GEFILTEFEST JEWISH FOOD FESTIVAL - Sunday May 20th at London's Ivy House

The third annual Gefiltefest Jewish Food Festival will be held on Sunday May 20th 2012 at London's Ivy House (appropriately the former home of the dancer Anna Pavlova).

The festival is a full day of more than fifty food demonstrations, lectures and workshops.  

Claudia Roden will be interviewed at the festival and there will be plenty of food to taste. More information at www.gefiltefest.org. All profits from the event are donated to food-related charities.

CELEBRITY CHEF LEVI ROOTS COOKS UP A RECIPE FOR CHANGE TO LAUNCH WORLD FOOD NIGHT

Celebrity chef Levi Roots is urging people everywhere to cook up a recipe for change and take part in the first ever World Food Night.

The food-lovers’ celebration will take place on February 24th and will see people across the UK cooking up delicious food from around the world in support of refugees.

A pack full of recipe ideas from countries like Eritrea and Bolivia, tips and giveaways will be sent to participants as part of the initiative, which is in support of the charity Refugee Action.

There will be top prizes for people who raise the most money, including the chance to enjoy a meal from Levi’s London eatery Papine.

Levi, who has voiced a film in support of World Food Night, said: “World Food Night is a great opportunity to share a meal with friends while raising awareness and funds for a great cause. Food can cross boundaries of culture and nationality, but it can also help people retain their culture. Many refugees have fled war and persecution but give a lot back to the UK. I would encourage anyone to hold a dinner party, learn more about refugee issues and cook up a recipe for change!”

Levi wanted to get behind the World Food Night initiative after he came to the UK as a young man from Jamaica and experienced how difficult it can be to adapt to a new culture.

He said: “For me, food has always been a key part of maintaining my own culture and it is a great way to break down barriers while having some fun!”

The fundraiser comes hot on the heels of the British Future State of the Nation Report 2012 entitled ‘Hopes and Fears’ which revealed that 68 per cent of people think immigration has been good for British food, with people from the West Midlands the most enthusiastic about the diverse food which is now available.  

Dave Garratt, Chief Executive of Refugee Action, said: “We are delighted to have the support of Levi Roots and already have lots of people signing up to support refugees through World Food Night. We work with people who have fled war and persecution and need protection. But refugees also have an enormous amount to give back to the UK, including through food and culture. Most of us love to try new foods and World Food Night is a chance to do just that, while raising awareness and cooking up a recipe for change!”

To get your fundraising pack and watch Levi’s film you can visit www.refugee-action.org.uk/wfn. To find out what other people are planning you can follow Refugee Action on Twitter at http://twitter.com/refugeeaction and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RefugeeAction.

Share a Whole Lamb at A La Cruz Winter Supper Club on 1 February 2012

A whole lamb – cordero entero – is the celebration feast of feasts in Argentina. For the first time, A La Cruz in Farringdon, London EC1, will host its lamb supper club on Wednesday 1 February 7.30pm – and you are welcome to come by yourself or with a couple of guests. Slow cooked on the asador, the lamb is supported on metal crosses, a la cruz. Some four hours later, the lamb is crisp and meltingly succulent, and is ceremoniously carved by the host to share with the party. Until now, only guests of the owners and bigger groups have enjoyed the privilege of this spectacular dinner.

Tickets at £40 are available from A La Cruz, 42 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 0HU. Tube: Farringdon, Angel, 10 minutes walk.
Telephone 020 7837 1999
eat@alacruz.com

Cordero Entero Menu

1 February 2012

Plate of 3 starters

Empanada: Argentine style filled pastries beef, spinach & ricotta

Provoleta: Grilled provolone cheese and crusty toasted bread

Mollejas: Grilled beef sweetbreads with lemon juice

Taster of beef fillet from the charcoal grill

Cordero Entero a la cruz: Whole lamb on the asador

Sauces: Chimichurri, and yoghurt & mint

Espinacas a la crema: Creamy spinach

Asadas a la sal: Rock salt baked baby potatoes

Salads with palm hearts, beetroot, beans, tomatoes, free-range egg

Panqueques: Traditional Argentine pancakes filled with dulce de leche

Septima wines will be specially selected to match and available to buy by the glass or bottle.


