What’s been cooking?
(Still trooping on with the usuals!)
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So…, since my last proper post back in January, there’s been two important chocolate dates for me. There was the Valentine’s Day & then Mother’s Day which fell on the 14th of March in UK this year.
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((By the way, I recently found out that Mother’s Day is or was also called ‘Pudding Pie Sunday’ in Surrey of England! And I’m loving the naming…! I couldn’t find out exactly why they also call it like this, but I think next year’s Mother’s Day I’ll get me some puddie-pies, y’know, just for the name’s sake.^^ Hmm…! This reminds me of eating Galette de Rois on Epiphany – another pastry that is especially consumed on a fixed calendar date! Actually, coming to think of it, there’s loads of other calendar specific confectionaries isn’t there, like chocolate Easter eggs, Simnel cake, Christmas fruit cake, Christmas pudding… Were there any other?))
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Anyway, I am chuffed to bits to report to you that business had been ah-mazing on both occasions, selling out on the chocolates, & that is despite me making record amounts! I think the people in this country are so good at remembering to treat their loved ones. Or perhaps maybe like me, the ladies are good at constantly reminding the men not to forget to treat us on those dates…
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Of course there’s those good-sales days & then there’s awful days too. For example the last two weeks’ been pretty grim because of the rainy weather. It was particularly dispiriting when heavy rain seeped all over my chocolate tarts. And totally annoying when people take cover from the rain right in front of my stall & obstruct any view (at which point I give off an aura of ‘G.O. A.W.A.Y.!’ & beam it intently toward their backs). And when at the end of the rainy day I shout “saaaaale!” but no passer’s by glance my way, well my friends, it ain’t just the weather that is feeling rainy.
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Then again… (you probably know this because I go on about it), I do very much love Broadway Market & the customers there. It has it’s special moments & it brings out my ear-to-ear smile when regulars bring their friends or their parents around & introduce me saying “…and this is the lady that makes the best cakes!”, or when another says “I start every Saturday morning with your hot chocolate”. And just last week, there was a lady that said; “I always buy cakes from you when I have a party.” …Yayyyyy! (Cabbage Patch dance time everybody!)
Also, I’m getting lovely visits from blog-readers every week nowadays too! I think it is soooooo awesome, it is unbelievable really. Although every time one comes, I’m so thrilled I probably come across too intense with all my questions…? Hope not…!!
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So let’s see what else has been happening… Oh yes! Let me tell you about the two wonderful new experiences that came out of blogging.
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Well, I got invited to an underground restaurant! (… check this wiki definition if the term is unfamiliar!) It was sometime back in January this year, a particular organizer contacted me via comments function on my blog, & I went with two of my girlfriends! It was surely an experience! ^^ (If any reader knows of any other good ones in London please let me know!)
(Left: Denmark’s Mary welcome drink with black pepper vodka & horseradish. Also a small hot chocolate mix take away present. Right: Main brunch was gravlax, meatballs, dill potato & scrambled eggs.)
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And this one’s been the story I’ve been meaning to write for ages! It was way back in November last year, one talented Mr Anžej Dežan from London College of Fashion interviewed me about the market & blogging for his magazine project. And God, I tell you, from all the excitement of the situation, I… was… babbling…! And probably mostly nonsensical. I’d squirm if I was to hear back the recording on his dictaphone… (well, I hate the sound of my voice anyways – please dispose it in to the infinite abyss Anžej! Lol!). So, many congratulations to him for making any sense out of me & writing an excellent article! ^^
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Underground restaurants… I LOVE the sound of it :)
Is Mr. Anžej Dežan’s magazine available for purchase?
Comment by cocopuff1212 - April 5, 2010 8:00 am
I came accross your website for the first time today and have put it straight into my favourites, I adore anything sweet especially if it involves chocolate so will be coming back to your site again and again
Comment by Disney Holidays - April 5, 2010 10:39 am
Hello Cocopuff1212! Yeah I love the whole concept of underground dining too! ^^ As for the magazine, it was a college project, so no…! – By the way, I betcha there’s similar secret-diners where you live too!
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Oh wow, thanks Disney Holidays!! Hope to hear from you again soon!!
Comment by tamami - April 5, 2010 11:21 am
glad to read about your adventures:) kudos to blogfans who make the trek–long may they chat! here’s hoping for sunny, dry days for when you’re back on your feet & into the market ;)
Comment by petoskystone - April 5, 2010 1:30 pm
When I read your blog I thought of some particular Dutch things that are calendar specific. The first one is called Easter bread, fluffier than normal bread, made yellow with saffron and sweetened with raisins. It’s a specialty from the southwest part of Holland, that I love :)
Further more there are ‘oliebollen’ (deep fried dough balls stuffed with raisins and apple, you eat with New Years’ Eve) and so on… Just thought you might like to know some foreign calendar specific food.
Keep up your nice blog!
