Broken Biscuits? now on sale
A culinary adventure in memory of London’s most notorious slum.
March 29 and 30
Take your tastebuds on a gastrogeographical journey to explore one of the most fascinating corners of Shoreditch. Part art, part archaeology, part gastronomic feast, on the ruins of the most infamous of all of London’s slums.
Broken Biscuits? evokes the ghosts of the children who populated these dark streets, living cheek by jowl with the donkeys, cows, geese and rabbits kept for sustenance or trade.
The past will be brought to life by food. Your map is a menu. Six courses guide you through time and place in the Old Nichol.Begin your tour by collecting your map and bag of broken savoury biscuits from the Owl and Pussycat on Redchurch Street.
Shops discounted much of their bakery produce for hungry locals, and large bags of broken biscuits could be bought for a halfpenny.
In the windows of Leila’s, an elaborate and fantastical display of cakes and biscuits. Dare you ask for one?
“Regardless of the shopkeepers’ real line of business, many shops had sweet foodstuffs – confectionary, small open tarts, sugar butties, a suet and plum pudding called Baby’s Head – on display in the windows to tempt children in… in some instances [with] the sinister purpose of luring [them] in with a view to encouraging them to pilfer for the shopkeeper, who would fence the stolen goods.” (The Blackest Streets, Sarah Wise)
Zubrówka Vodka in the Arnold Circus bandstand, served with blinis, smoked salmon and sour cream.
The mound at Arnold Circus was built on the demolition rubble of the Old Nichol. Let’s raise a glass to the slum that inspired the October Revolution!
We reach a secret doorway and enter. A feast awaits us.
Hare pâté and pigeon terrine studded with juniper berries and served with St. John’s Rye Bread and green parsley liquor, served with a frosted glass of Jensen’s Bermondsey gin.
Pigeons, songbirds, white mice, parrots and rabbits were kept in the cellars and sold in the bird and animal market at Club Row.
Shot of watercress soup.
The area was originally built on watercress fields.
Venison stew marinated for 7 days, accompanied by buttered Savoy cabbage, carrots and potatoes.
Every 7 days the Duke of Bedford would send two deer to the Old Nichol mission to be made into venison stew for free children’s dinners.
Spotted Dick ice cream with Oloroso soaked sultanas, served with a glass of Oloroso sherry.
The menu is paired with spirits and wines matched by Stefan Batfield at The City Beverage Company.
Meat supplied by Theobald’s.The tales of the Broken Biscuits? will be told for 2 nights only.
6 courses paired with wine and spirits, recommended donation £45. Seats are limited. Contact caroline.hobkinson@hotmail.co.uk to make a reservation. Proceeds from Broken Biscuits? will be donated to Art Against Knives. www.artagainstknives.com
See you there!