It’s a Chutney kinda day.
More of last year’s harvest of Green tomatoes turned into a wonderfully aromatic flavourful chutney. Delicious alternative to Mango as an accompaniment with your curry. In a toasted Cheese sarnie. Or, ooooo Ham & Eggs. Right I’m officially hungry now 🙄
Whatever your Sunday holds, whatever’s on your menu today, I hope it adds plenty of great flavour to your day.
Much love,
Francine x
Well it’s certainly been a Mad May so far!
Lots of wonderful events, lovely encouraging words from customers and some exciting new opportunities to come, stepping outside my comfort zone 😬. But if I’ve been a little quiet on here lately, this is probably why…
Behind the scenes it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. Frantically making stock, trying to get all the plants potted on/out, everyday business jobs that somehow take forever, whilst battling headaches/migraines, poorly dogs, an unexpected full-day power cut (thanks for the warning, National Grid 🙄), emergency building repairs, and a 90-year-old Mum with pneumonia.
And honestly, some days it feels like my neuro-spicy brain has been tested to its absolute limits 💥
But we keep pushing through.
I smile when lovely visitors to the stall say, “Oh, it must be such an idyllic lifestyle!” 😂
Truth be told, this little business life is long hours, problem solving, spinning plates, hard graft, usually running on caffeine (for Nick, yogurt in my case 🤦🏻♀️), determination and sheer stubbornness!
This isn’t a moan post, far from it. It’s a gratitude post ❤️
Because whilst it can feel overwhelming for just the two of us sometimes, we are incredibly lucky to have two wonderful friends who will show up when I asked for help & when we truly need them, no matter how little time we actually get to spend together. One will be helping me at Devon County Show next Saturday, whilst the other could be dog-sitting so Nick can be at EAT Burnham. That support means more than they’ll ever know.
So whatever life is throwing at you this Mad May, I truly hope you’re staying strong and somehow finding a way to keep ploughing through too 💪🏻 & not living too much on the edge 😉
Meanwhile I’ll try to be better at posting on here, so you don’t all forget us 🤪
Much love,
Francine x
First off a disclaimer 😉 - everytime I make up these I have this playing in my head, I’m sure you’ll thank me 😆
Gift boxes, like everything here, are finished by hand, then filled with scrummy preserves & off they go for lucky people to enjoy. ☺️
Right boxes made, filled & packed ✔️, now off to jar more chutney. Then check the list (I’m old I need a list so I don’t forget 😆) for the next job.
Have a cracking Tuesday my lovelies.
Francine x
Every 11th May we celebrate our beautiful county of Somerset & why wouldn’t we. We have some stunning scenery, beautiful locations to wander around, plentiful produce & incredibly delicious food & drink too.
As a Somerset couple we proudly support as many fellow Somerset businesses as we can, I’m mean, why wouldn’t we, they are some of THE best.
So if you’re just driving through, pull of the M5 & explore some of the beauty Somerset has to offer.
Happy Somerset Day my lovelies,
Francine x
#somersetday #somerset #somersetlife #somersetbusiness #somersetpreserves
It’s a beautiful sunny Sunday here on Castle Green & I’m set up (Yeap get me 🤪) ready for my monthly @tauntonmarket
Come along, enjoy the live music later & the lovely stalls here today too.
Looking forward to seeing you later & if I don’t, I hope you have a fabulous day my lovelies.
Much love,
Francine x
Thank you so much for the wonderful support you came out to give this Home town girl today at EAT Taunton.
I am ALWAYS so very humbled by the support my loyal customers give. The fantastic comments, tales of how you enjoy your favourites, the joy of getting a top up of that favourite & the cheekiness from some of you all too 😉.
Gaining more wonderful customers, who I hope will become as loyal & incredible as the rest of you, what more could a home town girl ask for.
THANK YOU ALL 🥲
Also thank you, of course, to the @eatfestivals gals & their merry team.
Home now, van offloaded & reloaded ready to return to Taunton again tomorrow for @tauntonmarket on Castle Green - Yeap brace yourself Taunton it’s a Bumblee double header - not sure you’re all ready for it 🤪
Much love,
Francine x
Wow another busy start & first time I could get around to posting on here.
My view for today is on home turf in Hammet Street for EAT Taunton. Here until 4pm today, come along enjoy then atmosphere & support our incredible County Town.