Comment by Gerda - April 5, 2010 3:22 pm
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Comment by mizue - April 5, 2010 6:55 pm
Cheers Petoskystone! Re: the blog-visitors, I can’t stop myself from asking where they came from, because sometimes, I get visitors from abroad, it’s just too exciting! Once there was a couple from, was it Malaysia?, on their honeymoon!!
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Thank you for your first ever comment Gerda! And thank you for your info! I’ve never heard of these & it is sooo interesting! – I also thought of another one – eating pancakes on Pancake Day!
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Mizue san,
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ç 美 
Comment by tamami - April 5, 2010 8:51 pm
Welcome back!! I missed your posts so much!!
Comment by Un posto speciale - April 9, 2010 2:06 pm
I found out about your blog from Anžej Dežan’s article. I made your cheesecake and it turned out pretty well.
Greetings from Slovenia!
Comment by Mojca - April 9, 2010 5:19 pm
Thank you Un posto speciale & Mojca for your first ever comment here!! !!! !!!! And I’m glad the cheese cake turned out well!
xxx
Comment by tamami - April 9, 2010 8:55 pm
Welcome back – I do hope you’re feeling all better now! Speaking of Easter, I spent this one (and the whole week leading up to it) in Vienna. Talk about pastry paradise!! If you’ve never been, you must go at some point…
Hope you enjoy your next weekend off, and that the ones after will be sunny and successful! xx
Comment by Rachel - April 10, 2010 6:45 pm
1st day at school! awesome! hope he enjoys himself & makes a friend or two. happy early birthday–a sunny day w/fair breeze (& every shop you want to go to is open) for you!
Comment by petoskystone - April 11, 2010 1:22 pm
Hi Rachel! Yup, I’m much better now – in the end I was in bed for two whole days! Lucky you to be in Vienna! I’ve been when I was little, but don’t remember a thing. – Hmmm, so what kind of pastry was it?? I’m a bit jealous – I haven’t been on holiday for years… (sulk!)
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Thank you Petoskystone! & yeah, as for the school – it’s gonna be a really big thing with ceremony & everything! ^^
Comment by tamami - April 11, 2010 9:59 pm
I tried sooooo many kinds of pastry… but I think if I had to choose my top 3, they would be Topfenstrudel (cheese strudel), Esterhazytorte and Fachertorte (not to be confused with Sachertorte, this is a cross between a cake and a pie, filled with poppyseeds, walnuts, apples and plum jam). Sadly the last 2 are near-impossible for an amateur like me to recreate at home, but that just means I have an excuse to go back to Vienna! ;)
Comment by Rachel - April 13, 2010 3:01 am
Hi Rach! Ah!!! I’ve never tried any of these!! Now I’m proper jealous! ^^ THANKS for writing about them. xx
Comment by tamami - April 14, 2010 4:00 pm
wow your blog is awesome and that cake stall looks so nice. I m curious about one thing if I can ask you. How do you make the icing sugar sprinkle on the fruit tarts stay longer? mine disappears instantly
Comment by snookydoodle - April 16, 2010 8:39 pm
Snookydoodle, Ah-ha!! Well, the secret is… that in the Summer, I sprinkle now-and-again through out the day. But here in UK, it’s pretty cold most of the time, so it seems to stay on there anyways! ^^
Comment by tamami - April 16, 2010 10:18 pm
Hi!
I really love reading your blog. I am learning a lot and very nice indeed. =)
minette (from the philippines)
Comment by minette - May 5, 2010 12:53 am
Thank you very much Minette!! And thank you also for letting me in on where you are from! Hope to hear from you again! xx
Comment by tamami - May 5, 2010 9:31 pm
Hi there, your blog inspired me! I am 33 and just quit my job – am trying to find something special that I am happy to do for life. I love your chocolate box and lemon tart by the way….. and my husband loves your hot chocolate, and my dog wish that she could eat your chocolates too!!
Comment by Magpie - May 9, 2010 6:25 pm
Hello Magpie!!
Congratulations on setting about on your new journey! And also for starting a great looking blog! – So I guess you’re a Broadway Market visitor then! Thank you for your kind words! Hope to see you there again!! xx
Comment by tamami - May 9, 2010 6:57 pm
Thank you Tamami-san! Yes, I am a weekly market visitor :) and I am Japanese too!! I am all new to this blog world and feeling bit shy and scared … I have to get over it soon.
Comment by Magpie - May 10, 2010 12:03 pm
Hello Magpie! You’re Japanese!? Oh wow! As for feeling shy/ scared, I was kind of similar in the beginning too! xx
Comment by tamami - May 10, 2010 11:01 pm
I recently found your blog through this is naive and i really like it. I admire your hardwork and the recipes you kindly share (the idea with the pattern on cheesecake, so clever.) Looking forward to new posts, and hope that sometime in the future I can visit your stall! ^_^
Comment by Jennifer - May 11, 2010 8:22 pm
Hello Jennifer!!! Thank you! ^^ Please do visit my stall in East London one day!! Birdy cheese cake awaits you… …!
Comment by tamami - May 12, 2010 9:39 am