I'll be at the De Beauvoir Christmas Fair this Saturday which has been organised by the De Beauvoir Association and last year there were loads of fantastic arts, crafts and more on offer. I will have lots of homemade chutney, jelly and jam and gift boxes. Hope to see you there!
Last year's event was one of my favourite events of last year so I'm looking forward to the 2012 Nag's Head Christmas Extravaganza - Sunday 25 November, 11.30-5.30pm,
Holloway Road. Huge free street festival on closed-off section of
Holloway Road between Camden Road and Parkhurst Road. Last year there were lots of different activities, music, dancers, fun stuff, I met loads of great people and there were reindeer! Even scrooge would find himself in the Christmas spirit with the turning on of the lights and reindeer...and the mulled wine always helps as well now that I remember correctly. I'll have lots of new flavours, gift boxes and more so do come down for a taste of some homemade chutney, jelly, jam and more:
or just come along for a taste of some Christmas action which includes:
chance to meet Santa’s real reindeer
visiting craft and food market
exciting funfair rides and climbing wall
six hours of live music and dance on the community stage
awesome street performers
free children’s activities such as face painting and story-telling
Christmas lights switch-on at 4.30pm
The extravaganza is organised by the Nag's
Head Town Centre Management Group in partnership with local businesses,
Islington Council, City and Islington College and Arsenal, and has been
sponsored by the Nag's Head Shopping Centre, Unite, Breyer and Drivers
and Norris. For more details visit: www.nagsheadlondon.com
Check out these jars of Smy Chutney, lounging on a sunny terrace in Rome, marvelling at the Colosseum, having an aperitivo and thinking about the important things like - where has the best pizza in Rome? The best tiramisu? Is there a city in the world as beautiful as Rome?
Feast your eyes on a range of canapés that I made for a recent gathering. They were the prelude to an Italian-made porcini risotto starter, roast beef and caramelised onion main and lemon curd ice cream that I made for dessert. The canapés were a hit and starting from the right of the photo and moving left they were:
Brie topped with banana & date chutney
Cream cheese topped with six-pepper jelly
Goat's cheese topped with jamón Serrano and black cherry and black pepper conserve
Rocket topped with pan-seared duck breast and plum gumbo
Grilled mackerel topped with greengage chutney
Stilton topped with black cherry and clack pepper conserve.
The top three favourites were the mackeral and greengage chutney, duck with plum gumbo and rocket and the classic banana & date with brie. The stilton was meant to be paired with a red onion marmalade but we ended up serving it as another accompaniment to the beef with the carmelised onions. I used Nairn's mini oatcakes for the canapés but I prefer to make my own and add different seeds and spices to complement the canapé or they are nice to eat on their own as an alternative to crisps.
Close up of (from bottom to top) duck, rocket & plum gumbo; jamón, goat's cheese and black cherry; cream cheese and six-pepper jelly.
Close up of (from bottom to top) stilton and clack cherry and black pepper compote; mackerel and greengage chutney.
