The Real Food Festival

 

I had a marvellous day at the Real Food Festival last week. So many wonderful stalls you hardly knew where to begin – it’s like being a sweetie shop and wanting to try everything.  We started off on the east side of Earls Court and soon became immersed in Madagascan vanilla pods; wasabe beans and hemp seed butter.  The emphasis at this show is on good quality food with impeccable provenance, and we were not disappointed.

I also managed to meet up with some old colleagues – Johnny from the Pudding Stop who I first met last year at Duck Pond markets, and Caroline Aherne who owns Sugar Grain, who was with me at Borough market.  I came back full of enthusiasm for all things cakey and have decided to add a few new offerings to my repertoire.  Expect to see a hemp and ginger cake at one of my markets or some marvellous spelt, apple, carrot and pumpkin seed muffins.

Parents in Touch have asked me to be their cake and bread supplier at the Under Fives Centre in Redlees Park – I am so thrilled to be associated with such a worthwhile organisation – it’s local to Hounslow ans supports families with disabled and special needs children.  I have the enjoyable task of providing tasty treats that are suitable for children with special dietry needs such a gluten allergies etc. It all kicks off on May 26th with a grand opening by the Mayor of Hounslow.

My regular markets now include Duck Pond Farmers’ Market on the first Sunday of every month, and I have also been asked to attend the mid month market this Sunday at Duck Pond Ruislip.  Go Duck Pond!

 In addition I am attending the following gatherings:

Brentford May Fayre Sat 21st May St Paul’s Recreation Ground, Brentford

Hanwell Carnival Sat 18th June

Brentford Festival Sun 4th September

Looking forward to our next glut of fruit and veggies…..so much to do so little time…..

Celestial Greets

Sarah

All you need is food and love….

All you need is food and love – so says Antonio Carluccio – and I must say I could not agree more. I have just been watching his latest foodie offering on the BBC entitled Two Greedy Italians.  The other greedy Italian being his best friend and fellow chef, Gennaro Contaldo.

When they were boys divorce was illegal, recipes were handed down from mother to daughter and every Italian woman took pride in their ability to cook for their family. In the first of the series, the greedy cooks eat their way around Emilia Romagna, home of parma ham and parmesan cheese, to find out if food and family are still at the heart of Italian life. 

Antonio and Gennaro have mixed views on whether things have remained the same since they were boys. Everything changes and sometimes change is good. The suprise for me was that they uncover the essence of family in an unusual setting – a drug rehabilitation centre.   Gennaro is moved to tears by an unusual group of cheesemakers, reformed drug addicts who now devote their lives to making cheese.  The highlight of the trip is when they share a meal in the ‘dining room’ – not a canteen as the guide is keen to point out, but a place for ‘the family’ to congregate. Both chefs repeat the mantra – if you cook you love – the selfless act of preparing and creating food for friends, family or even complete strangers is an unconditional act of love. In the case of the cheesemakers it can be a life saver as well.

I loved Mamma Contaldo’s ricotta dumplings and Antonio’s slow cooked family stew with polenta. Funniest bit – Gennaro trying to seduce Antonio with his warm chocolate and amaretto pudding. Classic.

If anything could make you want to go to Italy then this programme would be it!  Gorgeous scenery; sumptuous food of epic proportions; fine wine;  good conversation and authentic Italian recipes which I am dying to try.  Next week they visit the Bay of Naples…the home of  pizza, can’t wait!

The Merry Month of May

 

It has been a busy few weeks and I am just catching my breath before the next round of events. Easter, May Day and ‘the wedding’ have been great occasions for Celestial Cakes.  I have really enjoyed making simnel cakelets.  These lush little cakes are made with sultanas soaked in orange juice with soft marzipan centres and scrummy icing on the top.  Maids of Honour made a special appearance for the Royal Wedding along with light and fluffy blueberry friands and earl grey cupcakes with lemon butter icing. 

As luck would have it, I met the Mayor of Hounslow at the Brentford Wedding bash and had my picture taken by the local paper.  More good news as I have a regular pitch at the Duck Pond Farmers’ Market; and have several local events planned for the coming months such as Hanwell Carnival and the Brentford Toy Library May Fayre. 

Looking forward to seeing you at an event in the near future….