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MsMarmitelover’s Year

January 10, 2012 8 Comments Filed Under: Food, Gardens, Recipes, Uncategorized

It’s been a helluva year and here are a few of the highlights. Amazing when I look back and see how busy I’ve been, and, *sounds own trumpet* how many ideas and concepts I’ve come up with! I don’t often pat myself on the back (beating self up is more my style) but going through it all I gotta say, hey girl, you did good.

Pic by Paul Winch Furness

First of all my book Supper Club; recipes and notes from the underground restaurant came out. 

I got lots of publicity, print, radio and TV. Great fun…
The One Show with Jay Rayner. (I asked him how he kept his hair so nice and glossy. He replied “I just rub a little conditioner in while I’m drying”. Top hair tip from Jay!)
Independent on Sunday
Woman’s Hour (twice): the first time talking about supper clubs, the second with Lynn Hill chatting about the Clandestine Cake Club.

My rainbow cake baked for the Clandestine Cake Club cut open
With me are Vanessa Feltz, Patrick Holford of Optimum Nutrition and Josie of Big Brother!
I was also on the Vanessa Show 
Condé Nast Traveller with amazing photoshoot 
Sainsbury’s Magazine
It was in several end of year Top Ten lists: The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Sunday Times, The Independent for which I was very grateful.

I continued to do dinners, teas, brunches and lunches with increasingly conceptual themes:

Salt Meal: each course using a different salt 

I also wrote an article about Salt for The Guardian.

Front Room Flicks: Eat Pray Love: dishes from the book and a big screen showing the film.
Chocolate meal with Trish Deseine: a creative chocolate menu
Spaghetti dinners: cheaper meals incorporating my fave dinner.
Jar meal (featured in the Evening Standard)
Wild food with Natural wine: held outside next to the bonfire. I met Isabelle Legeron who is an ambassador for Natural Wine, I already had a planned event with Nick Weston, a forager and hunter so it made sense to combine the two. I’m a great believer in all things natural. I’ve even started to grow my underarm hair for winter.

Avocado ‘fabergé egg’ on a bed of salt.

Avocado night: an opportunity to go crazy with avocados….
Diva dinners series: Hollywood glamour at Judy/Liza; Jewish food at Barbra Streisand night; Frida Kahlo night, a Piaf lunch and the upcoming Margaret Thatcher tea, Dolly Parton night (sold out) and Stevie Nicks night.
Josie Long and I continued with the comedy club with themes such as the Mitford Sisters.


I also did a few Pop ups:
Just to clarify, generally I run a ‘home restaurant’ not a pop up. But I did a few pop ups too.

Renoir’s depiction of the Maille mustard pop up in Spitalfields

Maille mustard at Spitalfields. One of my favourite products, it was fabulous to take an great ingredient and run wild with it in a menu.

My van loaded with food, I had to drive veery slowly down to Fire and Knives 

Fire and Knives; a food conference run by Tim Hayward, editor of Fire and Knives magazine.
I set up a lunch at the back of the hall, with an elaborate menu, vintage china and glassware for 80 people.

Blancmange, made from scratch from a pineapple mould. Pineapples were so expensive in the 18th century, hostesses would rent them as decoration for the duration of the meal.

A Georgian era themed lunch at Blacks club in Soho, a former residence of a certain Mr Fortnum.
I love this private club in a Georgian house. I spent weeks researching 18th century food for this menu.

Festival:
This was a monster of a task, catering for 500 at each festival, starting a pop up restaurant from scratch in a field. There were a few glitches: I had to ‘let go’ my entire front of house staff at Camp Bestival for, how to put it ? ‘over partying whilst on duty’ which was upsetting. I got a new team at Bestival and things ran very smoothly with happy customers and creative dining fused with theatricality.

Rob Da Bank at The Underground Restaurant, Camp Bestival
Post on Camp Bestival
Me and my sister MsJazellelabelle. The Underground Restaurant has a shipboard theme.
Things got riotous at Bestival…full houses each sitting!
Post on Bestival

Food Raves/ Night Market:
I started the first Underground Night Market in May this year. It was a tremendous success and highlighted the need for alternative food events for younger people. Most farmer’s markets are during the day at the weekend which attract only a certain demographic. My night markets have live music, cooking demonstrations, the Dragons Den and plenty of hot and cold food stalls.
Expect to see more from me in 2012.

The Underground University: food and craft conferences. I love learning and here I combined eating with talks and workshops.

Young & Foodish and Mrs Y and F giving a talk
How to be a successful Food Blogger
How to set up a supper club conference
We don’t have Percy Thrower but we do have Zia Mays.

I started The Secret Garden Club; gardening workshops with themed food. Zia Mays also taught people how to smoke.

I’ve always travelled and supper clubbing around the world is the perfect vehicle.
This year I’ve made trips to:

New York to visit The Brooklyn Edible Social Club, 4 course vegan and draw inspiration from the food scene.

