London’s Best Scotch Egg
The Ship, Wandsworth
20 September
Write it in your diary now: 20 September—it’s the hottest award ceremony in Britain: London’s Best Scotch Egg.
Hosted at The Ship from 7:30 onwards, restauranters, pub owners, home cooks and scotch egg enthusiasts will be pitting their eggs against each other to be judged on smell, taste, texture and appearance. It’s not too late to enter—the deadline’s 15 September though, so get practicing.
www.theship.co.uk
A Taste of Tuscany
Harrods’ Wine Shop
20 September
The odds are that it’s going to be cold and windy in London on 20 September, so transport yourself to an Italian summer with ‘A Taste of Tuscany’ wine tasting at The Wine Shop in Harrods. A specially-selected range of 30 wines will be poured for the evening, and served with matched canapés. The event is £35 per person, from 7-9pm.
www.harrods.com
Cook and Taste Cookbook workshop with Rosie
24 September
Books For Cooks, Blenheim Crescent
There can’t be many better ways to spend a Saturday than joining the lovely Rosie Hogg as she works her way through new cookbook releases in this beautiful and iconic Notting Hill shop.
The workshop starts at 11am and runs through to 1pm when everyone sits down for lunch together. For just £20 it’s a steal, so make sure you book in advance: [email protected]; 020 7221 1992.
Polpetto takes bookings
26 September onwards
The gamble’s over. Polpetto is taking bookings. Since its opening almost exactly one year ago, its been in constant demand, meaning that its mainly been stoic queuers, those with odd mealtimes or power-wielding food critics who’ve bagged a table. Not any more though—so if anyone fancies taking me out for supper then give them a bell and make a reservation.
www.polpetto.co.uk
Liza and Judy: Diva dinners at The Underground Restaurant
2 minutes from Kilburn tube
1 October
If you’re in the mood to dress for dinner, then don your ruby shoes, bowler hat and sequins for a Judy Garland and Liza Minelli night hosted by the legendary pop-up restauranter Kerstin Rodgers aka.Ms Marmite Lover
Rodgers is notoriously hot on the right atmosphere, and that’s no exception for her 1 October event which requires ‘gamine neediness mixed with ‘Let’s put the show on here’ trouper spirit’. If you reckon you can serve that up, then BOOK A SEAT. It’s £40 for 5 courses, and is sure to be one memorable evening.
(look out for Frida Kahlo night and Barbara Striesand nights to come…)
www.supperclubfangroup.ning.com
The London Restaurant Festival
3-17 October
The London Restaurant Festival takes place from 3-17 October. Lots of the events are a little on the pricy side: Michelin Star Chefs cooking for you in a London Eye bubble (£15,000) or the ‘Gourmet Odyssey’ food trip on a routemaster bus (£150).
There are a few mid-range events too, for those who want to enjoy good food in unusual places without taking out a bank loan: Fortnum and Mason Culinary Carnival (£53 for 3-course dinner and cheese), Films, champagne and food in three of London’s 5* hotels (£55) and a Tapas Tour round London’s finest tapas bars (£50). www.londonrestaurantfestival.com
London Cocktail Week
7-16 October
Quick! Sign up for your free wristband which entitles you to £4 signature cocktails in hundreds of the city’s best bars during London Cocktail Week 7-16 October. If (like me) you’ve got a list of bars you’ve been wanting to visit, but can’t quite afford the £10 drink once inside, then this is your chance to snoop about without breaking the bank.
There are free buses to take you round the bars, and a great website so you can plan a slick itinerary: I’m starting with a Prime Minister in Worship Street Whistling Shop, a Dog’s Nose in Jub Jub, then a Kammerling’s Townnhouse Tonic in The Zetter Townhouse…
www.diffordsguide.com
The Experimental Food Society
Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane
21-22 October
The Experimental Food Society is hitting Brick Lane 21-22 October by taking over Truman Brewery with their array of extraordinary eats. Look out for the dodo-shaped cake, the edible clothes and (most bizarrely) the camel ice cream—yes, that’s camel not caramel…
www.experimentalfoodsociety.com