Summer with what’s new in food at the Taste of London.
London is a veritable hub for European and international dining, where a long tradition of immigrant culture has influenced British foods leaving a crumbed trail of ethnic eating. Strolling through London town, it could be Indian, Peruvian, Thai, French, American, North African, Greek, Italian, maybe somewhere in between, or a local pub with its own spin on fish and chips, the city shows off its goods with much prowess.
Together with the Taste Festivals, London gathers over 55,000 of its residents (and probably a few visitors) to one of the most successful food festivals of the year. Vendors align for a long weekend of endless sampling and an opportunity to experiment on the food obsessed.
A good amount of the artisans, chefs and sellers mentioned they were trying out products or dishes, not yet on the market, to see how their community responds. There’s always a certain Vegas energy in situations where entrepreneurs are risking it.
Coconut fanatics poured bowls of fleshy spiced coconut jerky. Cheese makers (Snowdonia Cheese Company‘s Cheddar will make you weak in the knees) proudly cut slices of Britain’s best cheese. Charcuterie boards glimmered from buttery fatty bits of salami. And, booze, well it’s England, so it’s nearly a requirement.
The Taste of London is one of those events you go to year after year, recruiting friends and family to come with you for all day super eating. Cheers to Queen and Country.
The hunt always begins with coffee.
Sandows London‘s two adorable baristas must have spotted me a mile away, with grumpy wide eyes searching for caffeine. They poured me nitrogen infused cold brew from a sexy tap that made me feel like I’m cool enough to day drink, it even had a creamy frothy head like beer.
Coco-nuts for coconut, is London sponsored by the coconut industry? Popsicles, jerky, ‘meat’, water, vodka and soft serve, it’s just so damn versatile.
These are clever little items from Thailand, but for £4, a bit too pricey.
Vietnamese Kitchen, Kûe with giant samples Banh Mi.
I stumbled upon what I’d most been looking forward to at the festival; the Michelin star restaurant, Club Gascon’s sweet bread popcorn paired with a worcestershire ice cream dipping sauce. Glands, disguised with a name to trick children into eating them, deep fried, gracefully rolled in popcorn. Crunchy and livery. A good first go at sweat breads.
Club Gascon, inspired by dishes from Gascony in the South of France, has been open since 1998 and continues to preserve the elegance of French food.
Onward to Lima Floral where two women greeted us and did not hesitate to pose for the photo and then, passed over a zesty quinoa salad that included the newest, best snack, Peruvian corn.
Ājo Gastronomika‘s cheesecake in a semi-sweet mini bun with a blackberry sauce. This team loves what they do and are into experimental machines and gastronomy everything.
The group vegetarian dug the soft, creamy cheese Ember Yard croquettes, sort of ironic a pig is posing with them.
Africa represents with the baobab tree fruits.
Is gin the new whisky?
The difficulties of restraining yourself.
Özerlat Turkish Coffee run by the Özerlat family has been grinding its beans since 1917 and the people in the picture were the people serving the coffee at the stand. Already sold in Cyprus, the family is expanding into London and they are undeniably smitten with a product they are proud of and certainly love; a tradition that has worked for them for nearly a century. It is their heritage and it is their passion.
A cultural drinking experience, Turkish coffee is not about taking sips on the go, daugthers, Iley Özerlat-Gunduz and Ilke Özerlat invited us to sit and try. Warming copper pots heat up thick muddy grind with likely no milk, it isn’t everyone’s cup of coffee, but for those who do find it nostalgically warming , it’s an elixir of life. Don’t be afraid of it, visit them in London, let them treat you like family and if it’s too bitter for you compliment it with dates or Turkish delight to make it sweeter.
A tribute to Taste of Cape Town xoxo.
Beer and wine, offal and popcorn, coconut jerky and coolers; Taste of London is a maze of moorish tapas style dishes and passionate food cultivators strutting their stuff because food is always best shared.
For more information about London Taste Festivals and future events, visit their website http://london.tastefestivals.com/.
For a Taste Festival near you visit http://www.tastefestivals.com/
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