Jellymongers do a fine line in political waffle
• By the swingometer: Harry, Parr left, and Sam Bompas
Published: 7 May, 2010
by RICHARD WELBIRG
THE latest stunt from crazy cooking duo Bompas & Parr has Soho shoppers voting with their stomachs, writes Richard Welbirg.
The tasty delights at the Parliamentary Waffle House in Broadwick Street come in Labour, Lib Dem or Conservative flavours, and there is even a foodie swingometer to see which is the most popular.
Customers were reported to be leaning Liberal Democrat, and even Ken Livingstone, who opened the pop-up eatery, scoffed four of the Lib Dem-themed banana waffles!
Harry (Parr) & Sam (Bompas), aka the Jellymongers, make boutique jellies and moulds, as well as putting on headline-grabbing events.
“What can we do to make people experience food differently?” asks Harry.
They have tried pretty much everything over the years.
The waffle house is the latest “event” from the oddball twosome, following last year’s Alcoholic Architecture, where they created “a breathable cloud of gin & tonic”, or the flooding of 33 Portland Place – with punch.
“We have a fairly unconventional approach to food,” said Harry.
Whether it came from the similarity between the waffle and parliament’s portcullis logo, or simply because there’s “a lot of waffling going on” in election season, neither can remember.
Given an empty shop to play with by the Shaftesbury estate, they brightened the spartan setting, adding the waffle bar and stadium seating. There’s even table tennis – with balls featuring the party leaders’ faces, of course.
And it’s not just waffles. There have been a host of offbeat events, from a political catwalk in association with Rubbish Magazine (featuring a “nail polish-tician” says Sam), to a raucous debate for Marmite’s love/hate campaign. A massive election night party was set to crown the activities.
Now it’s bye-bye to the Waffle House, hello to the next extravaganza.