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Supper Club: Recipes and notes from the underground restaurant
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MsMarmiteLover’s Secret Tea Party
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V is for Vegan
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Get Started in Food Writing: Teach Yourself
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Organic Carrot Cookbook
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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

The Udon House in kagawa, Shikoku. I did a masterc

The Udon House in kagawa, Shikoku. I did a masterclass in udon making which was an interesting experience which I highly recommend. You learn to make wheat flour udon noodles in the traditional way, they are a speciality in this province. Thick, chewy, slippery, most locals eat udon several times a day, in all their different forms. The traditional method means kneading with your feet, with those cute bi-toed socks. Then a series of complicated and fascinating manoeuvres - forming a chrysanthemum, then a hot cross bun, then rolled around a long rolling pin, two periods of resting for the dough, then finally cutting it into equal width strips. We also learnt how to make the classic dashi stock with kombucha and bonito. More info to come on this when I write it up. I want to return to this island. @udonhouseinsetouchi

Onsen, beppu. On the island of #Kyushu, japan, a t

Onsen, beppu. On the island of #Kyushu, japan, a town called beppu has an onsen tour, a hot springs tour, where you can get a local bus from one onsen to another. There are blue, red and sand baths: the blue is sulphur baths, where the water is a milky blue with an eggy sulphuric smell. The sulphur is made in small A framed thatched huts from the natural spring waters. The red is bubbling hot terracotta mud. The Japanese buy this mud to use as face packs. The sand bath, which I experienced, was one of the most bizarre things- you are clad in a Yakuta, a summer kimono, you lay down on hot sand facing the sea, an assistant covers you from head to foot, leaving only your face uncovered, with hot heavy sand and leaves you for 15 minutes. You feel your body pulsating, your heart beating hard, you feel enclosed but secure. 15 minutes feels like an hour. Then the assistant digs you out and you go for a shower in your cotton kimono. Beppu is a town full of steam: people cook their dinner at the onsen in baskets placed over steam chutes from the ground. I saw Japanese nibbling on sulphur steamed eggs. Elsewhere in town, you can visit communal steam kitchens, where you take your raw ingredients to be cooked in steam ovens, stacked in bamboo baskets. Steam pumps out from every orifice in the town, from manholes, from grates, from gaps in the rocks. I will be writing about all of this on my blog Msmarmitelover.com but giving you snippets of my journey through japan. My only question is: when can I return? #beppu #onsen #steambaths #sulphurbaths #steamcooking #steamkitchen

Japanese pancakes ‘dorayaki’ a bit like scotch

Japanese pancakes ‘dorayaki’ a bit like scotch pancake sandwiches. I’ve filled them with thick cream and South African bubblegum plums or pluots, only available for a few weeks in February. For the ham and high #shrovetuesday column. #japaneserecipes #japanesepancakes #dorayaki #recipe #pancakeday #sando #japaninspiration #foodstyling #iphoneography #plums #pluots #southafricanfruit #stonefruit #winterfruit #scotchpancakes

My new Japanese knife, slices through plants like

My new Japanese knife, slices through plants like butter. Bought in a shop in Kyoto. Patina on the knife like pools of rain, Japanese steel. Tropical wood handle. It won’t need sharpening for six months. In Japanese there are 500 words for cutting. “A samurais sword is his soul”. Yeah I watched Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai on the plane. #japan #travel #knives #kitchentools #samuraikitchen #foodtraveller #chef #cook #solowomantraveller #knifecollection #vegetableknife #vegetarian #supperclub #japanesefood #plantfoodninja #home #kitchenalia

Nagasaki atomic bomb monument #slideshow ▶️ th

Nagasaki atomic bomb monument #slideshow ▶️ this was incredibly moving but also interesting. You see neither clocks 🕰 clothing burnt and shredded down the side that was facing the blast up to 2 kms away, origami cranes in brightly coloured chains that are a symbol for prayers. Imagine this was an early prototype- any bomb dropped now would have an even more devastating result. I’ve always been utterly against nuclear energy- went to greenham common- it’s beyond human control. Too dangerous. The most affecting are the stories from survivors- Japanese but also prisoners of war that were being held there. I chose to go to #Nagasaki rather than Hiroshima because there is a life beyond the atomic tragedy there, a vibrant interesting city full of colour and culture. The yellow cake is castella, a Portuguese influenced cake that is popular here. The manhole lids leading up to the museum were so pretty. Is it Jeremy corbyn that collects manhole lids? He’d love japan. They make everything pretty here- everything from the humblest locker to a manhole to a pack of sugar. Details, form and aesthetics are important here which is lovely to see. #solotraveller #darktourism #japan #atomicbomb #nuclearbomb #travel #southernjapan #memorial #origamicranes #survivors #femaletraveller

Dejima, reconstructed ex Dutch colony from the 18t

Dejima, reconstructed ex Dutch colony from the 18th century. A mix of colonial and Japanese architecture- I love the colours and wallpapers. Each house smells of wood. Originally dejima was an island- so foreigners were kept off the mainland of japan. Dutch traders sold bars of copper and spices to the west. #nagasaki #dejima #18thcenturyjapan #historicalarchtecture #dutchcolony #copper #japan #history #travel #solofemaletraveller #slideshow #carousel ▶️

