22 Jan 2011 - Broadway Market Schoolyard

Hello! I've been posting at an appalling rate since Christmas but I have been very busy - haven't we all! I have only been at Broadway Market Schoolyard Expansion (seriously! that is SUCH a mouthful, really wish that it had an easier, more memorable name) twice this year as I've been working on a project and the first week that I went out was during the great big wind gust of 15 Jan and my entire table was uplifted and blown over. Luckily not many jars were broken, at first I suspected that each and every one had been smashed to smithereens. Everyone was so helpful but that's just how lovely everyone is at the market and that's why I wanted to share with you some of the latest traders dahn the market.


First off is Benjamin's Butterflies, whose beautiful jewellery and art are truly stunning, like stop you in your tracks stunning. They are pieces and wall hangings made from butterfly wings. All the butterflies come from the Stratford Butterfly Farm and have all died naturally and the wings are collected from the sanctuary.




The photos do not do them justice and I didn't get any photos of his beautiful wall pieces as they sold out before I could capture them....on my camera.

Next up is Jolly Good Books who have a jolly good selection of books carefully selected by Fiona and Joe. The prices are beyond reasonable and their stall makes perfect sense. Now you can come eat lunch, buy some chutney and terrine for later, buy some cupcakes, coffee and/or organic cocoa then buy some lovely books to curl up with in the comfort and warmth of your own home.

Then we have JK Keepsake where Jasmine offers lovely bespoke embroidery gift keepsakes for baby products, wedding and special occasions. Your special occasion may be that nap you will need after gorging on goodies at the market!

Above is Copperleaf Print who trade in etchings, linocuts and gilcee cards. They are haunting, ethereal and beautiful pieces made by artists Martin and Nesrin Mossop. Their stall is like a mini-gallery so you should come down and have a wander and gander.

Speaking of beautiful products, next we have Mee Time, hand made bath products that are so pretty you may not want to use them but it's what is in the bath products that make them so effective. Jenny's line of soaps, bath salts and scrubs use all natural ingredients and lots of attention to detail goes into the ingredients and design of these beautiful bath products.




There was even a bit of bagpiping going on...all in all it was a lovely day at the market!

I will next be at Broadway Market Schoolyard Expansion in March but can be found at www.smychutney.com or on smychutney@gmail.com

and remember...
it's not your chutney...
it's Smy Chutney.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland - Broadway Market 18 Dec 2010

It was the last Saturday before Christmas and after checking about six different weather forecasts about six times a day and making an informal pact with the fellow traders from the Broadway Market School Expansion (BMSE) I decided to trade. This was largely because I had promised some regulars, a lovely elderly couple, that I would bring them some lemon curd and I did not want to have Christmas guilt by failing to provide them a lemon curd fix.

It wasn't snowing when I woke up early on Saturday so I decided I would indeed go. I stuck to the main roads but managed to hit a patch of black ice on Goldsmith's Row and came off my bike. Lot's of lovely people came to help after me, my bicycle and trailer came to a sliding halt. Luckily I was fine and suffered no bruises, probably due to the fact that I had on four layers of clothing in order to survive a cold day at the market. I pushed my bike over the canal and made it to the market and just as I crossed the threshold into the schoolyard I saw the first snow flake of what would be many that day. I quickly set up and within an hour the snow was starting to settle. There was a steel band playing Christmas carols and lots of people were out and it felt like the week before Christmas. A few hours later and the snow was blizzarding sideways and I had lots of friends and regulars picking up chutney for gifts and themselves. My lovely couple came and bought three jars of lemon curd and after that I felt that I should pack up and go home as the snow had covered everything on my table.

I had been planning on sticking to the main roads and trying to cycle home but it soon became evident that this would not be possible or safe. I decided to get home as the crow flies and push my bicycle/trailer over the crunchy snow through the back roads. My first hurdle was getting back over the canal. I tried to build up momentum to get over but the weight of my snow laden cargo proved heavier than I thought and I didn't get too far and could feel myself about to slide back down. I tried to lower my center of gravity and was starting to panic when a lovely passerby saw my predicament and helped by pushing my trailer so that we could get it over the canal. Many thanks to you kind sir!!!


I felt like a hobbit on Hoth in a disaster film pushing my wares through Whiston Road in Hackney.

My hands were so cold and wet from packing up my stall that about a third of the way into my epic journey I needed to have a chat with myself to just stay calm and be grateful that I didn't have very far to go and that a nice warm flat was waiting for me at the end.

About half of the way into my epic journey I started to revel in the beauty of the day and I had started to warm myself up.


