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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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msmarmitelover

Arbroath smokies, I got up early and photographed

Arbroath smokies, I got up early and photographed Gary the head smoker smoking these haddock in a hard wood fire. They are ‘done to a turn’ - that phrase comes from smoking them for approximately half an hour until they are golden then turning them around so that the other side is done. They are hung in pairs with hemp twine ( which doesn’t burn) over tarry wooden lathes. The whole town of Arbroath smells of smoking fish if you go in the morning. They are hand smoked, not done in factories. The Arbroath smokie is a protected food, one of 27 (I think) in the UK. The smokiness is intense, nothing like the bland sugary smoked mass produced fish you find in supermarkets.the fish tends to come from Norway and this is a good season- end of summer- as they are of a decent size. They smoke all year round and sell mostly to the UK. Vacuum packed they last 20 days. They don’t really last Ling enough to sell abroad. #ukfood #scottishfood #smokedfish #arbroathsmokie #arbroath #supperclub #artisanmade

School reunion yesterday for my year at South Hamp

School reunion yesterday for my year at South Hampstead. I made too much food as usual. I used the Arbroath smokies to make pate. I was worried as I was pinged in Scotland but a pcr test and 2 lateral flows proved negative. So the reunion was at my house. I haven’t had a supper club in a while so it was good to ease myself back in. Great conversations, finding out about our lives. Life is like walking the Hadrian’s wall- it is the hare and the tortoise. When you are young you think everyone is speeding past you- but it’s a long race. You just have to get to the end in one piece and try to follow your interests, find a bit of love, and hope your children are healthy. #schoolreunion #southhampsteadhighschoolforgirls #girlsschools

Fresh pistachios from hilal food shop in Kilburn h

Fresh pistachios from hilal food shop in Kilburn high road. Kilburn isn’t fancy. It’s busy and polluted and dirty. The restaurant scene is dire for anyone who doesn’t eat meat - only kebabs, chicken shops, pizza, burgers. The Thai restaurant Thai basil is horrible- and only for people who’ve never tasted hood Thai. The Afghan restaurant I’ve heard is good but for vegetarian curries I’d rather go to an Indian. There are two good Indians on Willesden lane: anjaanas and the 1960s Vijay. I’ve not tried the sushi place philipsan yet. Duckduckgoose did some good food- the veggie mapotofu was great. Last time though it wasn’t so great. But what Kilburn does have is a couple of marvellous food shops: hilal and Where2Save. Both contains hundreds of lines of goods you never find in a supermarket. Where2Save is so tiny, run by Kurds, but is stuffed with great products including a huge vegan selection. The fruit and veg is much cheaper than supermarkets. Hilal has uncured olives, fresh vine leaves, fresh dates, fresh nuts, fresh yeast, all manner of treasures. I once tried some weird Brazilian fruit and the spines stuck in my tongue for a day and it went numb. Can’t remember the name. #shoplocal #kilburnhighroad #norfweezy #foodshops #hilal #supermarkets #independantshops #freshpistachios #shopping #foodshopping #supperclub #kilburn

Kedgeree made with Arbroath smokies and orzo, as a

Kedgeree made with Arbroath smokies and orzo, as a change from rice. Poach the smokie in boiling water for a few minutes to loosen the bones, drain, boil some eggs and cut in half, fry some spices(turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, bay)in butter and put it all together. A perfect big breakfast or brunch or lunch or tea! I really enjoyed meeting the smokers of Arbroath for this very special ingredient. Story up soon on the blog. #arbroathsmokies #fishrecipe #scottishingredients #brunch #smokedhaddock #smoked #proteinbrunch #breakfast #healthy #artisanal #protecteddesignationoforigin

It sort of looks like piccalilli but actually it’s my hedgerow compote made from wild yellow and green plums and sea buckthorn berries gathered en route along Hadrian’s wall to Newcastle. Wash them all, cover with sugar overnight, then simmer gently until the fruit is somewhat broken down. Fish out the stones. Serve with yoghurt or whipped cream. It’s tangy, sour and sweet. #hedgerowharvest #hedgerows #wildplums #seabuckthornberry #englishcountryside #september #hadrianswall #homemade #foraging #hiking #walking

Wild camping on Hadrian’s wall- a matinal selfie

Wild camping on Hadrian’s wall- a matinal selfie. By this time I didn’t care what I looked like- it was all about survival. Finding water, food and shelter. Now I’m driving to Arbroath in Scotland to find out more about my Scottish family- the andersons

Well it’s been a trip. Hadrian’s wall path sol

Well it’s been a trip. Hadrian’s wall path solo. I think I’m fitter than I was day 1. It rained the first day and the last but otherwise was sunny, clear and even too hot. I stayed in bed and breakfasts at either end and camped for 5 nights in between. Thanks to @hadrianshaul for moving my pack. Water and food were thin on the ground in the middle section. The scenery was glorious. I never felt unsafe as a solo female Walker. I met some lovely people on the way, kind people. I can walk about 2.2 miles an hour. The first 5 hours is ok usually but then I start to get tired and cross. I don’t drink enough water. I haven’t lost weight but hopefully I’m stronger. #goals #bucketlist #travel #walking #hikes #hadrianswallpath #uktravel #england #thenorth #walkingthewall #wild #stronger

