For many of us, travelling abroad during summer is all about experiencing different cultures, landscapes, people, and, most importantly, tastes.
Well, here in London, there’s no better way to explore different tastes than to wander around the various food festivals and try out different food, drink, ingredients and styles of cooking.
Part of the charm of food festivals is the fact that you have food of all varieties being served outside of its natural environment. With ingredients from all over, there’s usually a focus on smaller organizations, passion projects and local farms. It’s no wonder food festivals and large-scale events are growing in popularity, as setting up shop and covering costs is gradually becoming easier. There’s fun to be had at both sides of the food stall. If you’re a budding food stall owner, there are companies like Saxoprint to provide for all your promotional material printing needs, and no shortage of fairs to attend (both near and afar). All that’s left for you to do is cook!
Here are our suggestions on which London-based food festivals to pencil into your calendar every year:
Taste of London
This biannual festival does exactly what it says on the tin: boasting the best of London’s restaurants, more than 200 food and drink traders show off their finest dishes and drinks. It features some of the city’s best chefs, masterclasses, various activities and tastings. The festival takes place in Regent’s Park in June and November and tends to set the food trends every year.
London Coffee Festival
London’s coffee scene has been booming for years now, with connoisseur coffee venues, top-class roasteries, and superb cafés popping up all around town. The London Coffee Festival usually takes place in April and includes workshops of all sorts, latte art competitions, lectures and demos. If you have passion for a good brew, this one’s not to be missed.
Meatopia
It goes without saying, but this one is most certainly the one for the meat-lovers. The festival was founded in the US, and is now present in not only London, but Dublin too. It celebrates a nose to tail respect for meat-eating, opening our eyes to cuts of meat beyond what we see in our supermarkets. All meat is guaranteed to be ethically raised and hormone free, and cooked on grills using wood or charcoal.
Street Feast
Street Feast has been hosting street food events in some of the city’s most beautiful derelict buildings since 2012. With regular events in areas like Shoreditch, Canada Water, Canary Wharf, Woolwich and Lewisham, Street Feast night-time markets feature some of the most popular food and drink stalls around.
London Craft Beer Festival
Located in London’s Tobacco Dock, the festival features some of the world’s best craft beer, alongside food and music to wash down the hops. And fear not, one ticket gets you a glass and unlimited beer.
