The genius of the Caribbean - Part of the Era of Reclamation series at the British Museum

Here is the video from the online discussion I took part in for the Era of Reclamation series with creators of the Era of Reclamation series, Bonnie Greer, former Deputy Chair of the British Museum's Board of Trustees, and Hartwig Fischer, Director of the British Museum and independent scholar and researcher, Ian Foster, Fri 16 April 2021.

In the search for Black history, is the Caribbean the key? 

This was the question asked at one of the first events in the Era of Reclamation series at the beginning of 2020. Held on stage in the BP Lecture Theatre under the logo 'The Black British Museum', the event explored the history and importance of the Caribbean region, its diaspora, myriad cultures and exceptional people.

Now in 2021, at a time when museums are reacting and responding to the new social and political landscape, this panel discussion asks: what can the British Museum's collection tell us about the Caribbean as a cauldron of human genius, survival and profound legacy? Is there a Caribbean you may not know but need to?

The speakers include acclaimed independent scholar and researcher, Ian Foster, and history of food researcher, podcaster and museum professional, Emmerline Smy. They join creators of the Era of Reclamation series, Bonnie Greer, former Deputy Chair of the British Museum's Board of Trustees, and Hartwig Fischer, Director of the British Museum.

Map of the West Indies, etching printed on paper by Thomas Kitchen, 1734-1784 BM collection online

Thanks to Freddie Matthews and Christina Tubb and everyone for such a great event!!!

Plum Jam - Jam & Chutney Making course 13/11/14

Here are some photos and the recipe from the second week of the six-week jam and chutney making course at Daubeney Children's Centre in hackney, London. You may recall that we made

pineapple and passion fruit jam in week one

. The feedback was that all the families enjoyed the jam, even children who generally do not eat much jam. I always tell customers and students that jam isn't just for toast, I put a spoonful in porridge for breakfast in the winter and in natural yoghurt in summer or an all-year round snack. I also use jam as a binder when making oatcakes, use it in muffins and in jam tarts.

This week we made plum jam. I always keep it seasonal for Smy Chutney and for the courses so this was the perfect time of the year to make plum jam.

This recipe makes such a beautiful, deep red jam, notice it up the sides of the pan and the wall.

Here is lovely Lola stirring the jam. She makes stunning cakes so we chatted a lot about different recipes that can be added to cakes, tarts and puddings. 

Plum Jam Recipe

Ingredients:

2 k Plums

2 k Sugar

2 Lemon

1. Select fully ripe plums with which to make the jam
2. Wash and rinse the fruit.
3. Carefully remove all stems, pits, skins, and blossoms, if necessary, from the plums.
4. Cut the fruit into pieces and make sure to remove each plum stone and discard.
5. Measure the fruit and place in a large saucepan.
6. Stir in the correct amount of sugar for the recipe and keep stirring as you bring the mixture to a boil.
7. Continue stirring until the mixture thickens.
8. You will need to test that the mixture has reached its setting point, or readiness for jarring, keeping in mind that the mixture will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.  There are two methods for testing: Refrigerator test – Place a plate in your refrigerator while you are making the jam. When you think that the jam is ready, remove the plate and allow a few drops of the mixture to drop onto the plate. After a few minutes, check to see if the mixture has gelled.  Push the droplet with your finger and if it wrinkles it is ready to place in your sterilised jars. Temperature test – Using a thermometer to test that the mixture has reached the optimum temperature for your altitude:  Anywhere from a sea level of 300 metres to 8,000 metres will be alright to reach a temperature of 220°C.
9. Once the mixture is ready, remove it from the heat and skim off any foam that may have formed on the surface.
10. Pour the mixture into sterile jars (see above), leaving .5 cm headspace.
11. Use a clean, damp piece of kitchen towel to wipe the rims of the jars.
12. Top each jar with a lid, screw on the cover tightly and allow to cool.
13. The jam will be best if eaten within one year, refrigerate once open.

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!

Orford's 2nd Annual Food Revolution Day - 18 May 2013

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:

De Beauvoir Flower and Produce Show 2012

I unfortunately did not get a chance to go to the Orford Flower Show this year...but on my runs along the canal I kept seeing the sign for the De Beauvoir Flower and Produce Show so I knew that I would attend as I tend to cycle past there most days anyway.  When I say "there" I mean St Peter's Church, De Beauvoir Square and the bit in between where the event was held on Sunday 9th September 2012.

De Beauvoir bunting on the ramp to the crypt.

I was involved in the Christmas Market that was held here last year and it is a great space.  I went in the morning, after my run, to deliver anonymous preserves to be judged in the show.  I entered some newer flavours that I've been working on...greengage jam, gooseberry and green tea jam and a greengage chutney. I went back several hours later and here are some photos of the different classes of entries:

I love this delicious looking cake...complete with bunting!

Local young artists.

A cake that looks delicious, beautiful and is probably soothing all at the same time...genius.

Diorama flower power.

Fruit...

and veg.

Second prize for my greengage jam.

Second prize for my greengage chutney.

The preserves table...sadly my gooseberry and green tea jam didn't garner a ribbon but I was informed by a lovely gentleman outside that this year was highly competitive so I was very pleased with my two seconds from my three entries.  I donated my jars to be auctioned for charity at the end of the event.

Outside the De Beauvoir Gardners had loads of beautiful indoor and outdoor plants for sale.

There were the much talked about 2012 Rodent Racing events...

...as well as the Snail Games.

There were very excited creatures of the two and four legged variety gearing up for the Dog Show.

After the dog show I started to make my way back to my bicycle and learnt a fair bit about the tasty local De Beauvoir honey bees and resulting honey.

I won three prizes from my four tombola tickets! A faberge-esque egg which I will use for egg and soldiers, a necklace and an Ikea mystery...I'm not sure what the use is for item 610 but it was still very exciting to win it.

Just before left I treated myself to a delicious strawberry ice cream cone from the

Rosemary Branch mobile ice cream cart

.  Overall it was just a lovely way to spend a Sunday at a well-organised local event.

De Beauvior Bunting

 

Bunting from the De Beaviour Flower and Produce show.I will be posting more about this in the next few days!

  

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!

Blog Eat Blog - The Weiner Results

Congratulations to Will the Blog Eat Blog Champion!!!

Will of

WillYums

(@willyumscouk

)

won with his tasty Jam Hot topping.

Here's the motley crew of from left - me, Abiye of

Big Apple Hot Dogs

(

@bigapplehotdogs

), Will, Paul of the

Mouth Watering

blog (

@PaulLomax

), Ian of

Pie for Brains

(

@grobelaar

) 

and judge Chris Harding (

@cgharding1

)

reveling in our prizes at

Street Feast London

(

@StreetFeastLDN

).  Prize packs were 2 kilos of meat in the form of a Big Apple BBQ pack!

And a certificate! If you know me then you'll know that this was almost as exciting as the BBQ pack...well almost.

Abiye having a well deserved slug of champers.  Thanks for bringing all us crazy topping nerds together, it was great fun and I can't wait for the next installment, there are already lots of great ideas swirling around.

It was a great tournament and a great night.  I'd like to apologise to my neighbours, again, for the very late night hula hoop session that took place in my flat many hours after these photos were taken.  Ginger beer, champagne and rum are not conducive to hula hooping techniques.  Luckily I awoke to my Big Apple BBQ pack which took centre stage in a massive breakfast and later induced a two-hour sausage coma/nap.  Thanks again and see everyone soon!