My day back
(New cakes in the line-up! WINTER FRUIT TART & LEMON DRIZZLE CAKE. – The winter fruit tart was a slow burner despite it being the most delicious of the lot… And healthiest too, as it uses honey to caramelize the nutritious dried fruit & nuts… But on the other hand, the lemon drizzle was a hit! I made two cakes, one to sell as slices, & one to sell as a whole. The ‘whole’ one went in no-time while I was still setting up the stall in the morning. – I’m going to make one more next week. )
(Tower of luxury brownies: for the recipe read my past blog post!)
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Last Saturday I returned to work. And it was… fantastic! I’m still buzzing from it!
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First, the weather was sunny & beautiful. Last month was super-rainy, like almost everyday, so this weekend, loads of people were out to enjoy quite possibly the last bit of sun for the year. Someone told me that the park situated at the end of the market was just simply a sea of people! No doubt armed with goodies purchased from the market. Fantastic.
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Though, it soon became so hot, that I started to get worried about my chocolate truffles. (Would it melt? Would people want to buy chocolates in the hot weather?) But, here being England, the land of chocoholics, I needn’t have worried, because by the end of the day, I managed to sell all except for 2 boxes! (One went to my neighbour who always gives us his allotment goodies. The other box, I’m munching on as I write.) I sold ALL the cakes too. Fantastic.
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During the afternoon, when I was (unnecessarily) worrying about my truffles sales, I decided to cut some of them up as tastings to offer to potential customers who stop by. I cut about 10 ‘bits’ from a truffle, & I would say I manage to get a sale at a 5:1 ratio. Quite good going I reckon. Y’see, I thought, if I was going to have some left anyway, I might as well use it up. And besides, even if the people didn’t purchase anything, you never know, they ‘might’ one-day come back to my stall because they remembered. So that’s the future sales sorted, right?
– – Mind you, it’s a funny old thing, because the act of offering ‘tastings’ is actually an art form. Especially at a food stall market. If you leave the plate at the front, it’ll easily be wiped clean in nano-seconds & crucially no sale. I once had a young lady literally cycling past & grabbing in non-stop action. Quite amusing, but rude, I thought.
– – Since then, I whip out the plate from behind the cakes only when people stop by for more than 3 seconds. Most times, this seems to pleasantly surprises them. I then look at them in the eye while they taste, & sometimes ask what they think. Most people come back with: “ahh, lovely”‘s & “oooh, it’s nice”‘s. Now & again, I get a connoisseur-type who’d give me a paragraph. The fact is, this is great. I’m genuinely interested in what they say. And if it turns in to a sale, double great!
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Through the day, there were some people who came by my stall mentioning this blog & one that came by because she read that I’ll be back. Sooooo touching! Thank you! – Loads of locals stopped by for a chat too. It’s good to know nothing’s changed. Still the smiley people that they are.
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I love Broadway market. I love the locals, I love the type of customers it attracts, & I love my fellow stall holders. Being back is great.
How lovely that you’re back! I wish I could come to your market. Your goodies look delicious. Love the story about the art of free hand-outs. As for the winter fruit tart, maybe it’s the name? Maybe people aren’t ready for winter yet?
Comment by Astrid - September 22, 2008 8:10 am
Hi Astrid.
You are absolutely right about the name.
But I thought “Caramelized dried fruit & nuts tart” a bit of a mouthful. Any suggestions on the naming? – Or do you think “Caramelized…” is good? – It’s got beautiful ingredients such as pumpkin seeds, dried figs, & uses honey as the sweetener…
Comment by Tamami - September 22, 2008 10:07 am
Hmm… maybe call it ‘harvest fruit tart’? That would be a bit more in keeping with the season. Although I would have bought one no matter what it was called – it looks gorgeous!!
Comment by Rachel - September 22, 2008 4:47 pm
Your photos are fantastic. My mouth is watering just looking at them. They are a truely good advertisement to tempt people to visit your stall. Fancy meeting up for a coffee this week. (or herbal tea in your case).
Comment by Judy - September 22, 2008 9:26 pm
Hello Rachel from the States!
cheers, & I hope things are going well for you there! xx
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And hey Jude, ;-)
the photos were taken on D’s wonderful Nikon. except the lemon drizzle picture, which was taken with mine. It’s really different in quality don’tcha think? – How about this Wednesday? Little mister finishes at 1.45pm. We can go straight to yours after picking him up???
