Underground!!

The first Toronto Underground Market

Crisps in the process of being cut up (We sliced 25 kilos of potatoes!)

Crisps on the stall

Well the first TUM has come and gone. The event was a success, we sold out of all our potato crisps and brownies were down to the last few crumbs by the end of the night.

Thanks to Hassel and Carley from the TUM, who did a great job organizing everything. And of course the volunteers, without whom I would never have made it out of the kitchen and to the stall for the 6pm start time! In particular I want to thank Eshwar (my rockstar for the day), Emma, Daria & Dana who swept in at the last minute to help complete packing and ribbon tying!

The day began nicely, I arrived at 8am thinking that I would have plenty of time to deal with everything, and even get home to shower and change...little did I know I would be frying chips from 10am until 6pm when the kitchen lights were turned off (Jessica Brooks, my kitchen mate from Tartina also had the same thought...how wrong we were). Thank goodness those wonderful volunteers swept in, as I really couldn't have finished with out them. Not to mention the fact that I was surviving on a coffee and an oatmeal cookie, my only sustenance it would tun out for the entire day!

The kitchens were a hive of activity, creativity, and fantastic energy. I can't say enough about all the people who were cramped in to the kitchens at the Brickworks. I don't know how 30 people managed to chop, simmer, bake, blend, fry and whip in such a small area, but we all did and there were no fights, tantrums, or problems it was wonderful! Had great laughs with Wes & Chris the Spice Cadets, Jessica, and Eshwar my trusty volunteer, who came to help supervise the kitchen, little did he know he would be roped in to bagging 150 bags of crisps (but I really could not have done it without him)!

When I finally made it out to the floor, the event was fab. Thank you to Tory (the event Media Relation's contact) & Steve my husband for all their help at the stall. Such a great vibe of people coming in, eager to taste and discuss food. We didn't have much time to leave the booth, and sadly there was no time to get any food, except for 2 beef sammy's from the very amazing Kurt & Ryan at Westside Beef. Steve and Tory devoured them within seconds! Steve also stocked up on his favourite snack, scotch eggs, which the lovely Karen & her husband, of Hackney Fine Foods slaved over for days to bring to TUM (and to which Steve says they are egg-cellent!).

All in all a fab event, really happy we took part. Looking forward to getting in to the test kitchen to see what I can cook up for next time...thoughts are on a bacon and cheddar crisp (just a thought right now, but I' m going to try to make it happen!). Thanks to everyone who came out and tried our stuff!

Cheers!

Deirdre
p.s. Check us out in The National Post

Less than a month to go!

Hard to believe the TUM is just around the corner!

Have done the registration, paid the reg fee, ordered supplies, and now all we have left to do is to get baking!

The event has sold out, which is fantastic. Clearly there is a need for food in this city!

24 days to go!

TUM!!!! Here we COME!

So excited! Just got the news that we are in to the Toronto Underground Market! Now we just need to get planning again! Do I even remember how to do that!

Pumped about new ideas that are coming to me, very excited to start making potato crisps, inspired by my lovely husband, Steve who is English (thus crisps, not chips). For sample day we tried Rosemary & Garlic, Thyme & Cracked Pepper (which would go excellent with ice cold beers) and Sea Salt.

Only 46 days to go!

Deirdre

Toronto TUM!

Hoping we are back!

After our big move back to Canada last year I feared that we would not be able to continue with the food business. Thanks to a very clever woman, Hassle Aviles, there may be hope! She has started the revolution here, The Toronto Underground Market, a place for those of us who can't afford a commercial kitchen.

Find out more at :
http://torontoundergroundmarket.tumblr.com/
yumtum.ca

Tomorrow is our taste test day, so fingers crossed we get the shot to be part of the TUM market at the Brickworks!

Visions in Pink!

This past weekend, I had the privilege to bake the cake for a fabulous 40th Birthday party. It was such fun to create something different for a woman who clearly knew what she wanted. I'm happy to share some photos of the cake, I think it worked perfectly!

TWITTER!

Just wanted to let all of our technology friendly friends know that we are now posting on twitter. You can follow us there at NICEBAKESHOP. We are loving it as we can be posting from all of our locations that don't have internet, like the farmer's market and Master Chef Live. We hope you will follow along and find out what's happening!

Master Chef Live 2009

For those of you getting ready for Christmas early you should come check out our stall at the Masterchef Live Show! We will be exhibiting on the ground floor in the food lovers fair area (Stand FLF9). We will have all sorts of show specials and brownies for everyone!