Sorry. This post isn’t about how nice or revolting Marmite is – it is about the power of the underground restaurant ladies and gentlemen although there is a marmite connection that will become clear shortly. Being the thoroughly modern techMiss that I am (not very) I have been spending a bit of time over here lately. It’s quite amazing what one can achieve in 140 characters or less – and it is quite amazing who you bump into via friends of real life friends and what you can learn about/do. Somehow, I can’t quite work out how I became a follower/followee of Ms Marmite Lover but thank god I did. Ms Marmite Lover is an innovative and clever writer, astrologer, blogger and cook who conceived and runs The Underground Restaurant. I can hear a chorus of ‘what’s that’?
The Underground Restaurant explores the thoroughly modern and fantastic phenomenon of turning your living room into a restaurant every week and serving a wonderful bespoke supper for a very reasonable £20-£25 a head (they also do concessions). The procedure is all very exciting and mysterious as are the teen goth/beautiful rockabilly staff and an after-pudding chat with Ms Marmite herself. Most of the produce is organic and all of it is vegetarian. No don’t turn your nose up – see irresistable sample menu below for more detail. What I like about this apart from the obvious food part is that all of this operates on trust. Trust to open your house to complete strangers and cook for them. Brilliant and something that is much needed in this ugly age of mistrust and selfishness. A proper night out with an added ‘new media’ skew on it if you like.
Here is this week’s menu:
Kir Royale
My marinated olives
Thai fish cakes with a sweet and sour coriander and cucumber dipping sauce
Focaccia from the Aga
Stilton and butternut squash risotto aided by Marghe
Mache (lambs leaf) salad with quails eggs and mustard dressing
Chocolate simnel cake
Baby Easter eggs
Coffee
You can check out the main Ms Marmite food blog here for further details, pictorial ‘how to’ guides and wonderful mouthwatering recipes. Interested? You can book here.
The Underground Restaurant are also now running The Underground Cooking Class in conjunction with other specialist boutique chefs such as Roberto Cortez where you can learn how to make magic frozen caviar with blue curacao amongst other things – see here for wonderful step-by- step guide on Ms Marmite’s food blog.
I am off to purchase my ticket without further ado.
PS: Oh and they do the occasional proper tea as well – delicious!
(all photo’s kind permission and (c) of Ms Marmite Lover/The Underground Restaurant)