The Quest for the Perfect Spherical Egg to Fit a Unique Cup
Imagine a man on an adventurous quest, diligently searching for a perfectly spherical egg that is just right for his custom-designed spherical egg cup. This intriguing pursuit belongs to Simon Balch, a 49-year-old whose journey began after he stumbled upon the remarkable story of Jo Willis and her extraordinary find—a ‘one in a billion’ spherical egg. In May, Mrs. Willis generously donated this unique egg to the artisan who crafted the egg cup, with the intention of auctioning both items to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. However, in a twist of fate, the egg became spoiled after she inadvertently hard-boiled it.
Originally hailing from Hemingstone in Suffolk, Simon now resides in Camden, North London, and he is determined to continue his mission. He hopes to showcase the spherical egg alongside the matching cup at an upcoming egg festival in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. "It would mean everything to me if I could find another spherical egg to display," he expressed earnestly.
Simon discovered his talent for creating egg cups and has embraced this newfound passion by launching social media profiles to promote and sell his unique designs. He also offers an egg delivery service and shares his creative process on his YouTube channel. Inspired by Mrs. Willis's incredible story, he remarked, "As soon as I saw that, I knew I had to create the world’s first spherical egg cup to cradle this rare egg."
In collaboration with a pottery studio in Camden, Simon designed a spherical cup that resembles an inverted chicken foot, and plans to eventually adorn it with gold plating to enhance its elegance and functionality.
His enthusiasm quickly turned to disbelief when he learned that Mrs. Willis’s egg had succumbed to mold due to her boiling mishap—she hadn’t realized the egg's unusual shape before cooking it!
Now, Simon is reaching out primarily to those involved in the egg industry and has set a deadline of March 21 to present his egg and cup at the egg festival at Lannock Farm near Hitchin. "I have never committed to anything more than this project; I am determined to make it happen," he added passionately.
Do you have any stories or insights to share about unique culinary quests? What are your thoughts on Simon's ambitious goal? Feel free to leave your comments below!
