Oh! to be in England. The weather’s fine and food festival season is in full swing. Here in London we await with greedy anticipation our own helping, from the granddaddy of them all, Taste London. From 18 – 21 June Regent’s Park will be transformed into a veritable picnic of producers and dazzling showcase for 40 of London’s top restaurants in what has arguably become the UK’s food event of the year.
Elsewhere, Britain’s farmers’ markets are heaving with soft berry fruits – gooseberries and strawberries are ripe and ready, raspberries are on the way. But for some, the sight of yet another slice of strawberry shortcake just doesn’t cut it anymore: Adam Leith Gollner, author of the recently published ‘Fruit Hunters’ is a case in point. Suffering from familiar-fruit-fatigue, he took off on a global quest to discover the fruits that the commercial world left behind. From mangosteens to ice cream beans, egg fruits to rambutans he reveals his astonishing findings about the underworld of fruit in this riveting and highly original read. Find out more in our BOOKS section.
From hunting to foraging: This week Foodtripper columnist Will Roberts went down to the woods to unearth a few lesser known edibles himself. This time it was English herbs. If you have ever mused over the culinary applications of chickweed, willowherb or bittercress the answers are all in his feature, Forest Feast.
Meanwhile in sun-drenched Europe, celebrity columnist Clodagh McKenna rounds up her favourite Florence eateries, Brussels-based journalist Zoe Casey explores the little-known foodie neighbourhood of Chatelain, and in Switzerland, our hotel junkie Andrew Copestake’s every wish was the command of the attentive staff at our featured Food Hotel, Palace Luzern.
And finally, food anoraks, listen up. Doyenne of food trivia and Foodtripper Quiz Mistress, Sudi Pigott challenges you to the first in her series of food culture quizzes. Amateurs need not apply – it’s seriously tough stuff. Bet you can’t beat her.
Best wishes,
Helen
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