Yay! Sold out this week!!!
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& God knows when the last time I sold out without giving any discount…!
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Recently in London, the weather is hot hot hot, reaching 25 to 30 degrees, every day. – It’s proving a bit hazardous for me, as last week, my chocolate tarts melted despite being in the shade of the tarpaulin sheet roofing. – So this week, I skipped making them, & concentrated on making more fruit tarts instead (x1.5 more than usual). This decision obviously payed off! – Phew!! Otherwise, what am I supposed to do with all them fruit tarts??
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I also didn’t make lemon tarts at all because of the eggy-cream which would spoil too easily in such a hot weather. And I made slightly less of the brownies too, because I recently noticed that people seem to lose appetite for gooey chocolate in extreme weather like today. Funny old thing about the relationship of hot weather & food is that even “I” wanted to eat healthily – opting for the veggie salad lunch from a few stalls to my right. I also bought a big bottle of water to keep hydrated.
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Today, MORE bloggy visitors came by – like the American lady from Berlin, mother & daughter who BOTH read my blog, & a Japanese lady. TTTTThank you!!
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Last week I finally changed my mobile, after using the last one for 8 years! (This time I got the fancy new iPhone. C’mon, I deserve it…) My old phone has many old text messages that I couldn’t bring myself to delete – for example, there’s one that was sent from my D when our first child was born & I had to stay over night at the hospital without him. – The one below is another that I kept – sent to me from D all the way back in ’01. I just love the way he spelt coffee! As if like Al Pacino in his gangster movies!!
congrats on the sell-out :)! a great feeling, yes? my dtr. gets ansty if she can’t upgrade her phone after 2 yrs! enjoy the warm weather while you can! we haven’t had hardly any at all here. july & the toddlers’ pool isn’t even blown up……
Comment by petoskystone - July 5, 2009 11:58 am
I m sure you ll sell out everytime. If they re made with love and good products its a sure sell out ;)
Comment by snooky doodle - July 5, 2009 5:33 pm
Hi there, let’s just say I came onto your website by chance looking for a pate sucree with extra ooomph & found it many thanks for sharing your recipes on yr blog; your cakes look beautiful shame Australia is not any closer so my friends & I could pop in to your stall for a cake or two ?! Cheers Emmanuele
PS: can you tell me what filling you use under the berries pl?
Comment by Emmanuele - July 6, 2009 1:25 am
Hi,
It was lovely to meet you on Saturday. The brownie and chocolate cake were delicious. We had a really good day in and around Broadway Market and will be back soon!
Comment by Wendy (and her Mum!) - July 6, 2009 7:32 am
Hi Petoskystone! Yeah, it really is a great feeling! By the way, I always thought you’re from London or near by!!
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Hello Snooky Doodle – I wish that was true! ^^
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And thanks Emmanuele. The filling under the fruit tart is almond sponge (creme d’amande) & raspberry jam!
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And a big hello Wendy & mum! Thank you for visiting the Market last week – I’m glad you liked it!! Hope to see you both again soon!
Comment by tamami - July 6, 2009 9:44 am
Hello Tamami
Congratulations for selling out on your cakes- I guess you are not making the truffles during summer? because of it melting?
Comment by Louise - July 6, 2009 5:28 pm
i’m in connecticut (us). if i was close to london not only would i be 10 steps beyond thrilled, you would’ve have seen me at your stand many times before now!
Comment by petoskystone - July 6, 2009 7:58 pm
Hello Louise! That’s right – I haven’t made chocolates for sometime now! I think the nexttime that it will appear on the table is probably mid-September!!
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Oh I see! Connecticut! Thanx for telling me – Mystery solved! I’m often wondering who & from where my readers are from!
Comment by Tamami - July 7, 2009 8:36 am
Tamami, so wonderful to meet you and to see your treats in the flesh. They were absolutely delicious. Drop me a line if you’re ever in Berlin again — I would love to take you to a couple of favorite pastry shops!
Comment by Sylee - July 7, 2009 5:23 pm
Hello Sylee, first of all, thank you for visiting the Market during your trip! I’m so happy you liked the cakes! And secondly, I might take you up on that offer re Berlin if I visit again!! In the meantime I’ll pass on your URL to my friend O in Berlin for him to check out!
Comment by tamami - July 7, 2009 8:42 pm
Congrats on the sell-out! Here’s to a repeat this weekend…
Believe it or not, your truffles and chocolate tarts wouldn’t melt in Chicago right now! We’ve been having a very English summer. Can’t wait to leave in a couple months!! xx
Comment by Rachel - July 9, 2009 3:46 am
Thank you Rachel!!! I’m not such a big fun of hot weather myself…!! Have a lovely Summer Rachel!!!!!! xx
Comment by Tamami - July 9, 2009 9:36 am
Love your blog – just found it this morning. And darn, we were visiting London for the first time the week of June 15th (before the heat spell) – I would have run over to your sweet stall on the Saturday if I’d known about you! Next time for sure!
