A Marmartous Festive Dish!

Here is a festive dish with a twist! Caviar Pie, minus the caviar (or lump-fish as most of us use) with a good dollop of you know what to replace it. Sounds like it wouldn't work. But it does. As my good friends Karl and Carrol Kindel proved, when it was a star on the buffet table at their annual Egg-Nog gathering, on Capitol Hill, Washington DC.  And the amazing  thing was the number of guests who said: 'This is great what is in it exactly?' Then when told gasped: 'Oh, that awful British stuff! But this was so good!'

This is the recipe the Kindels used to provide that umami - or 'wow' - factor: mash six hard-boiled egg and half a yellow onion, finely chopped, into quarter of a pound of softened butter; press, about an inch thick, into the dish you want to serve the 'pie' in; refrigerate until hardened; put a layer of Marmite on top; then cover with yoghurt and sour cream mixed. Voila - dip in with a cracker or spoon onto a crudite.

THE LUCK OF THE IRISH!

I hope the luck of the Irish transfers to sales of the book in Ireland. If it doesn't it will not be the fault of the award-winning NewsTalk radio station. One of its top hosts, Sean Moncreiff, did a 15 minute interview with me for his afternoon show, December 14th. We had a few laughs - hard not to when the subject if Marmite - especially when a listener revealed that his favourite way of eating it was on a dry Weetabix. Even to me that sounds pretty gross! All the fault of the Weetabix, of course....

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

Pete Myers is engrossed in the book - but then he's probably reading the entry about himself!

New Yorkers - and visitors to the Big Apple - can now get their hands on the book easily.  Head to the Village:  to Myers' of Keswick, the greatest pork-pie shop in the USA. Almost, the world - heck, make it the world! The Myers - Pete and daughter Jennifer - have made Mish-Mash an integeral part of their Christmas window display. To get your hands on a copy, plus some of the best Cumberland sausages this side of the Lake District, go to: 634 Hudson Street (between Horatio and Jane Streets).

                                          

And, How About This!

The 'plugs' just keep getting better and better....how about this one? The New Yorker!! I know it's only online, but  it is still the New Yorker.....and to be included in such illustrious company: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2009/12/in-the-news-death-of-the-fat-novel-marmite-memories.html 

BREKKERS WITH TOP U.S. RADIO PROGRAMME

There have been many highlights associated with the debut of Mish-Mash. And the latest was when NPR (for Brit readers, that's National Public Radio: ie America's answer to Radio 4) came a calling. Guy Raz, anchor of the weekend edition of the award-winning news magazine All Things Considered,  spotted John Kelly's piece in the Washington Post - and jumped right on the 'phone to invite himself for breakfast! He brought with him producer Travis Larchuck. No prizes for guessing what was served.

Guy, who studied at Cambridge and has served as NPR's London bureau chief, is no stranger to Marmite. In fact I would go as far as saying he loves it as much as I do. Travis on the other hand arrived at my home, on Capitol Hill, a total novice in all matters relating to Marmite. Including eating it. He left with an avowed hatred, that I fear he will never lose. To listen to the marmitey breakfast carry-on go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121135861

Such Fun With The Washington Post

What a 'war' John Kelly ignited with his column (see A Post About The Post). His weekly online 'chat' with readers - where usually things of DC importance and world renown are aired and discussed - was virtually 100% Marmite.  Better make that yeast-extract, as quite a few Vegemite fans got involved in the affray. And, you know what, I'm going to take that back, about the forum not about the 'important' and 'renowned' - Marmite is both of those! If you want to know what you missed go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/11/25/DI2009112502982.html

A Signature Marmite Moment

Having a coffee outside Marvelous Market  (7th Street, SE, Washington DC - where the book is on sale) I saw a couple approaching. They paused close to the table I was at with my blog-meister and 'agent-supremo' Stephanie Cavanaugh - and I just knew. 'Marmite?' I said. 'Yes', they said....and so began a delightful Marmite moment. Bill and Angelika Pollack had journeyed all the way from McLean, Virginia (well, it seems a long treck for us Capitol Hillites) to buy the book. They had called MM earlier in the week, after the syndicated Washington Post columnist John Kelly fired his opening salvo in the Massacre of Marmite, to reserve a copy. To catch-up on that see blog: Another War For Washington.

I was so happy that I just happened to be there when they turned up - so I could sign it for them. Mish-Mash is going to their daughter-in-law Kerry (who is not only British but from Yorkshire, as I am). She and their son Michael live in Germany. Angelika, who is German born, and Bill, who's a New Yorker, read John's wonderful take on Marmite, and the book, and it struck an immediate chord. Hard for it not to: Kerry, is so devoted to the stuff, she brought a jar with her when she and Michael visited for Thanksgiving. Just hope she enjoys dipping into the book as much she loves dipping into the Marmite jar!