A glistening slice of Star Ruby grapefruit

South Africa to visit grapefruit farmers and a shebeen in Soweto.

I got to experience Lucia day on the 13th of December 

Sweden to visit Linn Soderstrom’s supper club in Stockholm and Jasmine Soufi in Gothenburg.

The cookery school at Ballymaloe

Ireland to see Ballymaloe cookery school and Outstanding in the Field.
And around the UK:
Scotland to stay with My home supper club and visit others in the area.
Warwickshire to visit Squisito supper club.

Cupcake, cat and typical Yorkshire terraced houses.

Leeds to visit Lynn Hill’s Secret Tea Room and other supper clubs.

I hope to make more trips in 2012.

In 2011 I set up The Underground Restaurant as a YouTube channel and made videos with Lovefood.com such as How to cook on salt blocks

Marmite in a pan. A batch takes about 10 days

Above all I’m still cooking from scratch, DIY punk style. It’s this that drives me, as well as pioneering new ways of doing business. My most popular DIY post remains How to make your own marmite

Hope you all enjoyed these blog posts. I have plenty of ideas bubbling away for 2012 and more books in the pipeline.

Drawing of MsMarmite by Margaret Rodgers

Recent posts

Emily O'Hare serving pasta at an al fresco dinner in La Torre Alle Tolfe, just outside Siena in Tuscany pic; Kerstin Rodgers

Visiting Tuscany, Chianti, sommelier Emily O’Hare and the world’s most famous butcher

August 4, 2022

The Palio in Siena, Italy: curses and horses

July 28, 2022

Local vegetarian recipes from Naples and Campania

July 23, 2022

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Zia Mays

    January 10, 2012 at 11:41 am

    Quite a rollercoaster 12 months. Here's to 2012.

    Reply
  2. The Italian Dish

    January 10, 2012 at 11:54 am

    WOW. What a recap and what a year. Totally impressed!

    Reply
  3. Vintage Afternoon Teas

    January 10, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    Simply incredible! I don't believe you really did all that! If you ever need a guest baker, give me a shout…and if you're ever planning a trip to the north west you would be super welcome at one of my secret tea parties…but meanwhile congratulations and I raise a glass to your doing even more in 2012!

    Reply
  4. Lynn Hill

    January 10, 2012 at 7:51 pm

    What a great year it's been for you Kerstin, you've worked jolly hard. So glad I was just a Teeny Weeny part of it. Here's to 2012, bring it on, as they say.

    Reply
  5. Lianne Marie Binks

    January 11, 2012 at 10:05 am

    You are thoroughly amazing Kerstin, do you know that! Wow what a year it's been for you. Can't wait to see what you get up to in 2012 darling.

    Reply
  6. Thinking of the days

    January 11, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    I'm absolutely knackered just reading this rollicking romp through 2011! What a wonderful year- whatever you 're taking, send me some!
    Seriously , congratulations….

    Reply
  7. Anonymous

    January 14, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    Oh my goodness! How can that all happen within one year? Keep it up, you're incredible!

    Reply
  8. The Curious Cat

    January 15, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Lady! 2011 was an EXCELLENT year for you! You were blessed! You should be so proud. It is such an achievement and really great to see it in a summery like that! xxx

    Reply

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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.