Chinese New Year becomes a 15 day lantern festival

Chinese New Year becomes a 15 day lantern festival in Nagasaki. It was sheer luck I turned up then. I’ve been travelling without a plan- just hopping on a train and booking my next accommodation while on said train. Bit stressful but it leads to lucky coincidences and the odd disaster. I love to research but this time I deliberately didn’t- wanting to be surprised every day. The question I’m most frequently asked- how did you know about this place? What gave you the idea? Japan is incredibly safe for a solo woman to travel. So taking risks, even in winter, is doable here. #carousel ▶️ #lovenagasaki #travelingsolo #japan #jrrailpass #lanternfestival #nagasaki #cny #yearoftherat #chinesenewyear #japan2020
#portcities #traveljapan #independenttraveller #solofemaletraveller.

I loved #Nagasaki. I love most port cities, they h

I loved #Nagasaki. I love most port cities, they have a special atmosphere. The atomic bomb museum was interesting & moving. I was lucky to arrive during the lantern festival which lasts 15 days after Chinese New Year. Nagasaki has one of the biggest Chinese communities in japan. It’s always been more open to outsiders. I also visited dejima the ex Dutch colony which has been rebuilt as the original. More pix from Nagasaki soon- such an interesting city. Very friendly too. #travel #nuclearbomb #memorial #japan #nagasaki #lanternfestival #cny #chinesenewyear #dejima #solotraveller #pink #incredibleview #instajapan #iphoneography

Sayonara ine no funaya. One of Japan’s most char

Sayonara ine no funaya. One of Japan’s most charming villages, rows of wooden boathouses or funaya, fronting onto the glittering sea. #travel #japan #boathouse #village #funaya #beachhutstyle #solotravel #exploringjapan #femaletraveller #seaside #coast

The pleasures of a good hotel. I stayed for one pr

The pleasures of a good hotel. I stayed for one precious night of luxury at @sowaka.hotel in Kyoto. From the welcome drink presentation ( champagne or nigari sake?) to the toiletries, tea set and complimentary Japanese pyjamas, it was exquisite. The wooden bathtub, the silk and rice paper sliding doors, the scent of cedar wood? In the middle of the night I woke up and saw the Japanese garden lit up like a living painting. In the restaurant I was treated to a rare and very expensive performance by geisha ( who are called geiko in Kyoto). They start training at 15, and are called meiko. They have real hair, and it takes 3 hours to get ready. Their kimonos cost a million yen. They aren’t allowed to wash their hair. They must sleep on a hard Japanese pillow. If they get married they must leave the profession. #travel #japan #kyoto #solofemaletraveler #luxurytravel #geisha #traditionaljapan #sake #japanesecuisine #kaiseki #foodietraveller #hotel #boutiquehotel #gifted #pressstay @labombance_gion @sowaka.hotel

Red train bridge in northern Japan, like an ink br

Red train bridge in northern Japan, like an ink brush painting ‘ sumi-e #aikitanairikuline #japan #train #railtravel #japaneserailtravel #travel #sumi-e #monochrome #snowscene #travelphotographer #restauranttrain #msmarmitelover #solotravel #solofemaletraveller #trainbuff

My piece in the ham and high on doing the #caminod

My piece in the ham and high on doing the #caminodesantiago with recipe for torta de Santiago. A bigger piece is forthcoming on the blog. More advice more pix more food. #hiking #travel #pilgrimage #camino #walking #eating #santiagodecompostela #theway #followtheshell #saintjacques #saintjames #solotravel #femaletraveller #spain #galicia #glutenfreerecipes #recipes #foodtraveller #theseboots @caminoways

In Tokyo I spent my birthday in ‘kitchen utensil

In Tokyo I spent my birthday in ‘kitchen utensil street’ 🍴 kappabashi. It’s like Disneyland for kitchenalia addicts. The streets are scrubbed clean, there is piped music on the pavements and everything is pastel green and pink. Shops sell samurai grade knives 🔪 , basketware, copper pans, gadgets, gorgeous plates, bowls, cups, in wood, ceramic, porcelain, with intense glazed in turquoise and buttercup. I bought a rectangular pan for making rolled omelettes. My heart. #travel #japan #tokyo #kitchenalia #foodblogger #foodtraveller #collector #birthdaygirl #pastelaesthetic #january2020 #wintertravel

Birthday bucket list so far: - [ ] Go to Japan (to

Birthday bucket list so far: - [ ] Go to Japan (tomorrow)
- [x] See Arsenal play
- [x] Eat Thai food
- [x] Go for cocktails. - [x] Eat Chinese
- [x] Do an immersive locked games room
- [x] Do sailing lessons. - [x] Do the Camino de Santiago #football #arsenal #northlondon #londoner #redarmy #birthday #celebrations #travel #experiences #bucketlist

