/05/underground-night-market-food-and-more.html

    and Rob's Photo set here

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/14603170@N00/sets/72157626667112264/with/5696499206/

    Reply
  3. Blue Shed Thinking

    May 9, 2011 at 6:03 pm

    Re: duck eggs – I've heard they make great cakes.

    Reply
  4. Helen

    May 10, 2011 at 8:05 am

    I went with my 14 year old daughter and we had a great time. We particularly liked the chocolate milk and mauritius deep fried chickpea bread. We also (unexpectedly!) enjoyed the accordionist. Got some good bacon mentioned in my post http://ilovemyvegbag.blogspot.com/2011/05/spinach-and-bacon-salad.html

    Reply
  5. Monique Vanni

    May 10, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Oh, even more bummed I missed it now! Next time….

    Reply
  6. fudgeit

    May 10, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    600! does it ever get you into trouble with the neighbours (i'm assuming not with the police)?

    Reply
  7. Leigh

    May 10, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    what a GREAT idea! Just happened upon your blog and love it.

    Reply
  8. Tamarin

    May 10, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    The duck eggs? Take a look at this: http://oggi-icandothat.blogspot.com/2008/06/best-salted-duck-eggs.html. Duck egg curry too. Or baked eggs. Used to have indian housemate – boiled the eggs in the kettle. Which occasionally resulted in interesting cups of tea.

    Didn't realise Squisito are so close – everyone turns up at your place eventually!

    Reply
  9. The Curious Cat

    May 15, 2011 at 9:43 am

    I'm not at home for the month and I have forgotten my camera cable but when I get home in June I will be blogging about the day and will pop up a link! It was a smashing event! We bought some delicious things! AGAIN! AGAIN!!! xxx

    Reply
  10. Ben

    May 29, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    was brilliant, when's the next one?!

    Reply
  11. Ben

    May 29, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    was brilliant – are you doing another one?!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

MsMarmiteLover aka Kerstin Rodgers.

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

This is my food and travel blog, with recipes, reviews and travel stories. I also stray into politics, feminism, gardening.

