• 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
    • Press
    • Books
  • Shop
    • Cart

Longitude 50>65 degrees: Middle East at Global Feast

August 2, 2012 2 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

Veggiestan

Three Easts in a row: Eastern Europe, East Africa and now the Middle East. As Jim Morrison intoned in The End ‘West is the best baby’ but this isn’t true when it comes to food. This supper was cooked by our guest chefs Sabrina Ghayour and Sally Butcher. Sabrina’s family comes from Iran and she hosts a regular supper club, highlighting Persian food, in London, while Sally Butcher, author of one of my favourite cookbooks ‘Veggiestan’, runs a foodie treasure trove of a corner shop called Persepolis, specialising in Persian ingredients, located in Peckham. Her husband Jamie is Iranian, he imports the exotic and unusual food for Sally’s shop.
The kitchen rang to the sound of the Farsi being called out over the steaming pots and pans as Sabrina and Jamie spoke. Sally, with her shock of red hair and purple dress, quickly put together the hors d’oeuvres and starter. Lebanese wines, petrolly and vital, were provided by Wines of Lebanon, to the  vocal appreciation of our guests. We started with rosé from Domaine des Tourelles and then both a rosé and a full bodied red by Chateau Ksara. It’s such a treat to drink wine properly associated the cuisine of the region.
Persian cuisine loves sour flavours like barberries, preserved lemons, fresh yoghurt, pomegranate and sour cherries. It also uses pungent rich ingredients such as rose petals, slivered pistachios, almonds, walnuts ranging to bitter flavours such as dried orange peel. Many of these ingredients were provided by Sally’s shop Persepolis.
Like Georgian cuisine, Persian food boasts a high proportion of fresh herbs; thin bread called Lavash, one of the oldest breads known to mankind, is folded around long washed sprigs of mint, basil, dill and parsley.
The vibrant Sabrina Ghayour strode in, prepared to go 10 rounds with head chef Col but they soon resolved any hierarchical battles with a mutual love of big hearty flavours. By the end they were cooing at each other over the roast poussins. Every day new chefs are arriving and we adapt to their style while they equally have to learn our system, now ‘honed’ or thereabouts, after ten days on the job. We are weary however and when Sally arrived in the afternoon, things looked a little chaotic with washing up from last night still to be finished. Our KP, Mat, is working like a dog for 14 hours a day and yesterday looked hollow and exhausted. We all have our low points on this job. He’ll pick up.
I’m staying at the town hall now. I spent the first night sleeping in an armchair in the dressing room but Col has now lent me an airbed. Living here is surreal, like something out of The Shining, all swirly plush carpets, ballustrades, corridors, endless doors with numbers on them, freakishly tasteless municipal flower arrangements. I’m near the Mayor’s office. Watching the actual Olympics (as opposed to my own culinary marathon), on a sofa pulled out into the centre of the entrance hall, I felt like I was squatting a posh building and treating it like my living room.
Mapkins: I got napkins made up in scarce map fabric, we only had 50. Now we have 45. Sally drew my attention to the well dressed lady who had neatly folded a mapkin, placed it under her chair on the top of her handbag. She was clearly trying to nick it. “I’m a shopkeeper, I notice these things” said eagle-eyed Sally.
Later when the guest wasn’t looking, I dipped under her chair and retrieved the napkin.
Note to future guests: please don’t steal the mapkins, I need them for Bestival and I can’t find any more fabric.

Menu for Middle Eastern night
Generic Cognac with a coriander syrup
Canapes: by Sally Butcher
Kookoo Sabzi
Cheese and onion Boregi
Pumpkin Kibbeh with lemon
Starter by Sally Butcher
Kashk-e-bademjan
Maast-0-laboo
Spiced houmous
Sabzi Khordan (bread and herbs)
Israeli couscous salad with dates, feta and black cumin
Main course by Sabrina Ghayour
Persian spiced citrus poussin (whole)
Bejewelled rice
Veg option: by Sally Butcher
Black eyed bean, celery, carrots with dried limes and dill
Dessert by Sabrina Ghayour
Carrot, pistachio, almond, coconut cake with rose water cream and pistachio slivers



I decided to make fresh pitta breads, 120 in all, straight off the griddle, served on basket with bouquets of fresh herbs. Ever seen a woman in a map dress and a huge pink fascinator pump out hot charcoaly bread from a griddle? A suicidal mission but it worked!
The evening ended with belly dancers Polly and Pauline Blackwood. The fantastic drumming inspired the guests to get up and join in: the Global Feast table became a writhing orgy of full and satisfied bellies.

Sabrina’s food
Feast map, pitta bread production line,  Jamie and Sabrina, Sally Butcher
Town Hall living
Khosh mazze bood!

                

Recent posts

Book for my first supper club since the pandemic: Midsummer

May 19, 2022

caponata budget gourmet recipe pic: Kerstin Rodgers

Two delicious budget recipes for the cost of living crisis

May 13, 2022

budget gourmet recipes pic Kerstin Rodgers

Cost of living crisis: three gourmet dinner party recipes that serve 4, for around £2.50

May 6, 2022

Previous Post: « Salad days
Next Post: Longitude 65>190 degrees: Russian Revels at Global Feast »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gill Watson

    August 6, 2012 at 7:08 am

    Just realised that if I leave a comment by e mail reply, it won't show so I'll try here.

    You have reached the Middle East – my favourite longitude and I am sooo jealous that you have the food goddess Sally Butcher with you. Everything looks amazing, from the table to the napkins (I can fully understand that lady trying to nick one) to the mouthwatering food.

    Now the athletes have moved in you could ask a couple of them to help out the kitchen porter. Good luck for the rest of your journey. A breakdown at the end of it all will be well deserved.

