Taste of London Festival 2021 is the perfect escape for any foodie, where you can try the best food and drink the capital has to offer. Trust us, it doesn’t disappoint…
It is to blazing sunshine that I make my way through Regent’s Park to Taste of London Festival, my nose leading the way as the scents of cooking fill the air. One of the best food festivals to hit the capital, it is appreciated all the more from a year of uncertainty, lockdowns, and having to suffer my own home-cooked food for nights on end. The festival has over thirty of London’s hottest restaurants and chefs on hand to serve up a treat, with many beautiful areas to relax in while indulging your taste buds. We make a beeline for the VIP area which is located at the back left side of the festival. These tickets are priced at £59 and enable you to skip the queues with fast-track entry, access to the Diners Club VIP lounge, a glass of Champagne Laurent-Perrier La Cuvé, two signature dishes, access to exclusive masterclasses and more. We figure if you are going to do something, you might as well do it properly and the VIP tickets enable you to do just that.
We pick up our champagne at the entrance to the area and sit down at a nearby picnic bench. The champagne is cold and delicious, the air is warm and as we are sat next to The Fire Pit, the mouthwatering smells of barbequed food waft through the air.
As we sit, we sample different dishes from the festival, including squid ink risotto, and vegetable paella, and wonder which of the many stalls on offer we are going to spend our food vouchers on. There is Sri Lankan favourite Hoppers, the city’s best tasting cookies Crème, or perhaps a pizza from Napoli Gang. Indo Chinese restaurant Fatt Pundit’s delectable Crispy Sticky Bites have been highly recommended, while Gaucho is on hand with their mouthwatering steak. I’m pleased I skipped out on lunch today as while we wander around, I know it would be impossible to pick just one.
As well as the many places selling food, Taste of London festival also has a number of masterclasses and special events on offer. We were booked in for the Laurent-Perrier Prêt-À-Portea Experience where Laurent-Perrier and The Berkeley provide a champagne edition of their legendary fashion afternoon tea. This was one of the first stops on our trip and we tuck into three mouthwateringly delicious cakes while sipping a glass of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé and learning more about how the pastries are made. The event is informative and engaging, in the most stunning setting.
As we head back into the summer’s evening, the sun is slowly becoming hazy in the sky, yet the festival is still in full flow. It is such a relief to feel a sense of normality and Taste of London executes it perfectly. The whole event is brilliantly laid out, with so many spaces to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
As well as the Laurent-Perrier experience, you can opt to have an Aspall Picnic in the meadow, take part in a craft beer trail, chop it like its hot in the Taste Kitchen and enjoy a host of other masterclasses. Whether you are a budding chef, are looking to learn a bit more about your favourite tipple, or just want to get stuck into something a little different, Taste of London offers that and so much more. Sip French wine with Taste France, tuck into a range of dishes and sit on swings or a see-saw with Just-Eat, or flop onto a nearby deck chair and listen to the live entertainment on offer.
Taste of London really does have something for everyone. You can indulge in some of the best food and drink that the capital has to offer while soaking up the atmosphere. Let the drinks flow, the delicious scents and sounds of cooking food in the air and let yourself just relax. In a year that has been more stressful than most, Taste of London is a great reminder of just how much joy the little things in life can bring. So eat, drink and be merry. (And then do it all over again.)
https://london.tastefestivals.com/
Taste of London Festival
The Regent’s Park
