The inaugural festival took place in 2004 at Somerset House. It was the first event in what would become a series of restaurant festivals held in more than a dozen cities around the world. Taste of London is sometimes considered the original festival, while other Taste events are referred to as its spin-offs.
The main idea behind the festival is to make gourmet cuisine more accessible for at least several days. Taste of London features mini-kitchens from the city’s most exciting restaurants, including Michelin starred establishments. London’s best chefs leave their kitchens and arrive at Regent’s Park (summer edition) or Tobacco Dock (festive edition) to demonstrate their skills and provide a unique culinary experience for attendees.
At the festival, chefs conduct live demonstrations on stage, sharing tips, hints and tricks of the trade. Over twenty of London’s finest restaurants offer “taste” sized portions of their signature dishes, allowing attendees to create their perfect testing menus. The festival has its own currency called “crowns” used to purchase food.
Taste of London’s program is not limited to food samplings and cooking demonstrations. It also features various kinds of live music, from steel bands and gospel choirs to indie artists, food and wine pairings, masterclasses, hands-on cooking classes, champagne tastings, and more.
Shopping lovers will be glad to learn that the festival has over 100 exhibitors that offers delicious and interesting food and drink products. Taste of London’s shopping area is a paradise for foodies where you can buy delicious cheeses and exquisite wines, high-quality oils and vinegars, mouth-watering desserts and unusual foods such as gourmet popcorn.
The program consists of several sessions divided into lunch and dinner services. Each sessions lasts for 4 to 5 hours. Please note that tickets are only valid for the single session they are purchased for.
