October Food News with Eat with Ellen

I went on holiday for a few weeks in September. When I left, it was late summer, sunny and bright. When I got back the leaves had all fallen off the trees, the temperature had dropped and it pretty much hasn’t stopped raining. Not great for those inevitable post-holiday blues. 

That said, autumn is a pretty cool time of year. Not because I’m a fan of ‘chunky knits’ and ‘pumpkin spiced lattes’ – which it seems the whole world is at the moment – but because it’s colourful, often bright and crisp, and it’s that time of year when food and drink shifts from light and refreshing to warming and substantial.

Big plates of food, deep in flavour and colour, and full-bodied drinks designed to warm your cockles as you adjust to the drop in temperature. It’s that lull before the insanity of Christmas where you’re entitled to either snuggle up at home or seek out the places offering you everything you need to grieve the summer and prepare yourself for the winter ahead. 

If you are planning on venturing out, here are a few ideas for you…..

Norma, Fitzrovia

Norma opened in mid-September with Ben Tish at the Helm. Inspired by the food and culture of Sicily – particularly its Moorish influences – it might be just right for that transition to autumn. Housed in a converted townhouse on Charlotte Street, its split across three floors and includes dining areas, a cocktail bar and a private dining room. 

The central crudo bar creaking with raw seafood will remind you of summer, while the menu itself focuses on modern Sicilian-inspired dishes, from antipasti and pastas to plates of grilled fish and meat. You’ll get homemade pastas as well as things like the signature Norma aubergine parmigiana and Rose veal chop with, charred hispi, bottarga and Marsala sauce.

If you’re in the private dining room you can order sharing platters of fresh pastas, breads and dishes including slow-cooked shoulder of Salt Marsh lamb. The menu itself features plenty of Moorish ingredients and produce including Sicilian marsala, passito and limoncello.

Drinks-wise you can have cocktails named after key moments in Sicily’s turbulent early history and aimed at evoking the region. Find more information here.

Norma, 8 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 2LS. Nearest stations – Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road. 

Camden Market’s North Yard

How about a load of food and drink places all in one space? No problem. Camden Market has a new restaurant a dining area, the North Yard, which features eight sit-down restaurants, cafes and delis, including Million Pound Menu winners Baba Gs and London favourite The Cheese Bar.

To celebrate its launch and showcase the creativity of its restaurant, the North Yard is paying homage to the aubergine – with each trader creating a seasonal special dedicated to the vegetable. The specials will be available until October 18th and range from a vegan moussaka burger with aubergine fries to turmeric tempura battered aubergine, lemon juice marinated eggplant, pickled onions and smoked mozzarella grilled sandwich with chilli honey.

There’s also a giant inflatable aubergine in the middle of the North Yard until October 18th, just to bring a smile to your face, so head down and take a look. 

North Yard, Chalk Farm Rd, Camden NW1 8AH. Nearest stations – Chalk Farm, Camden Road, Camden Town

Vegtoberfest

Sticking north, if you’re a meat-free fan and want to join Oktoberfest celebrations, now you can. Camden’s Vegtoberfest on Saturday, October 12th and Saturday, October 19th brings you your own Oktoberfest complete with vegan beers and street food, live brass, cabaret, female drag, burlesque and comedy.

You’ll be able to quaff vegan-friendly Bavarian beers like Spaten, Lowenbrau and more as well as local vegan craft ales, vegan wines, mulled wine and vegan cocktails.

Food-wise, Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner will be on hand to offer 100% vegan, Bavarian Wiesswurst, Bratwurst and Bockwurstsausages with all the trimmings, as well as their infamous vegan Dirty Burger with baycon, fried onion, cheese, lettuce and pickles and German potato pancakes aka kartoffelpuffer. There will also be a vegan diner serving up stone-baked vegan pizza, loaded fries, pretzels and vegan ice cream.

The food and drink might be a bit different but you can still enjoy all the atmosphere of Oktoberfest, with Fest Camden’s main room transformed into a festival-themed beer hall where you can enjoy live music, cabaret, burlesque and comedy.

Guests can also enjoy food and drink from the Wonderfest Rooftop with its views over Camden Stables Market and groups can book one of the venue’s raised beer tables. Tickets start at £10 and are available at vegtoberfest.co.uk

Dark Circus Party: Day of the Dead edition

While we’re on the party vein, how about cocktails and spooky fun at the Day of the Dead edition of Dark Circus Party on November 2. You’ll join the Dark Circus skeleton troupe for an evening of immersive entertainment in a haunted big top. 

Why am I listing it here? Well, because you can enjoy agave-fuelled cocktails while watching acrobatics, hula-hooping, sword swallowing, and fire performances. Tickets are £35 via www.darkcircusparty.com

EartH Hackney, 11-17 Stoke Newington Rd, Dalston, London N16 8BH. Nearest stations – Dalston Kingsland, Hackney Downs