Market trading, restaurant reviews, London supper clubs... and losing my foodie mojo

These last two weeks have been frantic. I've done an afternoon tea-themed market stall at South Lambeth Market, am in planning mode for the Christmas market, have been 'training' as a market stall holder (this sadly does not involve how to shout 'buy my pies' in my best East-end accent, but is more about the ins and outs of book keeping and the legal requirements), did my first restaurant review, and started visiting some London supper clubs (more on the last two to follow). Combining this with my full-time day job has not been easy, hence my blog-neglect over the past few weeks.

These past few weeks I have felt a little like a naughty school girl who hasn't done her homework and have been putting off writing up my posts for some unknown reason (most probably lack of time). Today is the day I am BACK ON IT.

Firstly, my last market stall was a success. I made far more than last month so it meant I didn't run dry at 3pm. On top of the usual scotch eggs, lamb tarts, goats cheese tarts and tomato tarte tatins, I made fig and Gorgonzola tartlets with crushed hazelnuts, apple and ginger scotch eggs, cheesy hedgehogs, pesto and Parmesan pin wheels, feta and sun dried tomato scones and olive and Parmesan savoury cakes. The abundance of food also meant that we had plenty of scotch eggs for packed lunch the following week - always a bonus!

Cheesy hedgehog bread rolls - so cute

It was truly a marathon baking session - up at 7.30am on Friday morning to make pastry and not finishing until my cheesy hedgehogs came out of the oven at 10.30pm. South Lambeth Market doesn't start until 10am on Saturday (thank god) so I didn't have to be up at the crack of dawn but still.... I commend all market traders who do this as a real job (and not just as a ridiculous hobby). My whole body was aching after two days standing up - I must be really unfit.

I have to say a special thank you to my parents-in-law who came down from oop North for the weekend to be my pot-wash and sous chef. I'm not sure they realised what they were letting themselves in for...


Displaying my wares...



Moroccan lamb, feta and pomegranate tarts, served with minted yoghurt



feta, olive and sun dried tomato scones & pesto and Parmesan pinwheels


Come and visit my stall at the next market - on the 10th December, I'll be doing stocking fillers, edible Christmas delights and delicious treats, perfect for festive dinner or drinks parties  (I don't even mind if you claim you made them yourself!)

Email me for preorders, special requests or canape creations.