Subscribe to my mailing list

msmarmitelover

Kerstin Rodgers/MsMarmiteLover
Tina sweating through a gig at Brixton academy cir Tina sweating through a gig at Brixton academy circa 1987 pic: kerstin Rodgers #rip #tinaturner #rockphotographer #kerstinrodgers #teenagephotographer
Attended an incredible talk with @frenchpete_1 on Attended an incredible talk with @frenchpete_1 on war photography in the Ukraine . Go to the exhibition @thebppa @thebargehouse in SE1 last few days 
Had to stop filming cos I was told off. The photographers would be less forthcoming if they were filmed I was told. 
Anyway @frenchpete_1 should be followed by a camera crew cos he’s a star.
For yesterdays lunch I made a blue cheese puff pas For yesterdays lunch I made a blue cheese puff pastry quiche and a little one with less blue cheese & no salt for my 7 month old granddaughter. She absolutely loved it. I’m enjoying seeing her experience and explore new foods with baby led weaning. Avocado, strawberries, kiwi & buttered crumpets are a hit. Pasta less so. Who is this child? Are we even related? #babyledweaning #quiche #homemadepuffpastry
Nice to be featured as The Great Read in The natio Nice to be featured as The Great Read in The national newspaper again. These are the stories I love to do: I go off on an adventure, take my time, interview people (especially women), photograph them in their environment and create recipes on site. This story cost me a lot more than I made as I had an accident and lost my excess. My own damn fault though! Loved loved loved having a campervan. Thanks for lending me it @camperdays.international and sorry about the hole in the side.  https://www.thenational.scot/news/23505593.foraging-seaweed-western-isles/
My terrace on a sunny May morning. The builders @l My terrace on a sunny May morning. The builders @lk.general.building left yesterday. They’ve been working since January. I had the awning installed, the encaustic Minton tiles removed and put back with green grout. The terrace was causing damp so this had to be done. My calamondin plant is looking lovely. The benches which I repaired with hard wood & I repainted using a mix of 2 colours. The marble table I bought in Suffolk at a car boot. Everything is still dusty & I’m waiting for the window cleaner to arrive.
Last but very heartfelt thankyou to @cideriswine f Last but very heartfelt thankyou to @cideriswine for their contribution of these beautiful dry ciders for the coronation street lunch. Gorgeously illustrated labels. #stcuthbertsrd #kilburn #london #cider #artisanaldrinks
When it comes to vodka I much prefer potato vodka. When it comes to vodka I much prefer potato vodka. It’s smoother. Artisanal distillery @devoncovevodka contributed some bottles to my coronation lunch which gave everyone a feeling of being at a classy party. Thanks so much. And also @rawfoodanddrink for arranging. If you want to read my blog post about how and why I organised this event, copy and paste this link: https://t.co/GWNNW2XKba #coronationstreetparty #biglunch #community #kilburn #london #forthepeoplebythepeople
I’ve been a fan of @luscombedrinks for years now I’ve been a fan of @luscombedrinks for years now. They sent a selection: elderflower bubbly, st. Clements orange 🍊 Sicilian lemonade, @belvoirfarm_uk lemonade, which were all delicious and just the tickets for the fortuitous mini-heatwave that occurred on the Sunday coronation lunch. #thankyou #community #coronation #streetparty #biglunch
Our street party. Double page spread in The Sun! T Our street party. Double page spread in The Sun! Tiny bit in the guardian. Decent pic in the Mail and The Star credit @asproider #coronationlunch #kilburn #stcuthbertsrd #kingscroftrd #fordwychrd #templarhouse
My coronation quiche with Broad beans, tarragon, s My coronation quiche with Broad beans, tarragon, spinach, cheddar. I used crème fraiche and blind baked puff pastry shells. I was up at 11 last night making these for todays street party, which featured in the mail, telegraph, mirror, metro courtesy of photographer Gavin Rodgers @asproider
Seaweed foraging at Spring tides in the Outer Hebr Seaweed foraging at Spring tides in the Outer Hebrides with @outerhebrideanforager Fi bird. She’s cutting sea spaghetti. I drove my campervan @camperdays.international from london to the Hebrides- using my gas stove to cook foraged and local ingredients. A real food safari. With the sea spaghetti I made a sea spag vongole with giant parlourdes picked up from the sand at the same time. Great fun, beautiful weather and, the day of the full moon, a wonderfully low tide. This was on south Uist.
More flavours, the flavour thesaurus is a plant-ba More flavours, the flavour thesaurus is a plant-based version of the original. Beautifully constructed, designed and written by @nikisegnit it’s vegetarian rather than vegan but recommended for both. She widens the sensory vocabulary around plant flavours in this book- encouraging new delicious sounding combinations. Now she includes new categories such as flower & meadow, caramel roasted, zesty roost- just the words make me salivate. #foodbooks #bookstagram #newbooks
Yesterday I attended @marmaladeawards @dalemainman Yesterday I attended @marmaladeawards @dalemainmansion I found out so much about marmalade. I’m going to make it this winter. I found out the worlds best maker is Japanese, in fact I was most impressed by the Japanese marmalades in general. Everyone wore orange. I must have tasted 50 marmalades. I met Paddington’s sister, karen jankel who is michael bond’s daughter, born in the same year as Paddington. She gave a charming talk on Paddington, mentioning how the queen insisted on having real marmalade sandwiches in her @launerlondonofficial handbag during the shoot. The house itself is Tudor and Georgian. I stayed in my campervan from @camperdays.international in the car park, cosy in the rain. Another freewheeling adventure. #yorkshire #marmalade #travel #food #ontheroad #campervan
I had a piece in @thetimes on Sunday about being a I had a piece in @thetimes on Sunday about being a vegetarian rather than a vegan. How I still need butter. And how restaurants & plane meals are now vegan rather than vegetarian. But, there are still more the double amount of vegetarians as vegans in the UK. I’ve written a vegan cookbook V is for vegan (link in bio) and am a big fan of vegan foods. I’ve not eaten meat for over 40 years. This is a sustainable diet, in terms of longevity. Vegans that I knew from the early noughties have reverted to meat eating. #newpuritanism? #vegetarian #vegan #foodwriter
Scrambled croft eggs (bright yellow yolks) with a Scrambled croft eggs (bright yellow yolks) with a seaweed that tastes just like truffle. Just done a little kelp foraging at low tide with @thetempleharris’ Amanda Saurin. Isle of Harris. Turquoise sea, white sand, cloud hovering just above. @camperdays.international @roosterpr
I went to Wembley in north west london to talk to I went to Wembley in north west london to talk to Sophie of @tobia.teff she uses the iron-rich, gluten free teff grain from her homeland Ethiopia. She showed me how to make injera, the Ethiopian flatbread which is fermented. She also talked about the coffee ceremony, 3 cups, which they pair with toasted barley or, currently, popcorn! I’d love to visit Ethiopia and find out more about their ancient food culture, history, 3.5k year old monarchy and religions.
Doing a spring budget recipe cooking demo for @bre Doing a spring budget recipe cooking demo for @brentcouncil Willesden library. I’ve been doing this a few times a year for the last few years. Wouldn’t it be great if they had a kitchen set up permanently. Libraries are community centres and could be used to teach how to cook from scratch.
Mother’s Day flowers from @siennamarla who is ex Mother’s Day flowers from @siennamarla who is experiencing her own first Mother’s Day with Ophelia. I’m still living in chaos & work was slow yesterday due to rain. Only another month…
Last week I did a wild foraging walk with @luciath Last week I did a wild foraging walk with @luciathewildkitchen in Kent @kent_downs_aonb just outside Canterbury. I’m going to help out during her May wild asparagus workshop. This chef lived in France, is a brilliant forager and cook. Her campfire meal of lentils, wild garlic raitha and a dukkah of alexanders, Parmesan was genuinely delicious not worthy like so much foraged food.
I did a bushcraft workshop with @naturalpathwaysbu I did a bushcraft workshop with @naturalpathwaysbushcraft Hannah Nicholls in Kent. An all female group, this felt very empowering and I must get myself one of these fire sticks. @kent_downs_aonb
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Archives

Copyright © 2023 msmarmitelover