Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar

Food
- Recipes
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
Travel
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- UK
Wine
Gardens
Supperclubs/Events
About
- Press
- Books
Shop
- Cart
Search

Food

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

Email Address

Blog posts
Events
Both

msmarmitelover

Making stratto (strattu in dialect) in Sicily at @

Making stratto (strattu in dialect) in Sicily at @tenutacammarana the most intense umami tomato paste you can imagine. It takes 3 days to reduce in the Sicilian sun from 3 ‘fuanguotto’ ceramic dishes to a small ball. Do visit, it’s a foodies paradise. My blog post: https://msmarmitelover.com/2022/09/making-tomato-concentrate-in-sicily.html #sicily #italianfood #tomatopuree🍅 #tenutacammaranaexperience

The queue. I started at 5pm and finished at 1.30am

The queue. I started at 5pm and finished at 1.30am. I bowed to the queen lying in state. My earliest memory is Winston Churchill’s state funeral. I was mesmerised and this is how I learnt the shocking news that we all die. The hardest part of the queue was getting home- and I live in london. And having to chuck away my MAC lipstick at security. The best part was the camaraderie, the generosity & community feeling of my queue mates. We are a decent people in the UK. I truly believe that. All races, nationalities, ages, genders, religions, sexes, income brackets & class were there. We all got on. I loved the bagpipes, the drums, the naval ratings pulling the gun carriage. Rest in peace Queen Elizabeth.

I’m in Venice for the biennale. It’s almost ch

I’m in Venice for the biennale. It’s almost chocolate box beautiful - all apricot, vanilla & chartreuse. The smell of seawater, the swooping bridges, the variety of boats. Even the door knockers are beautiful as are the pink glass streetlights, the ironwork, the Arabian windows. #travel #venice #italy

Queen Elizabeth II. Rest in peace.

Queen Elizabeth II. Rest in peace.

iPhone found in Romania. May the thieves choke. Yo

iPhone found in Romania. May the thieves choke. You ruined my trip. To target a woman travelling on her own means you are total scum.

In Germany there is a ‘timber road’ with villa

In Germany there is a ‘timber road’ with villages & towns full of half- timbered houses, crooked houses, cobblestones, goblins, witches, dwarves. It’s all very Disney or more accurately, where Disney got his inspiration from. I’ve been in the former GDR which is very charming. The wicked witch in Snow White was inspired by a medieval woman called Ute- known as the most beautiful woman of the Middle Ages- she’s a statue in naumberg cathedral and is revered. Disney used her as a model for the witch!

On the @starclipperssailings tall ship climbing th

On the @starclipperssailings tall ship climbing the rigging. An experience to treasure. Lucky I don’t fear heights. You have to wear closed toe shoes to climb it. I wanted to do it in bare feet as in the old days. A Patrick o brian (who wrote Master & Commander as well as 19 other Aubrey/maturin novels about seafaring at the time of the napoleonic wars- I highly recommend them) experience #travel #tallships #italy

Sunday. So after dragging myself through the 33C h

Sunday. So after dragging myself through the 33C heat and 70% humidity through Rome to 1) last place phone was signalled on Find my iphone, suspiciously looking at everyone in that location, searching all the bins, the park, the bushes, the plant pots and finding nothing. Being Agatha Christie in this heat aint fun. 2) Waited for a bus to go to the police station. After 30 minutes no bus came so I walked, clutching my day pack in front of me, terrified of more stuff getting stolen, to the police station. I was so red and having black whirlies cos of the heat. The policewoman asked if I needed an ambulance. I said no. I made the report and got the precious document so maybe I can claim via home insurance. 3) Then staggered on swollen feet to the Apple Store, got out my credit card and bought another phone. I've tried so hard to not spend too much on this trip, taking trains, staying in cheap places, eating sandwiches made from breakfast, all the usual tricks, walking rather than taxis, I spent a fortune on the new phone. But I've noticed in life when things go wrong, just spend money, even on credit, to replace what you absolutely need cos it's sort of traumatic and this is the best way to pretend it never happened.
4) as in the photo I'm staying in a covent, 50 euros a night. it's very basic. They said air conditioning but there is one shonky fan. Shared bathroom. And a wooden crucifix on the wall. It's fine. Apart from the stuffy heat. Only 2 sockets in the room, maybe this is a religious edict. One for the fan and one for the laptop. We have so many things to charge up nowadays though.
5) I didn't get dinner and woke up too late for breakfast. I've got to steel myself to go out into that fucking heat to eat. DO NOT COME TO ROME IN AUGUST, EVEN FOR A FEW DAYS. IT'S HELL.
6) Yes i feel angry and sorry for myself because i'm travelling alone and yes i know it sounds pathetic but the phone is my friend, my helpmate, my way of feeling not alone.
7) Instagram, Twitter, Whatsapp, and many other apps won't work on my phone now as they send verification codes to your stolen phone. Yup. Very helpful. I sent a video to instagram to prove who I am, they said no.

someone stole my phone today and this is the last

someone stole my phone today and this is the last place they had it. What a crappy day.

For sale on my Etsy shop, apple clove ‘cheese’

For sale on my Etsy shop, apple clove ‘cheese’. Using vintage jelly moulds, these are lovely for a special cheeseboard (Christmas?). Different sizes, different prices. Go to Msmarmiteloversells on Etsy. Mould not included. #fruitcheese #cheeseboard #etsy ( will eventually put them up for sale here when I can remember how). They last forever. Like quince cheese.

Corn, cheese, courgette fritters in the air fryer.

Corn, cheese, courgette fritters in the air fryer. When it’s hot, I want salads yes but also fried things. See my piece and the Recipe on @hamandhigh https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/food-reviews/air-fryer-recipes-9207650 #recipe #airfryer

Tonight’s dinner: Caesar salad with coddled egg,

Tonight’s dinner: Caesar salad with coddled egg, anchovy, Parmesan dressing & pine nuts; roast apricots with mozzarella, roast peppers with garlic & tomato; grilled sweetcorn with honey, butter & espelette pepper dressing; smoked mackerel pâté with dill. #alfresco #summerlovin #dinnertonight

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

Load More... Follow on Instagram

Archives

Archives

Copyright © 2022 msmarmitelover