Taste of London: The Verdict
Taste of London is one of the most anticipated Foodie events of the year. But did it live up to expectations?
Smoked duck Banh Mi from House of Ho
Taste of London is highlighted in my calendar months in advance as an event not to missed. As a complete Foodie, seeing London’s top restaurants, food and wine producers and everything in between all located in one glorious outdoor venue is like a dream come true.
This is especially the case as Taste always manages to bring together an exciting line-up of restaurants, as well as innovative and interactive demonstrations by some of London’s best chefs!
Restaurants:
My favourite part of Taste are the restaurants, from the legendary fine dining establishments to exciting new openings. London’s buzzing new food trends are always represented at Taste and it successfully manages to reflect one of the world’s most vibrant food scenes.
I tried dishes from a couple of restaurants after finally deciding on them from the extensive menu. To start I tried the Dahi Bhalla, which were lentil dumplings with yoghurt, mint and tamarind chutney from Zaika. These provided a sweet starter and gave the perfect taster to what dining at Zaika would be like.
I then headed to The Cinnamon Club and tried Punjabi spiced cod with white pea curry. This was delicious and typical of cuisine from The Cinnamon Club due to the lightly spiced flavours.
Despite already having these two meals when we reached The House of Ho we couldn't resist trying their smoked duck banh mi sandwich. Again the dish was delicious and the added sauces made it delectable. I have definitely added The House of Ho to my restaurant wish list after this sample!
Crispy soft shall crab from Spice Market
Panjabi spiced cod from Zaika
Speciality buns from Chai Wu
Finally my favourite restaurant stand was Sushisamba
particularly because of their display, as they had recreated the large orange glimmering tree that is also found in the actual restaurant. I bought my dessert from here as they offered a selected of desserts in a gorgeous bright orange box. The box included some lovely macaroons which were a great treat at the end of the day.
Some restaurants had more of a queue than others and MeatLiquor and Shake Shack were particularly busy and had queues during the whole session - you would think that people would want to try something different when they go to an event like Taste!
Sushisamba dessert box
Sushisamba stand
Drinks:
Funnily enough there were actually considerably more drinks stands then food stands this year. In fact there were rows and rows of endless gin, beer, coffee and especially coconut water to sample!
My favourite drinks stand was Mortimer's Orchid Cider Bar. The cider they were serving was top quality due to it's deliciously smooth but distinct apple taste. The traditional brewing techniques and use of 100% fresh English apple juice were obvious from the samples they were generously handing out.
What's more they also had a Silent Disco on hand for people to dance off those extra desserts by indulging in some classic cheesy tunes.
Mortimer's silent disco
Mortimer's Cider
Collection of tea from T2
Entertainment:
I loved celebrity chef spotting whilst at Taste, as the famous chefs were dotted around everywhere. This was definitely the best entertainment as Taste had lined up household names and emerging super star chefs. I had a particular interesting conversation with Marcus Wareing and also bumped into Vivek Singh quite a few times too!
Additionally these chefs also hosted live cooking demonstrations of their favourite recipes and took questions from the audience during their sessions. This interaction with 'TV chefs' is usually not possible and is one of the reasons I love going to Taste!
There was also live music performed throughout the sessions at The Bandstand, which topped of the whole summery atmosphere to Taste nicely!
Cooking demonstrations
Masterclass by Vivek Singh
Top Tips:
As with any big festival, there are a few hints and tips to make the most of the experience. Here are a few I have picked up from Taste which you can use at their next event:
- Don’t go on opening night
This is often the busiest session as this is the one the majority of Press attend. In fact all the evening sessions can get quite busy and so it can be a much more relaxed and enjoyable experience during the day time sessions.
- Look at the menu in advance
As there is so much choice in terms of what to eat, it definitely helps to have a look at the menus online first and deciding on a few dishes you'd like to try. You can always narrow these down again when you have actually have a look at the dishes at each of the stands. However, scouring the menu beforehand is particularly important if you're vegetarian or have dietary requirements, as in these cases there isn't very much choice and what is available can sell out fast.
- Go more than once
This year I went to three different Taste sessions and each time it got better and better. Firstly, Taste is actually a big event and it is very hard to have a proper look around all the stands, try some dishes, have a go at the masterclasses and demonstrations and enjoy the whole thing in one four-hour session. Additionally, going back means you'll know where the best stands and samples are so you won't waste time wondering around as much, it also means you don'f have to decide to buy any produce on the spot
- Use contactless not crowns
This year Taste introduced the use of contactless cards at the restaurant stands. This means there is now a viable alternative to using crowns, Taste's own currency, which was always a hassle to obtain and then use up.
- Don't be afraid to mingle with the chefs
One of my favourite things about Taste is the number of celebrity chefs mingling in the crowd. Don't be afraid to go up to them and get involved in the conversation!
All in all, Taste of London offered a fun weekend to Londoners and will be back with full force at Taste of London Winter, which has already made it onto my calendar!
Cheers to Taste!