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Kerstin Rodgers/MsMarmiteLover
Grilled Manouri cheese (like halloumi but not rubb Grilled Manouri cheese (like halloumi but not rubbery and less salty) with watermelon, spruce oil and tarragon. #salad #summervibes
I went to @hide_restaurant in Piccadilly, they are I went to @hide_restaurant in Piccadilly, they are now doing breakfast & brunch. The restaurant design is stunning in itself, from the gaudi-esque central staircase, to the table decorations, to the uniforms of the waiting staff. Chef @olliedabous has developed an incredible menu: from standards like avocado on toast (beautifully presented with edible flowers & 2 lightly poached eggs), pain au chocolat (buckwheat), french toast with blueberry compote ( cloud-like, soft, light), British @exmoorcaviar with sourdough, mango with kefir lime zest, an extraordinary tea & coffee menu ( Brazilian single estate coffee) Yuzu indigo tea. You can spend a lot. Or a little. Worth it for the design, the baking, the feeling of experiencing a rare treat. #london #breakfast #brunch #review #invitation
My niece @rachaelrodgers wedding to Luca Venezia @ My niece @rachaelrodgers wedding to Luca Venezia @cursesforever. It’s been featured in US vogue. Style, good food, great music, stunning backgrounds of mount vesuvius & Naples were the order of the day. Or should I say 3 days which is how long it lasted. The bride wore white but it was a vintage @viviennewestwood corset (one of only 5 existing, the other 3 are in fashion museums), and a flowery bikini to cut the delicious rose 🌹 and cherry 🍒 cake. Hawaiian barbie & La Cicciolina were inspirations. The guests were equally stunning. #naples #wedding #bridestyle
Air fryer recipe: aubergine sticks with yoghurt an Air fryer recipe: aubergine sticks with yoghurt and tahini sauce. Aubergines 🍆 soak up a lot of oil so an air fryer is a great way to minimise the calorific content. They tasted just as delicious! Recipe here: https://msmarmitelover.com/2022/06/air-fryer-recipe-aubergine-sticks-with-yoghurt-tahini-sauce.html I only used a couple of tablespoons of olive oil rather than a gallon. Going to play about with some other recipes. #airfryer #recipe I got my air fryer here: https://www.very.co.uk/electricals/cooking-appliances/fryers/e/b/4571.end it’s an extra large with 2 drawers.
This is a new dish I’ve invented called, ahem, p This is a new dish I’ve invented called, ahem, patatas nachas. Underneath is a layer of potatoes fried in olive oil. On top nachos with cheese, salsa, guacamole, creme fraiche, rajas. It’s a mash up of patatas bravas and nachos. There is a brilliant book out with 75 nachos variations by @tfimb called nachos for dinner. Nachos are quick tasty & if you add other elements- filling. #nachos #dinner
Ciambotta which is an Italian version of ratatouil Ciambotta which is an Italian version of ratatouille but with fried potato. Recipes here: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/food-reviews/three-neapolitan-vegetarian-recipes-9147040 #naples #recipe #vegetarian
Aqua Sale, a fisherman’s meal in campania. ‘Yo Aqua Sale, a fisherman’s meal in campania. ‘You take dry bread, put it in a colander, put it in the sea, drain it, add tomatoes, oil, oregano and this is a meal. Every family had a dried bread drawer.’ I was told. I used basil and made my own ‘sea water’ by adding salt to fresh water. Recipe in the @ham&high and on the blog soon. #aquasale #breadsalad #cucinapovera #tomatoes #heatwavefood
Zeppoline, deep-fried pizza doughnuts with seaweed Zeppoline, deep-fried pizza doughnuts with seaweed - a Neapolitan dish I had in a local trattoria in a sweltering narrow street. Served hot in a basket, I tore them up and dipped them in oil & lemon juice. Recipe in the ham and high and on the blog soon. #recipe #naples #fried
Being silly at last night’s picnic for my sister Being silly at last night’s picnic for my sister in laws birthday in waterlow park. A rolypoly race. 
I’ve not been feeling great the past few days, sniffles, headache, sore throat. I took a test after the picnic just to be on the safe side & sure enough I finally caught the dreaded covid. 
When I feel better I’ll return to Italy.
This vegetarian met the worlds most famous butcher This vegetarian met the worlds most famous butcher @dariocecchinimacellaio whose shop is located in Panzano, Tuscany. He trained my favourite food writer @bill.buford in butchery. I told him I didn’t eat meat & he twinkled ‘to beef or not to beef’. He has a Clark Gable elegance: moustache, slicked back hair, charm, & a designer shirt depicting cows from @cotondoux paris. I instinctively wore a red & white striped dress which matched the colours of his shop, the red & white of the surgeon. They serve you glasses of Dario’s own Chianti Classico complete with straw bottomed ‘fiasco’. Now where else do you get that? When I return I will try the vegetarian menu at his restaurant opposite. #butcher #panzano #tuscany #chiantishire #chianticlassico #foodsiena #foodreportage
On a very steep street in siena, Tuscany. They’v On a very steep street in siena, Tuscany. They’ve had to be creative with the table legs. We went to the Palio horse race in the shell-shaped piazza where the passion & downright enmity of the different contrada or districts, each represented by an animal or mascot, was on display. The riders go bareback. It’s the horse that wins not the jockey. A riderless horse can win. There are many false starts, a massive explosion going boom in the square each time which led kids to cry. We waited for hours in the cheap seats- the burnt ochre brickwork of the centre. While tourists at windows paid 600 euros for the privilege. I loved the singing, like football chants but operatic- lots of finger pointing at each other. After I went to a contrada dinner on the streets of Siena, a rare opportunity. For 35 euros you attend the largest ‘supper club’ ever- 800 people, 4 courses, generous helpings of chianti. The servers are local teenagers. I wore my ‘Oca’ or goose scarf around my shoulders, looking like a girl guide. A bucket list item ticked off. I only wish my daughter @siennamarla was with me. #travel #food #italy #chiantishire #siena #palio #supperclub #oca #contrada
Looking at vegetables in Italy. Photo by @loredana Looking at vegetables in Italy. Photo by @loredanaparisi72
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)
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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
How some of us celebrate the Queen’s jubilee! My How some of us celebrate the Queen’s jubilee! My sister & a random Irishman come for the Rory Gallagher festival in ballyshannon. Sis has pulled already!  #getyourcoat #sexpistols #ballyshannon #rorygallagherfestival #ireland
Tullaghan, county Leitrim, Donegal, where my grea Tullaghan, county Leitrim, Donegal,  where my great great grandfather john Rodgers was a postman, then a tailor, then a pawnbroker. #irishheritage #donegal #myancestry #irish #rodgers #travel
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