The Underground Night Market and the best cheesecake ever

Ms Marmite Lover recently hosted another undeground market in her house and garden. Whilst previous markets have been held during the day, this one was at night. And so it was that on a lovely Friday evening in May, several hundred people (about 600 apparently!) perused market stalls, chatted under lanterns, watched some great live music, and ate delicious food. Ms Marmite Lover described it as a "food rave" and whilst I didn't spot any glow sticks, there was certainly an amazing vibe.

What I like about the underground market is that it gives people, just starting out with a new business or product, the chance to test the waters in an environment that's probably a little friendlier than at a normal market - as people have bought tickets to the market, obviously with the specific intention of checking out the stalls, as opposed to your standard street market which attracts a mixture of passersby and lookers, as well as market shoppers.

I met this lady below, Sue, while she was setting up her stall. She was a little nervous - this was her first market. She's just launched a business called the Art of Puddings and she offers lessons in her home teaching people to make puddings such as chocolate fondant, beautiful tarts, fruit flans. She was selling tiny cups of chocolate mousse, summer berry parfait and mango fool, and shots of her own sloe gin. My stall was just outside, on the balcony, and I was thrilled to see that almost every person leaving the house had (at least) a little pot of Sue's dessert in their hands. The expressions on their faces told me they were loving them! Then Sue unveiled her AMAZING cheesecake - imagine about an inch of delicious biscuit base and a light, fluffy cheesecake filling, topped with pretty berries. How do I know this? I wasn't going to sit next to this stall and eat nothing! I was asked "one spoon or two?" when I bought my door stop of a piece - "definitely one!".

The Art of Pudding's success epitomises to me what this market is all about and I hope Sue enjoys continued success. Check out her site here if you're interested in a class - they are held in North London.

Thanks again to Ms Marmite Lover for opening her home, and to the other stall holders, bands, and market-goers for contributing to such a fun night!