Comment by Lorraine of LPVintage - July 9, 2009 1:40 pm
Hi Lorraine! Oh no!!! I guess it’s difficult to come often from Canada… Well, if you do come one day, do let me know…!
Comment by tamami - July 10, 2009 4:27 pm
Hi Tamami,
Just discovered your blog today – fabulous! Extra interesting because in East Anglia I have started selling at Farmer’s Markets – Can I ask for some advice, what method do you use to keep your beautiful fruit pastries cold? Hope you don’t mind me picking your brains…But ask from the best!
Comment by Gem - July 11, 2009 6:59 pm
Oh if only I lived closer to London, I’d love to visit your stall!
I love your website, I’ve linked you on mine, I hope you don’t mind.
Comment by Louise - July 11, 2009 11:25 pm
Hello Gem!
What do you sell? Cakes? The fruit tarts don’t have any fresh cream inside – it’s baked almond sponge – so I don’t have any methods other than selling them fresh as possible!
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Hello Louise, thank you for linking to my website!!!!!!!! Mucho appreciated.
Comment by tamami - July 12, 2009 12:26 pm
I found your site by way of a brownie recipe on Chocolate &Zucchini. Can’t wait to try your Gateau Basque and definitely the Brownies. Lemon cake looks like another winner. I sell at a farmers market in Vicksburg Mississippi (US). We are only open June, July and August. I mostly sell breads on Saturdays. Has been +90F here for the past three or four weeks. So, difficult to have most sweets. I too get excited when I sell out. Congratulations!!!!
Comment by Paulette Meehan - July 16, 2009 5:48 am
Hello Paulette! Wow! Another seller! Breads – Do you make all of them yourself? That’s the one genre I’m not competant in that I want to get into. I once tried making one, and all that kneading made my back hurt the next day…!
Comment by tamami - July 16, 2009 7:38 am
I make all of them myself. No shortcuts except for the KitchenAid mixer which I use for mixing and kneading. Getting all doughs ready for Saturday now. Baking marathon starts tonight. Bread is much easier than what you do. Your tarts are lovely. Will send you an easy recipe later to get you started. No kneading. P.
Comment by Paulette Meehan - July 16, 2009 1:37 pm
Hi Paulette! Cheers for offering your recipe! Can you send it to contact@cocoandme.com please? – I don’t have a Stand mixer though, just a hand-held one… Good luck this Saturday – In London, we’re getting heavy rain everyday at the mo, so am not expecting huge sales this week! – Anyway, I’m looking forward to your recipe!!!! xx
Comment by tamami - July 16, 2009 8:13 pm
I am mixing breads tonight. I need to weigh the ingredients for you and will send recipes on Sunday, my time after I have recovered from sleepless Friday. P.
Comment by Paulette Meehan - July 17, 2009 1:26 am
Hope it’s not completely sleepless!? xx
Comment by tamami - July 17, 2009 11:17 pm
Hey Tamami! I tried searching for your email in my work account but somehow it’s disappeared… sigh! I uploaded the pics I took that day onto my flickr though, so you can grab them there :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/supercharz
See you again soon! x
Comment by Charmaine - July 26, 2009 9:57 pm
Hey hey Charmaine! It was great to see you two weeks ago. And thank you for uploading pics! I’m really crap at it though aren’t I! (no arms!) Funnily enough, the following week, I got scouted to possibly appear in a soap ad!!!! I know, isn’t that just totally weird? (they’re obviously looking for “real” size women!) If by off chance I do get it, I’ll try to bring my arms forward… LOL! Anyway, hope to see you again soon, and in the meantime best wishes to you! xxx
Comment by tamami - July 27, 2009 1:26 pm
I can’t believe my luck coming across your blog. I have just started my own blog after years of baking. I had a market stall for a couple of years in Norfolk selling cakes and scones, but it closed when a number of sellers pulled out. That’s the way it goes but it’s left me selling my cafes through a cafe in Norfolk close to home and now having to get up ridiculously early and drive precariously to the market! I did love the interaction. I am going to read you blog from start to finish.
This entry stood out for me because I remember that awesome feeling when I sold out too. Totally unreal.
You are my new idol!
Claire x
Comment by Claire Sullivan - January 21, 2013 8:05 pm
Claire,
ha ha, yes, that ‘feeling’…!!! Only stall holders know. When it’s produce that you make yourself, you want to make sure it goes to a good home! Good luck with your new blog!! You’ve got loads of contents already! Wow! I’m very impressed! xx
Comment by tamami - January 21, 2013 10:45 pm