Two-thirds of the way into my epic journey I spotted three young boys on a balcony at Pitfield and Mintern Street and I instinctively knew that a snowball attack was eminent. I stared them down in an attempt to avoid the attack. This worked until I was fully on Mintern street and my status as a slow moving target was too much to be ignored and the snowballs came my way. Despite wearing a massive tartan cloak I only was hit by one snowball. I did have some choice words for the culprits but not as many as the woman who was travelling down Mintern Street about five minutes behind me. I know that snowballs are an obvious outcome of snowfalls but the woman was right to call them 'COWARDS' about twenty times because they did have crates of snowballs and were really going for their targets. I met and chatted to lots of lovely people really enjoying themselves and the snow. I also encountered lots of lovely snowmen....

The maker of this asked me to come back later as he wasn't quite finished...he was also puzzled as to why I was lugging my trailer through the snow and thought I had picked a horrible day to move house.

Finally I made it home and was welcomed by the last snowman I met that day who had popped up directly outside my door. He had such a lovely smile and so did I after making it home.

and remember...
it's not your chutney...
it's Smy Chutney.

Broadway Market Expansion 20 Nov 2010

The market was proper jokes this week! There were laughs, music, food, rumour mongering, education, lots of people and all in all a lovely vibe in the air. It was also the coldest day out there so far but my handy pocket warmers helped take my mind off that as did eating, laughing and flogging Smy Chutney. I debuted my Christmas gift boxes this week and they were very well received.


I will shortly be emailing out an order form in case people cannot make it to the market. Email me on smychutney@gmail.com, join smy chutney fan page on facebook or befriend smy chutney on twitter if you would like to receive the email or would like to order any of my homemade chutney, jelly or jam.

There were some new faces in the market this week but first - one of the established and one of the loveliest stalls in the market, Ray Stitch, a one-stop-shop for clever stitchers.


It is positively full to the brim with buttons, fabric, patterns, wools and lots of other items you may need to create beautiful new things! And fellow stall holder Candy Camper did just that with a make your own handbag kit from Ray Stitch which she had made and was on display yesterday. Wish I got a photo of that as it is lovely but as I was taking the photo of Ray Stitch's lovely sign I was unaware that I had a customer at my own stall. I've only just noticed now that if you look at the photo of the sign you can see Brat & Suzie stall holder pointing me out to my return customer who needed his fix of banana & date chutney after going through a jar in one week, told you it was jokes! Speaking of Brat & Suzie, her clothing and bags are fantastic and I bought one for my friend and photographer Michuru (check out her amazing flickr!) and will have to get some for me next. One of Michiru's favourite words is 'apparently,' and Barbara Windsor was, 'apparently,' on the door at the St. Joseph's Hospice jumble sale which was on at Mare Street this Saturday and 'apparently' there was a massive queue. I tried to start a rumour that Barbara was 'apparently' going to show up at the Expanded Broadway Market but I don't think it really had any legs and my legs were cold and tired after lugging 70 kilos (new record) of chutney on my amazing Y-Frame cycle trailer!

I cannot NOT mention Cupcakes & Tarts beautiful cupcake bouquet:
Stunning and delicious. You'll want a hot beverage with that so why not stop by at Bean in the City:
There are so many brilliant vehicles at the market!


Also on my Christmas list will be items from Expansion Market newcomer and fresh print designer, Tope Tijani (on the right):

I heart print in a major way and these pieces are stunning, well crafted, playful yet chic. I want a mini satchel, belt, neckplate and coin purse. You will definitely be seeing Chelsea College of Art grad Tope in all the glossies rather soon, so I would come and get some of her work now before they all get snapped up!

Another newcomer was Zakuski - Russian and Caucasian food. I had never heard of Causasian food and never properly tried Russian food either but you learn, and can taste, something new every Saturday at the market - it is the cuisine of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia-Alania, Abkhazia, and the Adyghe.


For example, this tasty kolebyaka - salmon dish:
There were other new market stalls which I will be featuring and new ones arriving next week. The main Broadway Market is established and lovely and I am up and down it to get my usual bits and pieces that I can't do without but be sure to check out the new Expansion part of Broadway Market - round the corner from the Cat & Mutton in the schoolyard. There is time and space to chillax and chat, unique food and design - bring/tell your friends!!!

and remember...
it's not your chutney...
it's Smy Chutney

Broadway Market - 13 November

Well it was a week full of rain, wind and cold so I didn't hold much hope for the weekend but the weather held out in the end and it was a rather nice day in all. Several visitors commented on just how lovely all the food and design is in the schoolyard area and I totally agree so I'll just get straight into some pictures of fellow stall holders and their wonderful bits and pieces.

First up is Oboe, greeting cards and stationery. I simply must get that owl card next week! They are all fantastic and I wonder if there is a fox card to match Oboe proprietor Emma's amazing foxy hat...?

Next is Little Object, handmade jewellery by Natalie Reed. Natalie trained and worked in Madrid before returning to London. These photos do not do Natalie's work justice so you will just have to come and see them.

