Christmas Foodies Festival Hits Brick Lane

Just in time to get stocked up on all the essentials, as well as lots of treats, for Christmas, comes the inaugural Foodies Festival Christmas, held at Brick Lane’s famous Old Truman Brewery.

Following hot on the heels of successful Foodies Festival events across the country this year is the ultimate food festival dedicated to Christmas, and everything culinary that goes with it! Chef Ernesto Paiva of Bubbledogs – a Michelin starred gourmet hotdog and champagne bar – will cook his award winning dishes in the newly designed open-air Chefs Theatre at the east London venue.

Festival-goers can also watch Michelin star chef Robert Ortiz of Lima, Jesse Dunford Wood of PARLOUR, Kurobuta’s head chef Scott Hallsworth, The Bluebird’s Matt Robinson, The Corinthia’s head chef Garry Hollihead, Kim Woodward of York and Albany and Anna Haugh of London House prepare their favourite festive dishes, with a full range of produce available to buy in the artisan market.

Coming at the end of national Go Vegan month, vegans and vegetarians new and old can look forward to Little Miss Meat Free Katy Beskow – winner of Peta’s 2014 Great Vegan Bake Off – sharing her Christmas alternatives.  2012 Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite and series 4 favourite Glenn Cosby will head-up a Christmas baking initiative, sharing breads and cakes recipes – the perfect holiday gift to share. There are also free hands-on masterclasses in cake decorating and icing, where participants can learn sugarcraft skills and decorate edible treats to hang on the Christmas tree at home.

The Foodies Festival, which runs over three days from November 28th to 30th, boasts a huge selection of new features including a Producers Grotto with local artisan produce to browse and have gift wrapped to take home, a Craft Beer Market and Pop-Up Breweries, a Cheese Village with cheese-makers from the UK, France and Italy and a Pudding Hall – a haven of sweet treats featuring pâtissiers and chocolatiers selling eggnog tarts, marzipan bonbons and macaroons. A life-size Gingerbread House serves warm ginger beer and roasted ginger marshmallows.
Other highlights include a Whiskey Arena offering a range of whiskeys, malts and hot toddies; a Ski Bar serving après ski cocktails, off-piste snacks and live DJs to create a chilled out St Anton vibe; and a vintage Soda Bar serving retro ‘pops’ from the 50’s themed bar.

Regular masterclasses will take place in the Drinks Theatre with craft beer and food matching with local brewers and festive port and sherry tastings with Charles Metcalfe; Wine Tipster Neil Phillips advises on the best champagne and wines to buy this season.So make sure you turn up hungry, and thirsty!

There’s also a Christmas Feasting Table sitting under a sky of twinkling fairy lights at the heart of the festival, where foodies can tuck into international delicacies served from the surrounding Street Food Avenue, including Fish& who recently won ‘Best Main’ at the British Street Food Awards.

And just like Christmas day there promises to be lots of post-feasting fun to be had with entertainment throughout the day. Visitors can register their team to compete in the Christmas Bumper Quiz at 5pm daily, have a group Christmas jumper picture taken in the photo booth, sing carols and learn how to dance the Gay Gordon with ceilidh dancing and live music from the Accoustic Stage.

Foodies Festival Christmas promises to be the foodie event this festive season. Buy tickets at www.foodiesfestival.com or call 0844 995 1111. All advance tickets include a showguide and Chefs Theatre cooking demonstration. Tickets are also available on the door, at around £20 per person (concessions available). To win a pair of tickets simply comment below telling us what your favourite food indulgence is at Christmas.