Slow Food London

Idyllic Italian Food & Drink Bergamo Weekend Offer May 25-28

Exclusive and escorted

Slow Food London has received an exceptional offer from the Bergamo Slow Food branch.  Our Italian friends who visited us last year are eager to host a return visit to their city between May 25 - 28.   Local Slow Food members will accompany us at meals and on visits.

Bergamo is a jewel in the crown of Lombardy, known as Ultero Materno because it’s a mother which gives everything.  A walled city of mediaeval atmosphere and cultural attraction, it’s equally renowned for cuisine and wine.

Details

Friday May 25
14.00 Leave Stansted on Ryanair Flight
16.55 Arrive Bergamo and transfer to 4**** Hotel
Evening meal in traditional Trattoria

Saturday March 26
Morning – explore the historic Citta Alta
Afternoon – visit a local wine producer for tutored tasting
Evening meal in rustic osteria

Sunday May 27
Visit to artisan Alpine Cheese-maker for tutored tasting
Afternoon and Evening free

Monday May 28
Free time
17.20 Leave Bergamo on Ryanair Flight
18.20 Arrive Stansted

Roman in origin, Bergamo was from 1428 to 1797 part of the Venetian Republic.  It has so many of the sublime characteristics of La Serenissima itself.  Its architectural riches include Romanesque churches, Baroque Cathedral, imposing citadel, a delightful Piazza Vecchia, charming Palazzi and characterful cobbled streets and alleyways.

Nestling in the lush foothills of the Alps, Bergamo offers exceptional culinary excellence.  Among its specialities are Casoncelli alla Bergameasca –pasta meat, salami and pear parcels served  in a butter sauce – and Polenta e Osei – a rich marzipan pastry.  Cheeses are world-famous and include Taleggio, Formai de Mut and Branzi.

Local Valcalepia wines have become acknowledged in the last decades.  They are signature blends using international varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc.  Most famous, however, is Moscato Passito, a ruby-red dessert wine.

Arrangements

Flights will need to be booked individually with Ryanair.  The particular details that have to be entered as Passport identification and baggage preferences are so personal that a block booking is not feasible.  At present Ryanair is quoting £96 return with a 15kg baggage limit (as of 25/2).

Costs of Hotel accommodation, the visits and two main meals will be £250 for those choosing to share a double Hotel room and there is a single room supplement of £120.

An advance deposit of £50 per person (£75 if single supplement) must be made by April 16 and full payment must be received by May 14.

For further information contact Bill Green on 0208 806 6517 or chumnic@talktalk.net

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.

Event highlights

Big Slow Food Breakfast 10:00-11:30 £7.50 adults/   £4.50 kids - Book   
 Chef Jason White from the Great British Bakeoff and the Cooking Crew will be hosting a fun morning of gorgeous, gourmet breakfast at Beamish & McGlue with bespoke cakes, quiches and breads created just for this event.

The spread will be made from local and Fairtrade ingredients where possible with thoughtful recipes that have the end in mind: a memorable mouthful.

Bespoke Coffee Roasting Workshop with Volcano Coffeeworks 1 hour slots 10:00/11:00/12:00/13:00/14:00 £20 Book
Volcano Coffeeworks, suppliers to Soho and Marylebone's best restaurants with seasonal, gourmet coffee, is offering the chance to learn the fine art of coffee roasting, the origins of coffee and a tour of their facilities.  Get an exclusive introduction to barista secrets.

Perfect a coffee drink, learn to make your favourite espresso based drink like a pro, and have the big, beautiful roaster demasked, as you transform beans into a roast fit for a king, and have the opportunity to take home a pack of your own bespoke created roasted coffee.

'Raise Your Forks' Slow Food Pop-Up Dinner by Blanch and Shock  20:00-22:30  £35 Book
Enjoy a four-course gourmet slow food meal prepared by design studio/catering company  Blanch and Shock in St. Luke's Church, which will be transformed by candlelight into a baroque masterpiece of slow decadence, food that will make you raise both your forks and your spirits.           

Beamish & McGlue will provide a cash wine bar, and we are confirming very special music on the night, to come from Italy - think baroque ensemble and you're on the right track.  An evening not to miss, enjoy!

 

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

5 minutes walk from West Norwood train station (Southern from London Bridge takes 25 minutes)

Twitter @WNslowfoodfest
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Libera Terra launch with Slow Food Thursday 15 March 18:30 at the Market Quarter

Market Quarter is launching the Libera Terra products  as part of their ongoing promotion with Slow Food of this fantastic Sicilian organisation in the UK. Libera Terra products will be available in London for the first time  tasting to launch the range on Thursday 15th March from 18.30 - 20.30.

Libera Terra is the socially active organisation made up of local communities and students in Italy which rents properties and farms that have been confiscated off the Mafia and organised crime by the Italian state. All the foods and wine produced on the confiscated lands are then branded and marketed as Libera Terra, the profits are either then re-invested in similar projects or are used to help underprivileged individuals and communities in Sicily and the south of Italy.

Price £15 with a special price of £10 for Slow Food members.

Please contact belgravia@marketquarter.com to reserve a place, or call 020 7824 8470 .

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