Mark Eley is not only a devoted Flat Green Bowler but a proven dab hand in the kitchen too! He also happens to be the highly accomplished and well-travelled Welsh half of design double-act Eley Kishimoto.
Alongside his wife and business partner, Wakako Kishimoto, Mark has worked on prints for numerous fashion heavyweights such as Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton, Jil Sander and Marc Jacobs, to name a few. As part of an ongoing series of talks and events at the David David Pop-up shop in Covent Garden, Mark recently held an intimate evening of gastronomic and audio-visual delights for a select few. Seated shoulder to shoulder in the downstairs informal gallery space, projected videos displaying various professional highlights were accompanied by Mark’s personal anecdotal tales from his childhood and his extensive design career. While we happily witnessed his impressive illustrative past digitally unfold on the screen, Mark casually prepped, fried and flipped a delectable duo of Japanese Takoyaki and his Grandmother’s Welsh cakes for spectators to sample.
Feasting on his design and culinary creations, i-D online spoke to Mark about his current projects, his re-discovered hobby and what goes into those Welsh cakes to make them so darn yum-diddly-scrumptious!
You mentioned that you have recently become an avid fan of British Crown Green Bowls. What is it exactly that attracted you to the sport and how does it inspire you? My family in Porthcawl started playing as far back as my great Grandfather. He has always played and still continues to play. I spent most of my childhood alongside my Grandfather and my uncle, who played for Wales. In essence I grew up on the green. This year I was toying with the idea of playing again and while in Scotland working on a consultancy, I found out one of my colleagues was a member of Galashields club. He offered me a game, I took him up on it and I won! I have since joined a club and am now on the committee. I want to spread the word of the beauty of Flat Green Bowling. It’s a sport that everyone should try. For me it’s therapy.
Do you prefer working with fashion or interiors? I like working.
Do you have one creation from your archive that stands out for a particular reason? There are many moments and such a variety of happenings that if I choose just one I think I will do an injustice to others even if it is just for me to reminisce.
From cars and furniture to fashion and nail art. With no surface limitations to your design exports, what are you working on next? We are producing a Ladies Bike with accessories, Headphones, Off/On Road car, Honda relationship, education investigation and of course a food whim…
Having witnessed your fine cookery skills first hand, would you be so kind as to share the secrets and tips behind both recipes?!
Here are the quantities, just in case anyone wishes to cook, in true style, for a large group of people.
Taco Yaki and Cheese Yaki (Qty’s will make 150 Balls)
- Fresh chopped small bite size pieces Boiled Octopus 1250gm (Cheddar Cheese bite size pieces 1250gm)
- Plain Flour 1250gm
- Dashi Soup 2500gm
- Eggs x10
- 1 ¼ cup finely chopped spring onion
- 1 ¼ cup red pickle
- 1 ¼ cup red shrimp
Toppings:
Bonito Flakes
Anonori
Takoyaki Sauce
Mayonnaise
A Takoyaki Ball hot Plate is essential.
My Grand Mothers Welsh Cake Recipe: (Qty’s will make about 150 Welsh Cakes)
- Plain Flour 1600gms
- Caster Sugar 600gms
- 4 tsp. Mixed Spice
- 4 tsp. baking Powder
- Butter 360gms
- Lard 360gms
- Currants 350gms
- Eggs x 8
- Milk (if mixture is dry)
- Caster Sugar for Topping.
The David David Pop-Up runs until 29th October 2011.
Text: Michael Stephens
Portrait by Kumi Saito. As seen in FASHION NOW 2.
Video Stills Kate Cox