    Reply
  2. Gill Watson

    August 6, 2012 at 7:13 am

    You have reached my favourite longitude and I am sooo jealous that you have the food goddess Sally Butcher with you. Everything looks amazing from the table to the napkins (I can fully understand punters nicking them) to the awe-inspiring food.

    Now the athletes have moved in maybe you could get a couple of them to help out your KP! Good luck for the rest of the journey. It's going to feel like drug withdrawal at the end – you'll need pampering and treats to avoid the tears.

    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
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.
Me as a punk. #pinkhair @caplanmelissa Me as a punk. #pinkhair @caplanmelissa
Sniffin’ glue: Me n @Jaybladesmbe at the Loctite Sniffin’ glue: Me n @Jaybladesmbe at the Loctite pop up yesterday. I’m all about repairing and upcycling my brocante finds: this time a beautiful pale wood lamp shade stand which had broken off at the bottom. I’m going to rewire it with 2 core sky blue twisted fabric wire, pop on my hand sewn pleated lampshade I learnt to do @workshopminerva and it shall be beautiful. Don’t chuck out your chintz: repair it! #therepairshop #selfie #interiors #popup
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.
#chelseaflower coming up. Last year I bought these succulents and planted them in a vintage zinc garden sieve. Now they are flowering. My balcony is like a little greenhouse: I can grow aubergines & other plants that usually need to be under glass. #londongarden #may #plants #succulents in the garden
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
Making plates with talented potter & old South Ham Making plates with talented potter & old South Hampstead girl @clairebelljar in Suffolk. She has the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen. Such a joy to be reunited with her. #friendsreunited #makers #potters #scalloped #wildflowers #cowparsley #pottery
Another budget gourmet recipe, the Sicilian capona Another budget gourmet recipe, the Sicilian caponata, which is like a more interesting ratatouille, in which you add capers, olives & vinegar. £2.50p. I was asked to develop a series of recipes which were delicious enough to serve at a dinner party but also cheap. I shopped at Lidl. #costoflivingcrisis #budgetgourmet #recipe #vegetarian #vegan #lidluk
Mackerel pâté, a recipe that cost under £2.50. Mackerel pâté, a recipe that cost under £2.50. Lemon & herb smoked mackerel fillets from @lidl (take off skin)3 big scoops creme fraiche from Lidl and juice of half a lemon. Blend. Plenty of black pepper. Serve with bread. #budgetgourmet #costoflivingcrisis #eatorheat
Just wrote a very personal piece for @hamandhigh o Just wrote a very personal piece for @hamandhigh on my decade as a single parent on benefits, how I learned to cook & how things are so much harder now because not only are ingredients pricier but the cost of cooking them is too. 3 budget gourmet meals serving 4, for £2.50 each. #costoflivingcrisis #budgetgourmet #povertyshame #singleparents #foodblogger
Easter Sunday. Daffodil skeletons. Easter Sunday. Daffodil skeletons.
Just made @davidlebovitz recipe for blood orange u Just made @davidlebovitz recipe for blood orange upside down cake as I had some to use up. It tastes very marmeladey. Probably used too deep a pan. #sundaybaking #recipe #thelastofthebloodoranges #april #easter
Today learning how to build a dry stone wall in t Today  learning how to build a dry stone wall in the cotswolds which is famous for the picturesque walls & hedgerows. My teacher, Richard Gray, told us about the different stones: face, foundation, pin & coping. It is a mortal ( mortar?) sun to use cement on a dry stone wall- it means the stones can’t breathe. These walls last 100 years- they cost £300 a metre. A pro can build 3 metres a day. Richard once did a quote for kylie Minogue. His firm is Hillrise stonework. This course is run by @notgroveholidays There is a world championship for drystone walling. #craft #building #drystonewall #cotswolds #staycation
Ukrainian inspiration: cabbage rolls stuffed with Ukrainian inspiration: cabbage rolls stuffed with rice, mushrooms, garlic, dill. Baked with sauerkraut & mushroom stock for 1.5 hours. Delicious comfort food. #cookforukraine #vegetarian #cabbagerolls #sauerkraut #easterneuropeanfood
Getting there. Making a pleated lampshade for @sie Getting there. Making a pleated lampshade for @siennamarla’s living room. Fabric from @clothshoplondon training by @workshopminerva frame #making #craft #sewing #lampshade #interiors
Stuffed peppers with roasted buckwheat, feta, dill Stuffed peppers with roasted buckwheat, feta, dill and a sour cream, tomato & smoked paprika sauce. Kasha or buckwheat can be bought at polish shops. It’s a grain but full of protein. I did a recipe with it in v is for vegan - a stuffed cabbage. You can buy plain or roasted. #cookforukraine #buckwheat #kasha #stuffedpeppers #vegetarian #visforvegan
Ukrainian quick cucumber pickles dipped in honey. Ukrainian quick cucumber pickles dipped in honey. Strangely addictive. Recipe from next weeks column in the ham and high. #cookforukraine #supperclub #slavaukraini #pickles #dronedowner #ukraine #recipe
An etched glass window in my bathroom to replace t An etched glass window in my bathroom to replace the very fashionable fluted glass I had. Thing is this glass works better in a flat dated 1906. Glass by @baronglass  #interiors #etchedglass #bathroom #trellis #londonflat
Making Ukrainian Easter bread, with sour cherries Making Ukrainian Easter bread, with sour cherries and saffron, adapted from a recipe in Mamushka by Ukrainian chef @oliahercules #slavaukraini #easter #baking #sour #sourcherries #supperclub
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Archives

Copyright © 2022 msmarmitelover