Last night, Field Grey spent the evening consuming as much food and drink as possible at the annual Taste of London bonanza in the glorious setting of Regent’s Park. Thousands of food-loving Londoners swept through the gates to sample the greatest tastes made in the capital and beyond.
There is something to satsify every appetite and every dining style. For a festival vibe, there are burgers at Shake Shack; for a fine dining experience, try Protégé by Ford, introducing the next generation of five star chefs. Over 40 of the capital’s best resutaurants are represented and will be cooking up their greatest dishes all weekend, including Ember Yard, Sushi Samba, The Cinnamon Club, Chai Wu, The Dairy and aqua kyoto.
Of course, punters need plenty to wash all this food down with and the choice really is endless. All tipples are represented, from locally produced, independently made spirits to global beer brands. Highlights include Havana Club’s Mojito Shack where you can mix your own cocktail on an iPad, Giesen’s incredible selection of Sauvignon Blancs and Reislings, Singha Beer’s vibrant disco as part of Taste of Thailand, a Laurent Perrier bar decked like a pink palace, Sipsmith’s Summer Cup Shack and much, much more.
Field Grey enjoyed many a Languedoc wine with the guys from Your Sommelier, the specialist French wine retailers.
One of the main draws is the AEG Taste Theatre, a festival tent where London’s greatest chefs showcase their skills. Last night we saw Raymond Blanc OBE stir up something special; the agenda for the weekend reads like a who’s who of haute cuisine, with big names like José Pizarro, Monica Galetti, Theo Randall, Michel Roux Jnr and Nuno Mendes making star turns.
The AEG Let’s Taste Live Cooking Tent provides attendees with the opportunity to cook along with cutting-edge chefs and learn new tips and tricks.
On one side of the festival lies a bazaar of local producers showcasing their goods. Field Grey was particular keen on Little Jack Horner‘s sausage rolls, Anno Gin produced in Kent with sixteen different local ingredients, Gran Luchito Chill Honey and Rosanna’s Pink Onion Jam…
The festival runs until Sunday: for more information, visit the Taste of London website.
All photography © Matt Bramford/Field Grey.