November Food News with Eat With Ellen
It’s November, that can only mean one thing. Halloween’s gone and the ‘C’ word is being bandied around more often than even Brexit. We’ve got a way to go yet but hey, what’s the point of fighting it. If it means mulled wine and festive food, I’m down with it. At home, I’ve been all about soups and one-pot meals with the help of the slow cooker and even a pressure cooker that I’ve been experimenting with. And if I’m going out, I’m afraid it’s got to have the attraction of something to warm me up and put a smile on my face amidst all this grey coldness.
Lucky for you, I’ve found a fair few things to put smiles on all our foodie faces:-
MUST DO
Taste of London Winter – November 16-19
You can’t beat a good ‘Taste’ festival and the winter edition at Tobacco Dock (pictured above) promises to be rather lovely. Fire pits, cocktails, mulled wine and Michelin-starred chefs are just some of the things on offer at the three-day event, with restaurants including Nonna Tonda, Barbecoa, Bao and Hopper’s and Xu and Rigo. There are demos, cocktail masterclasses and plenty of shopping options if you’re already getting organised for Christmas.
Tobacco Dock, 50 Porters Walk, London, E1W 2SF. Nearest stations – Wapping, Shadwell
FEST Winter Chalet at FEST Camden
If it’s a winter wonderland you’re after, FEST Camden might have just the thing. They’ve converted their Roof Gardens and 200-year-old stables into the FEST Winter Chalet’ complete with candelit tables, fleece blankets, fire pits and festive cheer. There’s even an on-site snow machine to add to the Alpine effect and big screens showing Red Bull’s snowboarders pulling tricks in the mountains. There’s live music and a rooftop cinema club on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Food is all about classic winter warmers from jacket potatoes and pies to soups, Alpine pizzas and burgers, as well as warm pretzels and toffee apples. There’s a winter cocktail menu including mulled wine, hot cider, burnt cinnamon and orange old fashioneds, toasted apple and maple syrup martinis and spiced mojitos.
For more info, visit https://festcamden.com/
FEST Camden, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8AH. Nearest stations – Chalk Farm, Camden Town, Camden Road
‘Winter in S’moreditch’ at London Shuffle
It seems it’s all about winter terraces this month. If you’re in Shoreditch you might want to try London Shuffle’s ‘Winter in S’moreditch’ Terrace. The brand new fully-covered winter terrace opens on November 10, with outdoor lanes replaced by large seating areas each accommodating up to 10 people. You’ll be able to enjoy fire pits and home toasted campfire treats while you’re snuggled up in faux fur rugs, warming throws and plenty of other alpine comforts. The campfire menu includes S’mores and you’ll be given your own ingredients to assemble and hand-toast on the crackling campfire in your snug. Winter cocktails will be served from the terrace Airstream, including the Wolf’s Tooth – Union Mezcal with Arrette Tequila, chilli, winter spice and chocolate – andthe Hans-On-Gretel which fuses Koskenkorva Sauna with dry cider, apple, lemon and honey.
Book tickets and packages at londonshuffle.com
London Shuffle, 4 Ebor St, London E1 6AW. Nearest station – Shoreditch High Street
MUST TRY
Drinks by the Dram Advent Calendars
If we must start counting down to Christmas already, we may as well do it in style. I’ve come across ‘Drinks by the Dram’s Advent Calendars and are rather excited. It’s the season to be merry and all that…. I think boozy advent calendars are going to be rather big this year, so these aren’t the only ones around, but they look pretty good. You can choose anything from gin and rum to ‘Old and Rare Whisky’, ‘Japanese Whisky’, Mezcal, Armagnac and Absinthe, plus loads more. How better to count your way through December? They’re available in all sorts of places, from Amazon to Waitrose, and much more. Visit https://www.drinksbythedram.com/advent-calendars/ for more info.
