This August, Covent Garden’s Piazza is returning to its culinary roots as the ‘Larder of London’ to host the city’s only Night Market from 3pm-10pm on Thursdays, and 12pm-10pm on Fridays. The foodie paradise boasts some of the finest regulars of the infamous Borough Market and Portobello Market, as well as numerous independent traders from in and around London.
These innclude well known names such as Carluccio’s who will be serving up some gorgeous Mushroom Risotto for a mere £4 per plate, and unique traders such as Thames Fisherman who will be serving up fresh Grade A Oysters caught right here in London from the Thames at only £7 for 6 Oysters.
This year’s event also debuts the Kitchen Theatre, a live cooking event right in the midst of the action where celebrity chefs such as the Hairy Bikers and Fergus Henderson will cook up delicious treats using produce from the market
I got myself down there on Friday night and was like a kid in a candy store delighting over aromatic olive oil and mouth-watering wafts of juicy pork from Rainha Santa’s hog roast. There are literally too many amazing things available in this concise showcase of some of the best produce the UK has to offer, but if you only go to one stall, make a dash for Tea Pigs where they sell a wonderful selection of whole leaf teas, either loose, or in ‘tea temples’ (essentially a fancy word for tea bags!).
After deliberating over the numerous blends they offer, from the unusual Chilli Tea to good old familiar favourites like English Breakfast Tea, I settled on a classic Peppermint, and I am not exaggerating here when I say it is the best Peppermint Tea I have ever tasted! This tea is so minty that it tasted as though I had been sucking on a Tic Tac when I had finished my cup!
Other treats I indulged in included a deliciously juicy burger from Northfield Farm who Clarissa Dixon Wright claims make the best burgers she has ever tasted, and while I can’t speak for Clarissa, it certainly was one of the best burgers I have ever got my teeth into!
If you are in London on a Thursday or Friday from now until 29th August, and love cooking and eating gorgeous, organic produce, get yourself down there, and indulge in fresh cheese, salami and fudge galore!
Image via Helen Graves' FoodStories