2nd Annual Orford Food Revolution Day - 18th May 2013

Another great event getting the community involved to celebrate and support Orford Primary School’s Kitchen Garden Project at the Jamie Oliver's 2nd Annual Food Revolution Day - thanks to all the organisers and everyone who came out!

Nag's Head Christmas Extravaganza 2012

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

and remember...

it's not your chutney...

it's Smy Chutney.

please follow us on twitter and facebook 

and if you haven't seen it already, here's a little video made by Emma Crouch about Smy Chutney:

 

Orford Food Revolution photos

Orford Town Hall proudly displaying the Food Revolution Day banner.  Below are some photos from the day which was just brilliant.  As of 31 May, over £ 1430 has been raised from the event and that figure was still rising.  Joanna, Michelle, Kate and Roger all deserve a round of applause and a rest for organising the day and the ongoing good work in the village and for the young people.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day

Orford Primary School’s Kitchen Garden Project 

Pump Street Bakery 

Well Associates  

Orford Food Revolution Day

Can you smell the Food Revolution in the air?  Well you should as it is happening and upon us.  This Saturday 19 May I shall be in Orford, Suffolk for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day.  The Orford Food Revolution Day will be held in the village square which has been pedestrianised for the day and all the regular Orford Country Market stalls will be there as well as some additional ones, including me - Smy Chutney.  This community event will be an opportunity for people who love food to share information, talents and resources; to pass on their knowledge and highlight the world’s food issues.  It's all about making a difference and getting all the elements of community of all ages together and promote better food and education for everyone.  This is also a global event with people all over the world coming together.  From schools, restaurants, local businesses, dinner parties and farmers' markets, to date the following are involved:

• 543 CITIES
• 57 COUNTRIES
• 391 PUBLIC EVENTS
• 425 DINNER PARTIES

WOW! I'm so excited by the concept and so excited to be participating in the Orford Food Revolution Day - where I am from!  

Orford Primary School’s Kitchen Garden Project has been running for two years as a pilot project for the Jamie Oliver Foundation, thanks to the combined efforts of the local community, and the educational charity Eastfeast. Using an approach that has been fully integrated into the school’s curriculum, the project teaches children the joys of growing and cooking their own food in the hope of planting a seed for positive eating habits that will last a lifetime.  

My earliest memories are of pulling up potatoes, picking and eating strawberries, the smell of the Oysterage, going to see freshly hatched chicks, cracking open coconuts won at the Flower show and eating fish and chips on the castle green. I feel so lucky and proud to be from Orford and can't wait to be part of this event and its message. Now I'm based in London but get back to the village whenever I can and always bring back a bounty of bootiful fruit and vegetables from my dear Auntie Chrissie's allotment.  I've posted before on Orford, the Orford Country Market and Orford's Fine Food if you're interested.

I'm also thrilled to be involved in Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day as I live and work directly across from Fifteen Restaurant in London.  I've always been a fan of his passion for food but for five years I've had a unique insight into just how hard all of his team work.  No matter what time I get up, the kitchen are already hard at work and continue to do so well into the night.  The restaurant team and the team in the offices are also working methodically throughout the day and night.  The deliveries in the morning and the Fifteen shutters retracting each night are sounds that regulate my day as do the flashbulbs and chatter of the patrons excited to see the stunning Fifteen building and eager to enjoy their fabulous meal together.  Most inspiring is to hear and see all the Fifteen apprentices.  I'm not a stalker (promise!) but when I'm not attending to my chutney pots or working at my kitchen desk, I'm at my desk in the window and it's a beautiful view of the cobblestones, Fifteen and Westland Place Studios.  I was loved Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day? book when I was little and it's a bit like that:

So I took it as a good sign for the Orford Food Revolution Day when I heard some commotion outside on Monday and when I looked out, this is what I saw:

Jamie Oliver and Richard Branson!  They were at Fifteen where Virgin Unite and the Jamie Oliver Foundation held a special event at Fifteen to announce the winner of the Screw Business As Usual competition.  Richard Branson has also promised to cook a shepherd's pie on Food Revolution Day and share the recipe.

What will you do on Food Revolution Day? Check out their website to see what's going on in your area or come to the Orford Food Revolution Day! Thanks to Joanne of Pump Street Bakery and Roger of Well Associates for inviting me and all their hard work and involvement and obviously the Jamie Oliver Foundation for their hard work, involvement and vision.  I'm donating a percentage of any proceeds that I make on the market stall to the Orford Primary School’s Kitchen Garden Project and am hoping to be inspired and inspire future and existing preserve makers.  I have fond memories of the school and I'm sure the project will have a lasting impact on all those involved.  Can't wait to see what they've been up to and to see everyone there!

Duckie Christmas Market - throughout December at the Barbican

I will be trading on Tues 13th, Wed 14th, Tues 20th, Wed 21st December from 6-930 pm at the Duckie Christmas Market held in the Barbican Foyer.  The market accompanies the Duckie Christmas Show, a spectacular new Christmas show in the Barbican theatre.  Duckie produce Event Culture: shows that mix the boundaries between theatre, nightclubs and new mode pop and arty show business. This Christmas season I'm trading at loads of super cool venues for super cool organisations and I'm super looking forward to the Duckie Market because it's right down the street from me and right up my alley.  The Duckie Christmas show and market will be running throughout December as well as lots of fun workshops on the weekends, details below:

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10 - 30 December
Week nights 6pm – 9.30pm
Weekends 2pm – 9.30pm
Free Entry

The Barbican foyers are transformed
into an indie Christmas gift market with 60 homespun stalls showcasing
cult crafters, artisans, designers, hawkers, butches, bakers and candlestick makers.

Dodge the chain stores and do your Christmas present shopping at Duckie
for original homemade housewares, kit, jewels, potions, cards, curios & nosh.

Duckie Christmas Market

Barbican, Silk Street, London EC2
Closed on 12, 19, 24, 25 & 26

Plus 1:  Crafty workshops at weekends - create your own:
Christmas cards, calligraphy, wrapping paper, corsages, pennants, decorations and fairy lights.
An inspiring Letter Lounge, gift-wrapping station and ‘Poortraits’ too!
Plus 2:  Free Duckie Christmas Party on Friday 16 December 9.30pm till 1am
Plus 3:  Spectacular new Christmas show in the theatre Duckie Christmas Show

more details at
duckie.co.uk

For current chat, trader info & product images, join the
Facebook Duckie Christmas Market


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I love not having to cycle Smy Chutney trailer too far, I love the Barbican and I love the Duckie ethos and vibe.  It's going to be a lot of fun with amazing stalls, come along, see the show and do some Christmas shopping!  I'll have my luxury homemade Smy Chutney, jelly and jam as well as Christmas items such as:

 

If you can't make it to the Duckie Christmas Market you can also order online or visit me at Whitecross St Market on Thursday's and Friday at the Barbican and Waitrose end of the market and sample all the yummy flavours before you buy.

and remember...

it's not your chutney...

it's Smy Chutney.

please follow Smy Chutney on facebook and twitter...

and if you haven't seen it already, here's a little video made by Emma Crouch about Smy Chutney: