All of you within striking distance of London must go to this for ME, thanks

[suzywong]

\link{http://www.tasteoflondon.co.uk\a taste of London - and remember how very very lucky you are to live there}

[MarsLady]

If you insist suzywong.... if you insist [resignated sigh............]

[YellowFeathers]

The menus look amazing. Lots of seafood.

[snafu]

Doesn't it look fantastic? Think I will go to celebrate end of exams

[beansontoast]

!!!!!!
i read this when you posted it yonks ago...and felt real shame that i live well withinstriking distance and yet would inevitab;y not go to this wonderful event...

then my friend rang on Mon...to sayt she had won two tickets...and she picked me (she has HUNDREDS of friends )so we are off to the gala (?)opening on Thurs!!whohooo...and we get spending money too!


the bbc predict that a 'whole sun' will be shining that day!

[beansontoast]

only half a sun forecast now...might not go...








yeah right.

[suzywong]

Don't make me come over there and give you a chinese burn BOT, you HAVE to go

[Carmenere]

Well I'm not tempted tbh and I'm a serious foodie type. Basically I would prefer to visit the restaurants proper as I'm not convinced that I would enjoy the festival aspect. that said if a friend rang and said they had free tickets I would be there in a shot

[Frenchgirl]

I think it's only fair that beansontoast should go
lol

[Frenchgirl]

am predicting a name change when she returns, such as 'whitetruffleonpolenta'

[beansontoast]

frenchgirl

of course im going to go..albeit as a glib foodie tpye.

[beansontoast]

swoon!

it was quite amazing....and nothing like being at a reataurant carmenere!
id wondered what sort of atmosphere there would be...and struggled to imagine what it would be like.

i suppose it was fusion :chelsea flower show meets Reading festival....far more like chelsea flower show if im honest!

i have suchlittle contact with corporate hospitality etc that it was such an indulgent evening for me....even though im sur eit was not really THAT special...a bit like a party 'posh' might throw?....carpetted walkways,huge podiums with flowers on etc...fab.teh weather was a treat too,and of course the park is reliably stunning.

all the staff and exhibitors were 'beautiful people'on their very best behaviour...

it was a funny feeling browsing teh stalls of teh cinnamon club,gavroche,carluccios blah blah...much as you would at Reading or womad or something.

needless to say i had option paralysis and found it difficult to make my final selection....thsi wascomponded by all the tasting in the cheese tentand odds and sods of boozey tipples destroying any sense of appetite.

i had a kebab in the end,eaten with Oliver Hardy glee.

someone famous served me my ice cream ...but i didnt know at teh time.

i bought some bright green olives from naples that id never tried before...and crammed my bags with kiddy sized tasters (juice, cheese... OH MY GOD THE CHEEEESE )for my boys at home.

i nearly boughtn italian leather arm chair that matched teh olives.

i swear my thighs are bigger this morning.

[ComeOVeneer]

I didn't go but they do it in Chicago every year (I think that is where the idea originated) and it is absolutely fantastic (as usual by american standards it is huge about 250 restuarants participate), plus jazz performances, kids entertainment (last year was Barney and Bob the Builder) a log flum etc etc. They close of a major section of a 6 lane road to do it.

[beansontoast]

yeah there was jazz....and italian operatic singing ...teh works.

omg 250 restaurants...you would need a weekend ticket surely....and some stretchy slacks!

[suzywong]

good

I am very happy for you BOT

very, very happy that you enjoyed it

[ComeOVeneer]

I don't know how they worked the London one, but in Chicago entry is free, you just buy books of tickets and it is (eg) 4 tickets for a portion (quite small, but good size by english standards) from each stall, and unlike these things held in the Uk it was so clean and tidy (everyone used the bins provided) even the portaloos, and they provided a secure Bike park to reduce the car traffic and parking problems.

Anyone guess I'm missing living there?

[beansontoast]

oh dear there's nothing liek being homesick

you should go to cheer yourself up?....its ticketed entry....it was perfcetly clean,litter free and swanky last night

suzywong... i did it for you.

[ComeOVeneer]

Wish I could, but I have a stomach bug, dd has an ear infection, ds is teething and dh is on a stag weekend from yesterday am until Sunday night (so is also missing fathers day). At least it is Sunny so we can have a picnic in the garden.

[beansontoast]

yep it is sunny...have a nice picnic...im getting off mumnet NOW!

[Frenchgirl]

well, that's all well and good beansontoast but where's the name change?
seriously it sounds very nice indeed