After our recent trip to the Real Food Festival, we can’t wait for Taste of London next month. In less than a month’s time, Regent’s Park will be full of top chefs, restaurants and producers ready to feed thousands of hungry foodies. Fingers crossed for sunshine! If you’re not already convinced by the thought of four days of feasting, here are ten reasons why you should visit Taste this year:
1. Eat your way around London’s finest restaurants
Ever wondered how many restaurants you could eat at in one day? At Taste, you could eat at Quo Vadis, L’Anima, Hereford Road and Fino – all in under an hour, without breaking the bank. 40 of London’s top restaurants will be in attendance this year including Boxwood Café, Pied a Terre, Tom’s Kitchen, Le Gavroche, Cinnamon Kitchen, Alain Ducasse, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Launceston Place and Salt Yard.
2. Taste iconic signature dishes from some of London’s top chefs
In addition to the usual three course menus, many of the chefs will be offering limited edition ‘icon dishes’ using luxury ingredients. Some of the must-try dishes include a veal and foie gras burger (Boxwood Café); fettuccine with wild mushrooms and summer truffle (L’Anima); slow-cooked Iberico pig cheeks (Salt Yard); and Thai calamari (Busaba Eattai).
3. Watch high-profile chefs in action in the Taste Theatre
This year, wine buff Olly Smith will be the Taste Theatre compere and there’s an impressive line-up of celeb chefs on offer. There will be demos and quick-fire cook-offs from chefs like Marcus Wareing, Jun Tanaka (Pearl), Bryn Williams (Odette’s), Atul Kochar (Benares), Angela Hartnett (Murano) and Richard Corrigan. Check out the full timetable here.
4. Pick up some culinary hints and tips in the Taste Kitchen
Hosted by Waitrose Executive Chef Neil Nugent and food consultant Bianca Nice, the Taste Kitchen will run hourly food demos to show visitors how to prepare original, exciting dishes. Grab a seat and learn how to cook slow-cooked pig cheeks with pea tops and seared scallops; asparagus and poached egg salad; and taleggio pannacotta.
5. Pick up boutique bottles from across the globe with Taste Wine
In addition to the Wine Theatre, Taste will be home to a number of boutique winemakers this year. Connoisseurs and novices alike can try wines from Jordan, Moldova and further afield, as well as rare bottles from Argentina, New Zealand, Bordeaux, and South Africa.
6. Celebrate food en Francais in the French Flair Theatre
London has an insatiable appetite for French food so this year Taste are celebrating all things Gallic with a brand new theatre. If you fancy learning classic techniques from chefs like Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex (Ambassade de l’Ile) and Frank Raymond (Mon Plaisir), book your tickets now!
7. Get a Taste of Thailand without heading East
If you’re looking for something exotic, head for the Taste of Thailand corner and try some authentic specialties from Benja, Nahm, Blue Elephant, Mango Tree and Busaba Eathai. There will be traditional dancing, plenty of things to buy and drinks from Thai Square on offer too.
8. Live the high life with a Champagne Masterclass
If you’ve got money to burn, why not treat yourself to an exclusive champagne and seafood pairing? Hosted by Laurent-Perrier Champagne and priced at £75, we can’t think of a better way to toast summer!
9. Shop ‘til you drop with producers from across the UK and beyond
If you’ve been before, you know the drill – there are hundreds of lovely local producers in attendance, usually handing out a fair few freebies. Look out for some of our favourites like Tanqueray gin, Flour Power City bakery, Bea’s of Bloomsbury, and Simply Real Sausages. Remember to bring your smartest eco-friendly shopping bag with you!
10. Get a grilling in Calor’s al fresco dining area
Proving that al fresco food can be more than just burnt bangers, Calor’s stand will give advice on creating tasty barbecued dishes, with recipe influences from around the world. With tips and tricks from the chefs and a burger cook-off, you’ll be transformed into a King of the Grill in no time.
You can order your tickets online now but we’ll be giving some away later this week, so stay tuned!
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