Comment by tamami - September 22, 2008 11:18 pm
hello. the tarts look amazing! I wish I was in uk to buy it…
Comment by Louise - September 23, 2008 6:41 am
Louise, thank you!!!
Comment by Tamami - September 23, 2008 8:29 am
I love Broadway market too! =) I’m glad your first day back was so successful!
That lemon drizzle cake looks seriously YUM…….. and I’ve only just eaten dinner! You and your yummy baking are turning me into a glutton D= LOL.
Comment by Jan - September 23, 2008 6:12 pm
Hello Jan! I’m so glad you love the market too! Well, it seems like the lemon drizzle cake is going to be a ‘regular’ item on the stall, so next time you come, you’d probably be able to taste it! ;-) xx
Comment by tamami - September 24, 2008 8:31 am
Welcome back, Tamami-san – it’s great to read your stories again (aren’t those tarts just gorgeous! I must try them sometime) I totally agree with you about tasting – I think you’ve done a great job! Look forward to more of your lovely posts, take care. kxx
Comment by keiko - September 24, 2008 5:49 pm
Hello Keiko-san!
thank you! And do come by when you’re next in Ldn! Would love to meet you… xx
Comment by tamami - September 24, 2008 8:31 pm
Hi again Tamami =)
Thanks for commenting on my blog!
I tried to look for your email on here so I could send you the pancake recipe but I can’t find it! Please give me your email add, either on here or you can just email me first at ? and I’ll reply with the recipe =)
Comment by Jan - September 25, 2008 4:54 pm
hi Jan, just sent you an email!!!
Comment by Tamami - September 25, 2008 7:30 pm
Dear Tamami san!
Although I read your blog quite often, this is first time I actually make comments…
Those cakes I bought last week was so lovely and tasty! Thank you so much. It is such a precious thing to have your cake after meal or with a cup of tea. I’ll be back soon to get more cakes from you! xx
Comment by aya - September 27, 2008 8:40 pm
Tamami-san,
Sooo happy to know that you are back to work. All the cakes of the post look
gorgeous. My mouth is watering. I am flying to London tonight in a dream,,,,,
toyomi
Comment by toyomi - September 28, 2008 4:00 pm
hi Tamami,
I have an award waiting for you in my blog. Thank you for sharing your recipes , tips and adventures with me!
hugs..take care
Comment by pixen - September 28, 2008 11:14 pm
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Hi Pixen,
woooowww! thank you for awarding me!! so lovely that you thought of me! xx
Comment by tamami - September 29, 2008 1:03 pm
tamami,
i am in love with your blog + your creations. i’d love to post something about you on my blog simple lovely, but wanted to ask your permission first, as i would include a couple of your photos.
please let me know what you think.
warmly
joslyn
http://www.simplelovely.blogspot.com
Comment by joslyn - September 30, 2008 5:18 pm
Hello Joslyn!
sure! wow, I feel honoured! And thank you very much for asking first – you won’t believe how many people don’t!!
Comment by tamami - September 30, 2008 8:18 pm
thank you so much Tamami!
the post is up at: http://simplelovely.blogspot.com/
warmly
joslyn
Comment by joslyn - October 1, 2008 6:28 pm
Joslyn, Many thanks for your kind words! xxx xxx
Comment by tamami - October 1, 2008 7:49 pm
i am in love with your blog and your tarts how refreshing! stunning full of life and beauty!
Comment by nadia - November 13, 2008 10:03 pm
Hello Nadia! Thank you for your lovely comment! How I wish I could take beautiful pictures like you…!!
Comment by tamami - November 13, 2008 10:25 pm
hi cocoandme!!
I have been reading your blog for ages now and I am truly amazed by your “cooking design” skills, it really shows that you come from the graphic designers world!
I now live in Switzerland and am really tempted to go and try to sell a few foodies myself… have you got any tips regarding the packaging? are you using just one supplier or are you shopping around to get nice wraps and bags? thank you!
long life to your brownies and truffles!!!
lauren
Comment by lauren - June 15, 2009 11:30 am
Hi Lauren, thank you for your kind words!!
Regarding packaging – I sell everything bare, & then put it in bland cake boxes or cheap paper bags (if it’s brownies).
As for the chocolates, I put them in clear poly bags, y’know, really standard ones, & put a stripey string to tie it.
I guess it’s because it’s a market – if I were to sell elsewhere, I will package it better – but the type of people that shop at the market hate over-packaging!
Comment by tamami - June 15, 2009 11:58 am