The festive edition of the capital’s finest culinary celebration, Taste of London is the perfect event to kick start the Christmas season, offering visitors the unique opportunity to explore distinguished artisan producers, indulge in dishes from London’s best restaurants, engage one-on-one with London’s most exciting chef’s and to be on the front line of cocktail innovation in the capital. This year, a host of new chefs, bartenders, and experiences will feature across the festival adding to the many reasons The Festive Edition of Taste is a seasonal must for the calendar. New for this year include seven brand new restaurants, masterclasses at the new Urban Kitchen, wine and cheese pairings with Accolade Wine School, the Diner’s Club VIP lounge, cocktail making and even a hot dog party taking place in front of the Taste fire pit.
RESTAURANT AND CHEF HIGHLIGHTS
19 of the capital’s most acclaimed restaurants will appear over the 4-day duration of the festival. Making their debut this year include Nonna Tonda, famous for its delicious handmade pasta dishes, from Pappardelle to butternut squash ravioli. Rohit Ghai’s highly anticipated new Indian restaurant, Kutir, which opens a couple of weeks before Taste. Jamie Oliver’s home of smoke and fire, Barbecoa and authentic Malaysian cuisine, Papparich will also be making their debut.
Taste of London creates the rare opportunity for food lovers to curate their perfect taster menu. Feast on a stellar line-up that includes Taiwanese restaurant with a cult following BAO, Sri Lankan favourite Hopper’s, Basque cuisine, Sagardi and The Cheese Bar, back serving up melted cheesy goodness from speciality toasties to poutine. Appearing for one day only as part of the Daily Special restaurant spot, Bar Douro will be serving up Portuguese sharing plates on Thursday 15th November, followed by vegan Mexican small plates from Club Mexicana on Friday 16th November. Throw in authentic Taiwanese dumplings and exquisite rice bowls, courtesy of Taste newcomers XU and inventive modern Italian fine dining, Rigo, and you have the most decadent feast of the year.
Fire-chief-in-residence, DJ BBQ, returns to headline the renowned Fire Pit in association with Food Network stage, where acclaimed chefs will dial up the temperature and unlock some mouth-watering flavours as festival goers stay cosy by the fire to watch. Head chef of Ottolenghi’s new restaurant, Rovi, Neil Campbell will be using the smoke and fire to cook up some seasonal vegetables and Genevieve Taylor (Author of the Ultimate Woodfired Oven Cookbook) will be sharing her passion for cooking in the outdoors. Tom Brown, owner of Hackney’s seafood restaurant Cornerstone will bring fish and fire to the fore front and Smokestak’s founder, David Carter will share his tips of cooking up BBQ meats over the flame. Other fire pit chefs include Josh Katz (Berber and Q), Karan Gokani (Hoppers), Tom Anglesea (The Laughing Heart) and George Barson (Cora Pearl).
MASTERCLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Fans of a festive tipple will enjoy innovative cocktails and take part in hands-on masterclasses where they can learn how to shake up their own cocktails ahead of the party season. Tanqueray Gin will be unveiling a gin terrace where guests can learn more about the unique process that goes into making Tanqueray No. TEN before creating their own perfect Tanqueray & Tonic. Alongside the Cocktails at Home masterclass is the ‘World Class’ bar where visitors can purchase and try world-class cocktails, and in the ‘whisky room’ festivalgoers will be able to create their own Johnnie Walker Black Label highball whisky with a selection of world-class mixers and bitters. Ketel One Vodka’s urban kitchen will be making a debut to Taste Festive, following the success in summer, where guests can create their very own Ketel One Vodka Bloody Mary and Espresso Martini alongside the resident kitchen DJ.
Calling all wine enthusiasts, Taste newcomers, regional Australian wine school and fine wine bar Accolade Wine School will run wine and cheese pairings masterclasses throughout the weekend. There will also be a drop-in bar, where visitors can buy wine by the glass, whatever tickles the taste buds!
The Laurent-Perrier Clubhouse will be the perfect wintry haven to relax in during the festival and indulge with a glass of the highly acclaimed Cuvée Rosé. For that added VIP treatment, the Diners Club VIP lounge will be open, a private area for ticket holders including chef meet and greets with the likes of Michiel Carteus from Gazelle, booking signings and masterclasses – will be the hottest ticket to purchase at the event. Taste newcomers The Urban Kitchen, a new stunning allotment urban space, in association with Sustain will inspire and educate visitors how to grow their own food at home with a host of demos, talks and workshops about how to be green fingered.
ENTERTAINMENT AND CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
It will be Saturday night fever at Taste this year as DJ BBQ serves up hot dogs and takes over the decks at The Fire Pit for a two-hour DJ set, and the much-loved Deco Noir Piano Man will be returning to get everyone into the festive spirit, playing some favourite classic songs.
For the shoppers, a quality range of more than 100 sought-after artisan food and drink producers including handmade Burley Fudge, organic and sustainable Beronia Wines, award winning Cornish Cheese Co.
and the fantastically innovative Pleese Cakes, have been brought together for guests to stock up on treats and gifts, making Taste of London the perfect way to kick off the festive season in style.
The festive edition of Taste of London will take over Tobacco Dock in Wapping from 15th – 18th November 2018.
Tickets on sale now from £15: www.tasteoflondon.co.uk
More information including restaurant menus will be announced in the coming weeks.
