Slow Food London

West Norwood Slow Food Festival Saturday 31 March

Beamish & McGlue  present the First Annual West Norwood Slow Food Festival in the lush, green churchyard of St. Luke’s Church in West Norwood, Knights Hill.

Following the efforts of delicious food shop Beamish & McGlue to revitalise West Norwood through its involvement with Spacemakers and people-powered market West Norwood Feast, co-owner Antonia Beamish has partnered with sommelier and journalist Sarah Coursey to present a festival that highlights the rich culinary heritage of producers in West Norwood and other neighbourhoods in Lambeth, from traditional English fare to Portuguese, Jamaican and Trinidadian cuisine as well as British street food.

The first festival in south London to garner the support of Slow Food London, its ethos is simple: a celebration of good, clean food for the whole family, with keynote speakers, chef demonstrations, tastings, food talks,  theatre, musical performances and delicious, fresh food.

There will be performances  including HONEY, a production by award winning theatre company Pif-Paf and supported by The Co-operative’s Plan Bee scheme. HONEY seamlessly blends visual theatre and natural history in an intimate multimedia show for all ages. The performance will be repeated four times throughout the festival day, accompanied by the Waggle Dance Workshop, an interactive, family-orientated class in which Bee Explorers are taught the wild and wacky dance movements of bees.

Saturday 31 March 10:00 - 18:00
St Luke's Church, Knights Hill, West Norwood, London SE27 0HS
Admission is free and open to the public

Visit Brixton Village Market for brunch Saturday 10 December, 10:00

Come and join us on an informal wander through Brixton Village Market to see what it's all about.

Once a rundown arcade, Brixton Village Market is now home to more than 20 new cafés, restaurants and takeaways and has become Brixton's culinary and cultural hub.

See TimeOut's review and local shops videos.

Meet our member Alice Pearson (phone 07786961323) at 10:00 at the top of Electric Avenue corner with Brixton Road.

Background
Brixton Village — also known as Granville Arcade — is a 1930s indoor market in South London. By mid-​2009, a large number of its shops were standing empty.

With funding from the market’s owners and the support of hundreds of local people and organisations, Space Makers filled those empty shops with new community-​driven businesses, creative projects and a rolling festival of weekend and late night events.

In October 2010, Space Makers moved on from Brixton Village. After a year of pop-​up theatres and galleries, temporary shops and trial-​run cafes, all the shops were now let to long-​term tenants — many of whom arrived through the original competition.

Growers’ Champagnes Wednesday 23 November 18:30

Following the success of our tasting earlier this year, we will be offering a different selection this time to show why Champagne from small growers can be much more interesting than the “big names”.

The champagnes we are tasting will include Blanche de Castille Premier Cru NV, Pertois-Moriset Rose Grand Cru NV and Waris Larmandier's recently disgorged Cuvee Empreinte Blanc de Blancs
Grand Cru Vintage 2002 - very special!

COST
Spaces are available at £25
To book  020 7824 8470 or Belgravia@marketquarter.com

Market Quarter
36 Elizabeth Street Belgravia, London SW1W 9NZ
Nearest tube Victoria or Sloane Square

Note: Slow Food London are not running this event but thought it may be of interest  for the bubbly lovers.

28th CAMRA Pig's Ear east London beer & cider festival Tuesday 6 - Saturday 10 December 2011

The Festival will offer over 200 real ales, 100 quality foreign beers, craft ciders – plus pub games and food stalls.

Built in 1871 the Round Chapel is in Powerscroft Road and next to the main Lower Clapton Road.   It once attracted thousands to church services and now is attracting devotees of the Barley and the Hop. 

Entry  
CAMRA Members £2 Non-Members £4

Venue
Round Chapel
Powerscroft Road
Hackney
E5 0PU
Times:
Tues-Thurs 12:00 - 22:30
Fri-Sat 12:00 - 23:00

Directions
Rail: Hackney Central - London Overground
Hackney Downs - From Liverpool Street
Buses: 38, 48, 55, 106, 253, 254, 425, 488

Sunday Roast at Surrey Docks urban farm 23 October 12:00

Join us for Sunday roast down on the farm ..
They don't take reservations, and on a nice day they can get a queue in the early afternoon, so they suggested arriving around noon when they start serving the roasts. I'll (Dennis) be there from noon until about 3pm.

Along the bank of the Thames, amongst the warehouses of Rotherhithe, the sounds of waves lapping, shorebirds, and...sheep?

Stumbling across Surrey Docks Farm is a real surprise. While small, this urban farm has an amazing range of farm gardens and livestock. And, what's more surprising, is the Frizzante Cafe set in a rustic, well, shack, this cafe turns out really first rate food. As they say on their website, "All our food is freshly cooked on the premises using seasonal ingredients often sourced from local farms in Kent."

On Sundays, they add a roast to their menu which also includes a great farm breakfast (carnivore or veggie friendly) and specials including things like:

As for the choice in roasts, well, they will have one to choose from and as they said when I asked, "um, lately it's usually been pork or chicken".

For more info on the Farm or Frizzante, see:

http://www.frizzanteltd.co.uk/index.html

http://surreydocksfarm.org.uk/

To get to Surrey Docks, you can take the C10 bus from Canada Water station (towards Victoria). Or, for a very scenic approach, it's about a 20 minute walk along the Thames Path/Rotherhithe Street from Rotherhithe Station.

So, for a chance to wander around a bit of nature, and have some good food with good company, why not join us down on the farm.

Surrey Docks Farm
South Wharf, Rotherhithe Street, SE16 5ET
London

Event photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fairlybuoyant/4049995345/

Visit Sedlescombe organic winery Sunday 13 November 10:00

** Meet England’s acclaimed wine making pioneers
** Taste award-winning organic wines
** Be inspired by an acknowledged wine expert
** Eat an appetising Ploughman’s of locally-produced cheese and bread
** Enjoy the awesome countryside of the Sussex High Weald

Slow Food London is sponsoring a trip on Sunday November 13 to one of England’s most famous  vineyards and wineries, Sedlescombe Organic.   Since 1979 Ron and Ima Cook have proudly committed themselves to producing organic wines – many award-winning and all recognised by the Soil Association.  In 2010 it was a pioneer again when it produced England’s first-ever certified biodynamic wine, Seddlescombe First Reserve.  It nestles within the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, vines growing beside majestic Bodiam Castle, a moated mediaeval masterpiece.  

The trip has been organised by renowned wine educator and writer, Gilbert Winfield, who organised the greatly  appreciated recent Slow Food London Sustainable Wine Series of tastings. 

The schedule is

10.00  Coach leaves from outside the Apollo Victoria Theatre, 17 Wilton Road, Westminster, London SW1V 1LG. If need to contact on the morning ring Bill Green 07796 818835.
12.00  Arrival and brief introduction from Gilbert
12.15  Conducted tour of the vineyard and winery
13.30  Ploughman’s lunch of local Sussex cheese and bread in the winery barn
14.15  Tutored tasting of 8 exciting wines and fruit wines
15.45  Depart by Coach

The whole visit is being offered at the exceptional advantageous price of £33  members and £35 non-members. Numbers are limited and pre booking required so book now!

How to book

1. with email and an online bank transfer

• Send an email giving all relevant details of your booking to bookings@slowfoodlondon.com

• Transfer the money via online or phone banking to Slow Food London Convivium, The Cooperative Bank, Sort Code: 08-92-99 A/c No: 65139411

2. to book by cheque