Recently (but maybe not as recently as I’m willing to admit), it was Urban Food Fortnight, which celebrates the best of London’s local food scene of small producers. It’s a pretty cool way to meet and eat, and learn more about how big cities are no longer so far removed from our food supply as they used to be.
The Old Street Food Assembly celebrated with a tasting event, including local producers and growers who all sell through the Food Assembly.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, let me explain. The FA (not the football one) is a concept that started in France, and lets you pre-order directly from small, local suppliers within 150 miles of the Assembly. Then, when the pick-up day comes, you turn up, meet the producers and take home the bounty.
So when my Food Assembly announced a Tuesday evening tasting, you know I’d be there. Several luscious snack servings later, and dinner didn’t seem like a necessity anymore.
Rich reds and oranges on crunchy peppers, sharp and herbal cheeses, funky new jam flavors, smoky cashew spread and punchy fruit drinks with cayenne … and that’s just a start. Such a great way to introduce producers and purchasers.
But really, I should let the food speak for itself.
- Wobbly Bottom Farm has tangy, delicious sheep, goat and cow cheeses.
- A cheesemaker from Wobbly Bottom
- Nix & Kix, a non-fizzy drink with cayenne pepper
- Getting to the details on cayenne soft drinks.
- Netherhall Nursery with wisdom on their peppers
- Unusual, historical and all-over delicious jams
- Aerial jam view
- Emma of the Butch Institute shows off her jams
- It really is A Very Nice Idea to have single-serving portions of curry
- A quick intro to A Very Nice Idea
- Individual portions of spices, pulses and grains to make your own curry
- Learning about English wine with The Wine Scouts
- Fresh veg waiting to be taken home
- Brambletye beets
- Colina apples, packed with flavor
- Sauerkraut crisps (Yes, really!)
- Cashew spread, smooth and punchy
- Smoked paprika… oh yes.
- Rye samples from the Dusty Knuckle Bakery
- homemade chocolate from Ubuntu chocolates
- chatting cocoa with Ubuntu Chocolate
- the FA organizers keep the deliveries on track