Chirimoya Chutney?

This is a chirimoya which my dear friends Karmen and Jorge shared with me the other night after after a fantastic meal round theirs. The chirimoyas were sent from their dear friend Pepillo's orchards in Motril, Spain - where they are from. It is also known as the custard apple and when you taste it it is easy why as it tastes like a delicious pudding wrapped in a slightly alien packaging. Spooning out flesh straight from the fruit and it's almost an every-fruit as there are nuances of apple, pear, banana, plantain, mango, papaya going on. Of course my mind started to think of Chirimoya Chutney and how out of this world that would taste. Apparently they can occasionally be found in London but are particularly plentiful in Motril. I'm really grateful to them for their friendship as well as sharing this rare treat with me!

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!

Broadway Market 09/10/10

Smy Chutney had its first day trading at Broadway Market yesterday. We are in the extended market section next to the school. We had a brilliant day! I was only a teency bit nervous about transporting my chutney on my amazing new Y-frame bicycle trailer...I really shouldn't have been as it is a total work horse and perfect partner for my Bobbin Glorie bicycle and together they lugged about 60 kilos of chutney with ease. All the other market stall owners were super friendly and there are such amazing stalls full of tasty cakes, wicked t-shirts, accessories, jewellery and clothing, beautiful flowers, tasty apples and apple juice, sandwiches from de la Cruz restaurant, dim sum...it will be a wonder if I don't spend all my takings on the other lovely things on offer. Next week will feature a lot more info and pictures! Everyone should really come down and check out the old and new sections of Broadway Market! Thanks so much to Ash, Aims, Kyriakos, Nick and Frank for popping round on my first day, all the texts, tweets and facebook love and to everyone who was so complementary on Smy Chutney and those who bought some!

and remember...
it's not your chutney...
it's smy chutney

Work Them Smy Chutney Batches

Here's a little video to give you an insight into a typical Sunday for Smy Chutney. This one is actually last Sunday but this will encapsulate the past week. You may not find bubbling chutney, or in this case six-pepper jelly, as fascinating as I do but as I was making this video this song happened to get thrown into the mix and it is my favourite song as the minute, Ramadanman's Work Them. Good tunes obviously makes for tastier chutney and this seemed to work perfectly as the potent six-pepper jelly was furiously rolling. The picture isn't brilliant as it was fogging up the camera...probably not the best idea...but I thought it looked like molten lava or a martian firework display.

and remember...
it's not your chutney...
it's smy chutney

Bank Holiday Weekend in Orford

Smy Chutney went home to Orford, Suffolk this past bank holiday weekend. It was the Orford Flower Show which is not to be missed! Auntie Chrissie has a stand at the Flower Show and she along with other allotment holders and members of the community generously donates the fruit and veg she grows on her allotment to charity. Smy Chutney donate jars of chutney and this year they raised almost £600 for charity! Auntie Chrissie always send us home with mountains of produce for Smy Chutney for which we are SO grateful and nothing really compares to time spent with family in the country.

These are some of the ella bellas, damsons and greengages that we picked for the stand:

Here is a big, beautiful country bumblebee...it is really heartbreaking to think that bumblebees are struggling all over the world and falling in numbers, they are such hard-working creatures and so crucial to nature and the food chain!


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

Roast Pork Belly dinner with crackling & Ella Bella Jelly & Plum Gumbo

You can put Smy Chutney Ella Bella Jelly and/or Plum Gumbo on your toast and crumpets...but for me they taste finer with roast meats. Seen here with roast pork belly (and crackling!) they also taste amazing with duck, or goose, or chicken, or turkey....yeah, as I said any roast meat! The plate looks a bit like a dry canvas, don't worry! gravy was added to this plate shortly after this photo was taken.

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

View Tube Stour Space Craft Market Sat 18th 2010

Smy Chutney had a great day at View Tube's Craft Market yesterday. It was great to meet the people of View Tube and Stour Space, fellow traders and all the people who stopped by to chat, sample and/or buy some Smy Chutney. It was a beautiful day, the sun was out, people were on their bikes and just enjoying the last of the summer sun. It was my first time that close to the Olympic Village and it's got me really excited imagining what 2012 will be like. I met some great people - Nsaa Nefateri and her beautiful handmade cards, Bumble & Earwig and her whimsical felt jewellery and sculpture, Manami Williams and her lovely paper jewellery, Little Bird and her unique hand drawn (with love) ceramic jewellery and Little Bird Bakery with her beautiful looking and tasting baked goods. Thanks to Rosie and Rebecca and everyone who came out and showed their support!

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