East summer recipe: chilled melon soup. Chop up a

East summer recipe: chilled melon soup. Chop up a perfectly ripe melon. Marinate a dozen chunks with lemon, zest, olive oil, salt, a little red wine vinegar. Blend the rest of the melon with a little water, olive oil, salt. Pour around the marinated chunks in a bowl. Season with micro basil. #soup #melon #italiansummer #recipe #chilledsoups #supperclub #simplefood

Black tomato & stracciatella cheese salad. To make

Black tomato & stracciatella cheese salad. To make the stracciatella just tear up a mozzarella ball into thin strips and add cream! Delicious. Stracciatella is basically the inside creamy bit of burrata. Dressed with Italian lemon 🍋 zest and @pomoragoodfood olive oil. #supperclub #salad #italiansalad #summerfood #quicksalads #pugliacheese #stracciatella #tomatosalad

Last night I thinly sliced 3 large aubergines 🍆

Last night I thinly sliced 3 large aubergines 🍆 and stood over the stove and fried them in olive oil and salt. I then ate all of them by myself. That was my dinner. I love the soft spongy insides pregnant with oil and the crispy purple outsides. #soloeater #aubergines #friedfood #eggplant #supperclubchef #allbymyself🎶

Use stale focaccia for a panzanella salad: tomatoe

Use stale focaccia for a panzanella salad: tomatoes 🍅 red onion, raw garlic, red wine vinegar, capers, olive oil, bread. Basil. Leave at room temp for a few hours. #leftovers #salad #panzanella #summerfood #italiansalad #focaccia #supperclubchef

Another Ligurian/Genoa/Genova focaccia test. This

Another Ligurian/Genoa/Genova focaccia test. This time got the holes right. Ate some straight out of the oven: thinnish, crunchy, salty, olive 🫒 oily. Yum. #recipetesting #easybread #focaccia #ligurianfocaccia #italianfood #trueitaliantaste #iffoodcouldtalk #extraordinaryitaliantaste @trueitaliantaste @italianchamuk #supperclubchef

Bread and yellow tomato salad with kalamata olives

Bread and yellow tomato salad with kalamata olives, prunes, basil and Parmesan. I tore up some stale focaccia and let it soak up the tomato juices and oil and 🍋 juice. A bright fresh salad for a clammy day. #salad #breadsalad #yellow #supperclubchef #leftoverrecipes #yellowtomatoes

The winner of the @thermapen competition is @katia

The winner of the @thermapen competition is @katianw6 ! I know she’s a keen baker and cook so she will get the full benefit of this essential bit of kitchen kit. Every kitchen should have one- to find out if your cake/bread has cooked, for double or triple fried chips, or your fish en papillote or your Sunday roast. It’s essential also for any sweet making or sugar work- is your caramel up to temperature? Will it be soft or hard crack? Also it’s British made so you are supporting our industries in these difficult times. Go to https://thermapen.co.uk to buy. £66. #competition #thermapen #cookingbetter #winners #homecooks #supperclubchef #britishbrands #temperaturenottime #gifted #redhot

Paccheri in @cosicome tomato sauce with straciatel

Paccheri in @cosicome tomato sauce with straciatella made at a workshop @eatalylondon the room is silent as we reverently scoff our plates of pasta. This is an event sponsored by the Italian chamber of commerce- oh I miss Italy. Nonna can you hear me? trueitaliantaste #iffoodcouldtalk #extraordinaryitaliantaste @trueitaliantaste @italianchamuk
#supperclubchef #londonitalian #pasta #paccheri

Artichokes, tarragon and black chickpeas. #supperc

Artichokes, tarragon and black chickpeas. #supperclub #vegetarian #blackfood #vibrantfood

Goats cheese, yellow tomato, pistachio pizza just

Goats cheese, yellow tomato, pistachio pizza just put of the aga. Plenty of @pomoragoodfood olive oil .

I am one sexy mf don’t you agree. Teeth done, ha

I am one sexy mf don’t you agree. Teeth done, hair done, tits out, dress from @andotherstories £16 in sale. Shame I haven’t had a shag in a decade. #olderwomen #supperclubchef #postmenopausal #dontcarewillshare #norfweezy #msmarmitelover #hairdo

Green, yellow, orange salad served with green free

Green, yellow, orange salad served with green freekeh and yoghurt (not pictured). Yellow, orange& green tomatoes from @tomatoesiow, multiple herbs likectarragon, mint, coriander, parsley, holy basil. Wild fennel flowers. Pumpkin seeds, avocado, cucumber 🥒 dressing: lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt. #supperclub #salad #summerfood #eatfresh #eatgreen #vegetarian #vegan #choppingskills #hotweatherfood #healthyrecipes

I soaked borlotti beans overnight, simmered them t

I soaked borlotti beans overnight, simmered them till soft and made a bean salad with herbs and vinaigrette. I like tinned beans but I do think that dried ones are that bit tastier. #summerfood #eatbeans #themoreyoueatthelessyoufart #beansalad #borlotti #myfavouriteyellowbowl #portugueseceramics #inulins #fibre #guthealth #driedbeans #supperclub

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