Spaces!

We've had some cancellations... so there are now 4 spaces left for the 20th November event...

Email me if you'd like to come!

x

New blog!

As well as blogging about supperclub, I figured I should blog about what I cook on a daily basis, if not to inspire those with less show-off inclination, then to invoke criticism, recipe sharing and learn how to take photos of food properly... (which are to be uploaded forthwith! Damn that's a good word).

It's here... http://whatiatetodayblog.blogspot.com/

Julie

New date!

Hey hey... sooooooo... if you'd like to come along to our next Supperclub, it's due for Saturday 20th November.

This one won't be a singles one, just for whoever, but there's only room for 8 people so please do let me know asap if you'd like to come along.

I'm excited already!

Julie

Hello again.

SoooOoooOoooOooo...

Sorry to have gone underground for quite so long (I guess that's natural for underground restaurants), but the reason is, I've moved out of my lovely pad in Brockley and am now residing with the new chap in lovely Bethnal Green.

However... the delightful Zach and Tom who live in my house have agreed to still allow me to host supperclubs there!

Woo-hoo! So watch this pace. Just trying to sort out dates and we'll be back in the supperclub game. I'll email everyone with dates asap.

x

P.s. I hate to post without a pic, and went blackberry picking at the weekend ready for preserve christmas pressies... so even though the picture is entirely unrelated... here's my scratched berried hand.

Singles night at the supperclub...

So, maybe I was wrong to assume that this singles supperclub would be more about the loving than the food, or maybe it's just difficult to really impress with retro classics (no, I don't know why I chose a 70s theme either!) but I worried incessantly about the food at Saturday's singles supperclub so much so I forgot to photograph much of it!

Some keen guests arrived donned in 70s maxi dresses and florals shirts, with others taking a more backseat approach to the theme (I just dug out the only remotely retro outfit I had that wasn't firmly placed in the 50s or 60s), but with a glass of fruit punch in hand and a sunny back garden to sit in, everyone got into the swing of things.

I had just won the original 70s punch bowl set with matching glasses at the coolest of cool Americana and Bluegrass festival at the Gallery Cafe in Bethnal Green, so was keen to use it, but having had many dodgy punch experiences myself, opted for a simple sparkling rose and fruit juice with a slosh of favourite gin for good 'punch' measure. To accompany the aperitif, I served party classic and personal favourite – the cheese and pineapple hedgehog.

After some garden mingling guests were seated (this time in my lounge as the weather was looking foreboding all afternoon) to a sumptuous and generous version of prawn cocktail (some served in brandy glasses), with irish soda bread and homemade mayonnaise.

Quickly followed an admittedly slightly overcooked coq au vin, (cod au vin for the fish-only eaters... a moniker that amused the masses no end), served in good old fashioned 70s style with garden peas and new potatoes, not forgetting the ample amounts of curly-leaf parsley sprinkled on top. Alison Steadman's character in Abigail's Party would have been proud.

Dessert was individual black forest gateaus with a generous kirsch kick. (What is it with me and booze puds?)

What with the disco mix on the stereo and the retro classic fare there had simply been enough cheese, so sprightly (read = drunk) singles opted to pop off for a late one at the local pub.

Sadly the lovely Orchard was closing so we had no choice (in high heels) but to pop into the barge for a rosé for the road.

A fun time was had by all (judging my the cackling laughter, rolling conversation and big smiles at the pub), though who knows if i'll be donning a Cilla hat as well as a 70s Delia pinny...?

Any burgeoning love singles? You tell me!

x

The very first Eat Meet proper...

(More photos to follow)...

Phew, wow and blimey is the best way to describe Saturday night and our inaugural supperclub.

With a hazy shochu hangover and too little sleep, the prospect of spending the day mooching around my range was exactly what I needed (genuinely, nothing better for a delicate head). So then shopping, baking, soaking, steeping, fridge-packing, freezer accidentally defrosting and last minute ice buying (imagine a blonde in a frock and sandals dashing down to the supermarket on a vespa with seconds to spare) made for a lovely day, topped off with an even lovelier evening.

Poor Sophie was running late after having been to an all-day hen party (and graciously remained sober enough to waitress!), but quickly whipped on her pinny and poured cucumber gin coolers for the punctual punters, who forgave my name brain drain and even brought flowers!

As the guests mingled in the garden I prepared a watermelon, green bean and halloumi salad with fresh mint dressing. Through my nervous cowering behind a fridge door I was unable to gauge any reaction but the plates came back clean and that was good enough for me.

Onto the main, and having forgotten that ten duck breasts (I had vowed also to cook for my shy housemate camping out upstairs), wouldn't fit in one frying pan, a last minute shuffle ensued and I managed to get the crispy skinned poultry in the oven for baking.

More cider was added to the lentils before serving with watercress and pomegranate, the lot was then topped with the sliced duck and served in a hurry.

Dessert was a test of panna cotta wills, as I had only the day before purchased the vintage pudding moulds to serve, and ultimately guessed at how to safely and appropriately remove the set contents. With a couple of small exceptions, they popped out like a dream. I topped up the berries with more offending booze (a tipple of which the night before had contributed to my hangover), and served with mini lemon and poppy seed biscuits (forgetting the dozen or so extras I had left in the oven to burn).

The cheese course of strictly British cheeses; blacksticks blue, somerset camembert, saint giles soft, gervick goats and good old scottish cheddar were accompanied by homemade spelt biscuits and homemade apple chuntney.

Finally, coffee and time to sit and meet the guests, who I was glad to only know afterwards were almost all food-bloggers or supperclub aficiandos (the pressure!), but were without exception, friendly, fun, unendingly kind about my house and genuinely interesting people. Phew. Having started the evening with a panicked text to the beau that read "what the hell am I doing", it turned into a lovely evening and warmed the already over-heated cockles of my feeder's heart.

Bring on July 17th and the singles event. We still need men, so don't be shy, come on masse if necessary, but don't leave the lovely girls waiting!

Julie

x

Dessert...

... last Saturday's trial run was an all-round, if rather drunken success. However dessert was an utter failure in both presentation (I was a little tipsy by this point and threw it on the plate – so bad in fact, I dind't take photos), but also flavour. The panna cotta too bland (more rosewater needed maybe) and the roasted rhubarb (straight from the garden) was far too tart (even with the bucket loads of sugar).

So suggestions of a replacement dessert will be gratefully received, though I may crack on with earl grey panna cotta, raspberries and some fancy biscuits. Whadda you think?

Dates released!

Saturday 26th June – everyone welcome (foodie theme 'summery euro mash-up')

Saturday 17th July – straight singles (foodie theme 'abigail's party retro classics')

Limited spaces available, so please book now!

Julie & Sophie

Saturday's Trial Run

Welcome to a new Sarf-East Landan Supperclub!

So... to explain... Eat Meet is a supperclub based slap bang on the New Cross / Brockley border in zone 2, of beautiful South East London.

We hold dinners monthly and in which a group of strangers get together to enjoy some good food (hopefully), good company (guaranteed), and an evening of not-quite-restaurant not-quite-dinner-party foodie fun.

So, if you like food, fun, meeting people, eating, eating meat and possibly drinking large quantities of wine of an evening... get in touch to book.

Let the food, fun and frolicks begin.

Julie & Sophie