In Taunton again tomorrow for @tauntonmarket on Castle Green (10-3)
F x
Sssshhhh… don’t tell the DoughBros lads but the Rhubarb & Vanilla Preserve has made a sneaky return into May.
After making for last month’s Rhubarb & Custard doughnut collaboration & as I didn’t have a Taunton event in April, so many of you lovely locals have messaged asking if I’d do some jars in May. Well I “may” have accidentally just made one extra secret batch just for this weekend 😉
So for anyone who missed out, or anyone already obsessed with it, I’ll have a very limited number of jars with me this weekend in Taunton ONLY.
But genuinely, once these jars are gone, that’s it folks. No more hidden batches, no emergency pan on the hob, no “just one more jar”
📍 Saturday — EAT Taunton on Hammet Street
⏰ 10am–4pm
📍 Sunday — Taunton Independent Market on Castle Green
⏰ 10am–3pm
Come say hello, stock up on your favourites & help me keep my little jammy secret safe from the Dough Bros lads.
As always you can pre book yours to avoid missing out.
Now keep shtum 🤫
Hope you all had an incredible Bank Holiday weekend & may the Force have been with you yesterday for Star Wars Day 😆
May is shaping up to be a very exciting, slightly “step outside the comfort zone” kind of month for me 🥴 with lots of lovely events & one BIG new adventure right in the middle!
First stop… home turf I’m back in Taunton for a double-header weekend:
📍 Saturday 9th – EAT Taunton (Hammet Street)
📍 Sunday 10th – Taunton Independent Market (Castle Green)
Then comes the big one… 😳
I’m heading over the border to the Devon County Show at Westpoint, Exeter (21st–23rd), where you’ll find me in the Food Pavilion Thursday, Friday & Saturday.
I won’t lie I’m equal parts excited & very nervous! But it’s all part of the journey, right?
And it doesn’t stop there…
While I’m away on Saturday 23rd, hubby will be holding the fort for you at EAT Burnham 🙌
After that, I’ll (hopefully!) catch my breath before heading back over the border again for:
📍 Monday 25th – EAT Axminster
Then, I may just collapse in a heap somewhere 😆
Whatever your plans are this May, I’d absolutely love to see you somewhere along the way.
With much love,
Francine x
8 years ago 😱, after 6 years of cooking at home we signed the lease for our little kitchen, or office as it was then, in Creech st Michael. Our small batch production never changed & that still rings true today.
This remains Bumblee’s little HQ & everything is still always made by us (that’s either me or hubby).
Another 8 years? Who knows what tomorrow will bring, we could have won the lottery by then & retired, but then it would help if I did it 😆
Needless to say, thank you to all of you who’ve supported our little business from its creation & followed our journey along the way.
With so very much love,
Francine x
Just back from EAT Portishead and WOW, the closest I’ve ever been to a full sell-out day
One jar… just ONE jar of jam left 🤪, plus a few marmalades and chutneys. So many flavours completely gone, including this month’s limited edition Rhubarb & Vanilla Preserve.
I honestly can’t thank you all enough for your incredible support & kind words today. I’m so very humbled & yes, it’s left me a little emotional (soppy git, I know 🥹). You always see the sweet treats and hot food selling out, but I’ve never been this close myself, feels pretty awesome, like you’re doing some’t right.
Looks like I’d better get making again! 😉
As always, a HUGE thank you to the @eatfestivals gals for all their hard work, tired feet & incredible attention to detail. Not forgetting their brilliant team of helpers too.
Next stop, back on home turf for EAT Taunton on Saturday 9th May & then Taunton Independent (Castle Green) on Sunday 10th May.
Right, I may need a little nap now. Poor old dear 😆
Much love to you all, have a fabulous week my lovelies.
Francine x
It’s Sunday morning & this is my view for today 🥰, it’s time for my first EAT Portishead. Lots of stock held back for you lovelies already & I’m so looking forward to seeing you & new faces too.
Come on down to the Marina where you’ll find me on the grass by the Leisure Centre, surrounded by wonderful food & drink from 10 - 4 today.
Whatever you are doing this Sunday, I hope you have a glorious day my lovelies.
Much love,
Francine x
#eatportishead #foodfestival #bristolfood
