wytchcroft

Today was an unexpected adventure into the realms of food...

Incident at Victoria Sponge:

Trawling the Sunday markets i spied a copy of the BBC 1981 Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on dvd which i greedily snapped up (David Hemmings – mixed reviews, i care not a jot). Naturally the contemplation of Stevenson’s classic of unrepressed appetites took me off in search of cake.

The cake in question (i.e. the one that had my name upon it and which, just to make sure, was winking at me from the silver dish) was a ginagantic slab of Victoria Sponge, big is such a small word sometimes.

In which the Plot thickens – or possibly ferments!

Barely had my gluttonous paws descended on the thing however when the cake-shop door flew open and a young woman entered at speed, protectively covering a large bowl as she did so. Looking slightly bewildered she enquired as to the location of the living food and fermentation event.

Alas, nobody had any knowledge of such an intriguing happening.

“By heaven!” i peeped in wilting yet manly fashion, “this valley is full of eccentric happenings – i am sure directions can be found!”

With this rallying hiccup i took my charge off on a whirlwind goosechase of embarrassing FAIL – all the obvious places being closed and those likely to be in the know were found only to be conspicuous by their absence. Eventually however, and after arduous and assiduous questioning of the locals, the destination was revealed to be under my nose the whole time at a hall but some few paces away.

(oh the embarrassment!)

In which lively and interesting talks are given whilst Wytchcroft scoffs free food like an oik.

Now, some (ok, one) of you will know that i have been of late re-interesting myself in the realm of the culinary, which is to say; collecting some recipes at least. I was at one time much interested in food and thereby hangs an anecdote or ten but probably already told – so moving swiftly on, i shall make brief mention of a former partner’s nutritionist leanings and get to the point. The talks given at the event were indeed animated and frequently fascinating – if, like me, you find words such as enzyme, nutrient and free food, to have a certain lure.

There was indeed free food and very fine – not the least of which being the attractive salad revealed to be inside the bowl of the woman i had accompanied, containing as it did a summery colouring of oranges and dandelions. It transpired that the bearer of the salad was herself on the hunt - homemade sauerkraut being her prey.

I am, point of fact, still pleasantly full and this is some hours later. I cannot claim overarching expertise or knowledge in the areas covered by the talk – and i suspect much filtering may be required. Nonetheless there was a great deal that caught my attention and i have several intriguing lines of investigation to follow up.

It is also to the credit of the bowl carrying saladier that she neither dwelt on my inferior social skills, or shopped me to the assembled patrons for the positively heathen Victoria sponge in one bag nor, truth be told, the pizza in the other!

In which the wytch actually just says “Thanks!”

Sometimes a wytch gets lucky – and i am grateful. Honestly, it was a fun afternoon’s adventure and all the people i met were kind in allowing me to loiter and interrupt – and munch but heartily on their food!

And, of course, regards and many thanks to a convivial and generous Jay.