Jamie Oliver knows how to throw a party, I’ll give him that. When you get an invite to a Jamie Oliver book launch, you go. Held at Recipease, his cookery school in Notting Hill. It was a party for bloggers, vloggers and social media mavens to talk about food. Quite how I ended up in the line up I’m not sure. As I say, when food royalty invites you out for the evening you go.
The object of celebration was his new book Jamies Comfort Food which I reviewed this month. And we were being served dishes from the book to eat that night.
It was culinary performance in the round. Food was being prepared from the centre of the room with everyone gathered around to drink, taste and watch. Jamie’s mentor Gennaro Contaldo was twirling sheets of pasta, layer cakes were being built up and sparklers lit.
My favourite was this Massaman curry with butternut and potato which I am definitely making again at home. Also dotted round the room were stalls of Jamie’s favourite beer, cheese, wine and meat producers.
With twinkly lights and panettone dangling everywhere from the ceiling the night kicked off the festive season in style.
And of course no comfort food line up is complete without cakes… lots of them.
As if the drinks were not enough to get us merry, the fumes of aerosol paint were heavy in the air too. Before our very eyes, a spray can artist was stencilling customised designs onto the fabric bound covers of the new book. I picked a tiger.
And naturally the highpoint of the evening was getting Jamie to sign my copy of Jamie’s Comfort Food for me. I’ve not been this excited since the Nigella book signing.
I asked Jamie if he would write “Easy Tiger!” in the book. As I remembered him saying it in of his earliest TV adverts. I think he was giving his nan a ride on a motorbike. When I said how I’d like it dedicating, Jamie looked at me, slightly suprised. “That’s what my nan used to say!” He was touched I remembered the advert. I had had no idea the lady in the advert really was his nan.
Thank you to Jamie and the team at JamieOliver.com not to forget everyone at Recipease for making it such a memorable evening.
Oh Sarah – what a wonderful evening! I was totally living vicariously through all your pics 🙂 LOL, “Easy Tiger!” 🙂
Yes I saw the tiger illustrations being done on some of the books and I knew exactly what I wanted him to write in my book!
How exciting! I saw Sprinkle of Glitters video about it an the food looked absolutely amazing! What a great event x
I saw her recording with Jamie but I’ve not seen her own video. I’ll have to go look.
Easy Tiger! Looks like you had a fabulous time 🙂 x
OMG this looks AMAZING I am well jell! Great photos and it looks like it was an educational experience too!
The photos were all taken with my iphone6. I would have preferred to have a proper camera but to be honest it was so dark maybe I ended up with better pictures than I could have taken without a tripod anyway.
Wow, it looks like that was a really fun night, the customised book covers all looked great too. What a wonderful thing to have on your bookshelf!
With a picture like that on the front I’ve considered framing it!
what a lovely evening. I do love everything that is Jamie. He’s just an inspiration
There was a jolly atmosphere and everyone was enjoying themselves. I like to think of Jamie as the British answer to Martha Stewart. Only with more food and less crafting!
What a great night to be a art of Sarah. Bet it was packed full of fun and great food. The book looks great, am sure it will be another hit!
I think he’s had more Christmas number ones than Simon Cowell?!
Looks like you had a super time! Those cakes looks amazing. YUM!
They were and especially with the sparkers!
I would have loved to have been there – getting stuck into the book right now.
We’ll have to compare notes what you make. I don’t know where to start!
Wow, meeting the man himself. Jamie Oliver books taught me how to cook and helped me build the confidence to experiment with food. Lucky you!
I was in awe 🙂
I watched the Instagram images of this evening while sat at home rather green with envy! It looked amazing. I was lucky enough to meet Jamie Oliver a few years ago at The Big Feastival and he’s so lovely! The comfort food book is great, I have it at home and I’ve spent a few hours drooling over it so far.x
Jamie was a fabulous host and we all had a brilliant time. He seemed very normal when I met him. He said “Have you had a good time, I was worried you might think it was a bit boring?” As if we would!!
An awesome evening! It was lovely to see you and I’m glad I was able to introduce you to Zubrowka and apple juice!
There’s no vodka in the house so I may need to buy a bottle 🙂
This looks amazing! So jealous