New Year’s Eve supperclub at The Underground Res

New Year’s Eve supperclub at The Underground Restaurant. Menu is Piedmontese & Galician: home cured, smoked salmon with pane casau, saffron risotto, garden vegetables, bunet & tarta queso choc salame BYO sparkling wine. Tickets £65 book here: http://www.edibleexperiences.com/p/69/The-Underground-Restaurant/5088672055/New-Years-Eve-2019-supper-club. #supperclub #nye #newyearseve #london #celebrate #homecooked #chef #foodfrommytravels #

Chocolate salame for Christmas. H/t @nigellalawson

Chocolate salame for Christmas. H/t @nigellalawson for how to make it look like a real salame. I used home-candied orange peel, chocolate, hazelnuts all mushed together, rolled into a sausage, then dusted with icing sugar & tied up with kitchen string. Looks cool eh? Gonna put it on the cheese board. I forwent (past of forgo) the biscuit as I think chocolate salame have altogether too much biscuit. #christmas #christmasfood #chocolate #supperclub #cheeseboard #winterfood #salame #igfood #food #snacks #easyrecipes

Food and cookbooks 2019- the london collection. Pe

Food and cookbooks 2019- the london collection. People hate London and Londoners. Neglected parts of Britain resent the capital and I completely understand why. But it remains the case that London is a thriving multi-cultural city that attracts the best, most creative minds (and let’s face it, the most ambitious hustlers). Food and cookbook authors are no exception as this following list will prove. @fuchsiadunlop @angela_clutton @raretealady @cookwithjopratt @palestineonaplate @kplunketthogge @morgancheeses @nordic.nutrition @felicitycloake @margotbakery @lickedspoon @dianahenryfood @hoxtonminipress @yvonnembishopweston #christmasgifts #cookbooks #foodbooks #bookstagram #reviewer #2019books #londonauthors #booksforcooks #london #msmarmitelover #msnarmiteloverblog Detailed review at this link: https://msmarmitelover.com/2019/12/best-food-books-2019-the-london-collection.html 📚

On this wet and windy day of a December general el

On this wet and windy day of a December general election I think back to my trip to northern Italy in October. Piedmont is renowned for the religious architecture. Do visit Sacro Monte di Varallo, perhaps at Halloween, as it is one of the spookiest places I’ve ever visited. On a misty hillside, hovering gloomily above the small town of Varallo Sesia, (painted in 18th century Farrow and Ball type colours as ordered by the local council), there are 45 chapels. It’s kind of a mini-pilgrimage (and located on the Camino San Carlo which joins up with the Camino de Santiago), with pathways and gardens winding through small separate buildings. Each one has a screen through which you can peer at wooden or plaster models of religious scenes or animals. You could spend a whole day just wandering around enjoying the gothic atmosphere, the Italianate buildings and the nature. The cable car to ascend is just opposite a 15th century temple Santa Maria Delle Grazie which has a painted altar screen taking up the whole breadth of the church dividing the public space from an area where nuns worship. I saw a couple of ancient nuns bustling around in the wax-scented candlelit murk. The wooden screen, called a tramezzo, is painted by renaissance artist Gaudenzio Ferrari, influenced by Da Vinci. I will be hosting a #new years eve supperclub using inspiration I got from piedmont - #hazelnut #risotto and #tiramisu Book here at this link. http://www.edibleexperiences.com/p/69/The-Underground-Restaurant/5088672055/New-Years-Eve-2019-supper-club. ^. #travel #italy #piedmont #northernitaly🇮🇹 #foodietraveller #rain #mist #religiousarchitecture #halloween #spooky #supperclub

Budapest Hungary. It is worth visiting a city twic

Budapest Hungary. It is worth visiting a city twice. I saw things I didn’t see in January- the ruin pubs for instance, named so because they are often situated in old ruined buildings. They reminded me of squat parties- that same energy. I enjoyed the Hungarian crafts, needlework in bright colours, red enamel, Russian dolls. I revisited the famous baths in the park. The buildings are ornate, with filigree, ironmongery, balconies, painted plaster work. My favourite thing is photo walks: snapping and walking- getting exercise while being creative. 🍒🎄🍷#travel #iphonography #photography #nationalcostume #red #ruins #hungary #budapest #citylife #easterneurope #szechenyibaths #szimplakert #spa #supperclub #solotravel #femaletravelbloggers

A walk around Hampstead, one of London’s most ch

A walk around Hampstead, one of London’s most charming districts, traditionally full of writers, intellectuals and artists, on Saturday. True it’s mostly bankers that can afford to live there now but it’s still full of stories, tiny alleyways, historic architecture, crooked houses, cemeteries crumbling with famous tombs, churches, fresh air (as it’s on a hills), tiny shops and cafes, and the Dickensian Christmas spirit. One street- all the doors had wreaths made of conkers. I did 13k steps but offset these by drinking hot chocolate and mulled wine. #christmas #wreaths #hampstead #northlondon #londonwalks #londonhistory #supperclub #nearme #igtravel

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