I've featured the brilliant designs of organik rocka before. I love their graphic black and white t-shirts:
I am also a fan of their line of colorful t-shirts:


All their items are made with bamboo which is soft, strong, ethical and sustainable. I am even a fan of their fliers!

I've also featured Candy Camper before, but who wouldn't want second helpings of sweets? And not just any sweets but sweets that you can not often find and sweets that take you straight back to childhood and make you happy. Everybody loves sweets and you can find something for everyone inside Primrose, the beautiful 1974 bay window VW campervan, converted into the finest old-fashioned sweet shop.

Primrose may like a map for Christmas that she could then use to traverse the country or globe. If she did then she would definitely want one from Future Maps. These are stunning maps that anyone would want hanging on their wall. You can get these here on a Saturday at the market or at their new shop open every Sunday during the Columbia Road flower market at 148A Columbia Road, E2.

I am very excited about the addition of Playsuit Parlour to the playground. Everything is made from recycled natural fabrics, organic and traditional herbal block-printed cottons and off-cuts. Their motto is, "Life is more fun when you're wearing a playsuit!" The pieces are stunning and so affordable you would be daft to not come and peruse the parlour.

Next up is Betty's Attic which has different little treasures each week including jewellery, ceramics, paper treasures and much, much more.

You'll never believe who I bumped into at Betty's Attic.....only Paddington Bear! Anyone who knows me knows that I have a Paddington Bear who I have had almost my whole life. Paddington and I do not like to think of age in numbers but let's just say we've known each other over thirty years and he has been with me through thick and thin. Now he'll be crazing me to come down the market to meet this P Bear but I know Paddington and he's much better off cozy and warm on a Saturday while I am flogging my homemade chutney, jelly and jam.

Speaking of Smy Chutney, we now have homemade Mincemeat available, it is delicious and has the not-so-secret ingredient of Smy Chutney plum gumbo and Smy Chutney brandied cherries and accompanying Smy Chutney cherry brandy added to it to take it to that next level - boom! We're making mincemeat so that you don't have to. Come down and try a sample!
So if that hasn't given you loads of ideas of things to come and see down the market, there's also the live entertainment! Next week I will have the name of the drummer and double bassist who really liven up the Market with their outstanding skills and wonderful set lists including lots of songs from the Jungle Book (yay!) and they even squeezed in a favourite of mine from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. The picture below captures their special guest star, Haysie, who briefly sat in for a spell on backup vocals and triangle. Haysie, I wasn't teasing when I said you have a wonderful voice!

See you next Saturday.....

and remember...it's not your chutney...it's Smy Chutney

Broadway Market - 23 & 30 October 2010

I'm getting a teensy bit behind on my Broadway Market updates on account of the amount of chutney that I have been making. This is a combination post on the past two weeks with photos from 23 Oct, let's keep it short and sweet. Speaking of sweet, here are Emma and Tom who are funny, sweet, big Smy Chutney fans and supporters and, like me - they are huge Eastbound and Down fans!

If you went to lots of festivals this summer then you may recognise Candy Camper who sells sweeties from her, well - Candy Camper! It is like a little ray of sunshine for the market.
Speaking of delicious here is Fiendish & Goode, purveyors of cakes. May I recommend the mini sponges...and the coffee-ish walnut ones...and actually it is all delicious!

More tasty treats from Cupcakes & Tarts, all I will say is - Guinness cupcakes!
Last but not least are Organik Rocka, brilliant graphic tees for all ages that make perfect presents or personal presents.

More pictures to come as there are so many great stall holders with amazing products as well as the great food on offer. I forgot to take pictures on 30 Oct but it was a brilliant day and thanks to Hollie, Smy Chutney stall regular - Nick and the spanish contingent especially Karmen, Jorge, Nico and Violaine.

So hurry, hurry, hurry and make sure you check out the playground extension of Broadway Market...

and remember...
it's not your chutney...
it's Smy Chutney.

Broadway Market - 16 October 2010

The best part of this week was being surprised by the gorgeous Rachel who was on a whirlwind tour of London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin and London again. It was on the final leg of her journey that she totally surprised me at my stall! I had mentioned being at the market but thought that we would try to arrange a meeting the following day. The dark glasses threw me but when I saw the mass of beautiful curls and my brain processed that voice I knew exactly who it was and it felt like the past ten years had melted away and that perhaps we were in the French Market of New Orleans instead of Broadway Market in London.

Here is Rachel with her friend Lis and I'm sure Spock was around there somewhere....

Other Smy Chutney friends stopped by, Soph and Staynton:

Smy Chutney regular visitors Nick & Rachel:

Celine & Dave did a cycle pit stop:


There was some lovely music as well...it was a great day...until next Sat!