The top foodie event of the summer social calendar has arrived. Taste of London returns to the capital, as Regent’s Park plays host to a culinary display of the finest form. Across four days, foodies gather to sample delectable treats from Michelin starred restaurants to well-known celebrity haunts. I was lucky enough to get my first taste (see what I did there?!) of the festival last year and returned with gusto on Friday to sample my way through as many miniature meals as possible.
For those who have yet to attend the pinnacle of all food festivals, Taste of London really is quite amazing. Armed with your crowns (this being the festival currency £1 = two crowns), you can visit the many various tents trying new and exciting dishes. Perfectly proportioned a main course usually costs between eight-ten crowns, meaning you can try some of the world’s most renowned chefs food for a fraction of the price. But don’t get too excited the meals are sample size, intended to be a taster rather than a full course. With so much food on offer it’s probably for the best anyway!
I was rather lucky to get my hands on a VIP ticket and so began the day in the express queue to gain entrance. This year with food from The Ritz, Scott’s, and Le Gavroche (to name a few!) after a quick study of the festival map I was off and ready to start sampling.
My first stop had to be the legendary Argentinean steak restaurant, Gaucho. In my opinion still the best steak I’ve ever eaten, I was eager to see if it could match up to the memory of the previous year. And I wasn’t disappointed; succulent steak with a chilli spiced dressing complimented with a delicious morsel of sweet corn baked in the husk.
But there was no time to waste as I continued on to The Cinnamon Club for some Indian haute cuisine. More than happy to part with my crowns, I tried the Gressingham Roast duck with Hyderabadi korma sauce. Perfectly cooked and spiced, it was delicious.
In need of a rest I found refuge in the VIP Lounge, where exclusive St. Martins Lane bar, Bungalow 8 treated guests to a delicious champagne cocktail. With the bubbles quickly consumed I headed back out into the rain (one downslide, be sure to take an umbrella!). So it was on to Quo Vadis, with their unique take on the British classic, the Scotch egg (pictured above). Not a fan of the traditional treat, I choose to watch as my companion quickly demolished the breaded egg. I was later informed however that it was, “The best Scotch Egg I’ve ever eaten!” which isn’t half bad.
After trying various more delights from braised pork cheeks with creamed potatoes at Gordon Ramsey’s Petrus to spicy chicken calabrese at top Italian eatery, L’Anima, I was feeling rather satisfied. With a refreshing mojito thrown into the mix I called it a day and headed in for some shopping at the various market stands. One rosemary focaccia loaf and vintage cheddar purchased it was time to head home.
Taste of London comes but once a year and for foodie fans like myself it is a great chance to try something completely new. For the afternoon I could literally hop between cuisines, Michelin stars and menus, each time trying something completely different to the previous experience. If you’re anything like me, the real-life opportunity to eat at some of the restaurants at Taste is very rare indeed, so this is perfect opportunity to get your hands on some! I thoroughly recommend Taste to anyone with an appetite for the new and you will certainly find me there next year!
For more information, please visit the Taste of London website: www.tastefestivals.com/london
All images © Stacey Malvern for BitchBuzz.com