POP-UP RESTAURANT #5 IN PICTURES

Xalfa Eylül 24, 2022

Monday 26th September. My day started at 8 am. After cancelling my third or fourth morning alarm (because one alarm is never enough when you're a deep sleeper), I got up to embrace the long day ahead.

A short bus ride to this month's venue of choice: Maida Hill Place. Located right next to a large fruit & veg store AND an outdoor market, I was able to pick up a couple of last minute ingredients (a.k.a. enough plantain, bell peppers and vine tomatoes to feed a famished army) before launching into food prep.

An hour or so later, I was joined by my mum and sister - ah the relief! I'm learning to treasure all the extra quality time I get to spend with my family as a direct result of these events. We managed to squeeze in a week's worth of chatter into those few hours, all the while cooking up a storm.

Mel arrived a few minutes after my mum and sister left. I'd frantically sent her a text around 13.30 pm to pick up some kale on her way over because I'd been careless enough to assume the store and market next door would stock it. Mel's kale expedition was successful...yeah, she pretty much saved the entire dinner :p Simon arrived a while after. What did I do to deserve friends as supportive as these two?? :) I had my team for the evening. Along with the helpful manager at the venue.

Photo credit: Richard Duebel

The pop-up began officially at 18.30 pm, with guests trickling in one after the other until it was almost a full house. We got into service mode, starting with canapés, working our way all the way through to dessert. I'll allow the rest of the pictures to complete this narrative...