Along with other landmark restaurants in the vicinity - Smith’s of Smithfield and St John – A La Cruz is an essential destination in the meat trail which has established itself near Smithfield Market. Meat at A La Cruz is sourced from some of the premium farms in Argentina, and meat fans will take great delight in enjoying tender, flavoursome Ribeye, Sirloin and Rump steak, perfectly pink lamb, chorizo and chistorra sausages, morcilla grilled pork black pudding and mollejas beef sweetbreads. Starters include many dishes which will please vegetarians.

Whilst it is hard to take your eyes off the spectacular open Grill area, you will not miss the bold artwork of Turner shortlisted artist David Tremlett. His wall drawings adorn the large, bright dining room. Regular fans of A La Cruz feasting include The Meat Club and the Saracens Rugby team.

Tastecard - Is it all it's cracked up to be???

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Cafédirect is giving away a £500 gourmet experience - Ethical hot drinks brand is searching for the perfect pairing of coffee and dessert

For everyone addicted to the Great British Bake Off or who fancies their chances on Come Dine with Me, Cafédirect could have the perfect foodie competition.

The ethical hot drinks brand is challenging Britain to create the perfect dessert recipe to pair with a cup of coffee for the chance to win £500 worth of vouchers for gourmet London cooking school L’atelier des Chefs.  The winning recipe will also star in Cafédirect’s limited edition Coffee and Dessert Matching Cookbook.

Just as different wines have distinctive regional characteristics depending on elements such as the soil, climate and altitude, so the same is true for coffee grown in different locations across the world.  Wine is often matched with food by sommeliers to enhance the flavours of both – and Cafédirect is encouraging the public to explore coffee in the same way.

It is pioneering a unique coffee matching experiment, asking coffee lovers everywhere to pair their award-winning single origin coffees with desserts to create a whole new after-dinner experience.

All people need to do to win is to submit an original dessert recipe to match with one of Cafédirect’s single origin coffees*.

Theirry Akroman, Cafédirect’s own coffee connoisseur, notes: “Choose from the citrusy notes of Kilimanjaro or the vanilla hints of Mayan Palenque, the rich chocolate undertones of Machu Picchu or the sweet spiciness of Cloud Forest – or enter one for each! Whether it’s a simple lemon tart or a sumptuous chocolate roulade we’re looking for the best flavour match with their chosen Cafédirect coffee.”

The winner will receive £500 to spend at the famous London cookery school L’atelier des Chefs, which has a host of courses to inspire any foodie, from the novice who’s never picked up a rolling pin to the seasoned pastry chef. The winner’s recipe will also become part of a limited edition Coffee and Dessert Matching Cookbook, which will also feature the top 16 desserts and coffee combinations as picked by the discerning panel of judges.

Plus the winner will also get travel and a night’s accommodation in London for two.

Visit www.facebook.com/cafedirect <http://www.facebook.com/cafedirect> for tasting notes and tips from Thierry on what flavours match each coffee and to enter your recipe.

Closing date is midnight, 25th November 2011.  All entrants must be 18 or over.  For more details, to submit your recipe and for terms and conditions please visit: www.facebook.com/cafedirect

The Long Table Launching on 25th November 2011 - Outdoor Night Food Market in Dalston

The Long Table, a collaboration between The Bootstrap Company, who brought you the Dalston Roof Park, and The Loft Project launches on 25th November 2011.

They have joined forces with some of London's most innovative street food vendors and restaurants to bring you London's first outdoor night food market in a disused space in Dalston.

Hawksmoor, Moro, Big Apple Hot Dogs, Fin and Flounder Oyster Bar are all on board, as well as a host of other street vendors including Yum Buns, Yam The Cassava, Donut Girl, The Rotisserie Company. Last but not least, The Loft Project stall will be showcasing one of Nuno's signature dishes with a street food twist.

With British weather conditions taken into consideration, the night market is covered and there is a central banquet-style table, The Long Table, where eaters are invited to collectively feast on their market finds.

Launching on the 25th November, The Long Table will be open from 6pm until 12am every Friday night up until Christmas.

Follow the sound of live music, sensational smelling food and animated conversation and you'll find The Long Table in the heart of Dalston next Friday night.

The Long Table, Abbot Street, Dalston, E8 2DL.

London Cocktail Week – 7th to 16th October 2011

A unique celebration of the capital's unrivalled cocktail culture

Like no other place, London's drinking scene articulates our modern golden age of cocktails - and throughout the week, over one hundred of the city's best bars will be throwing open their doors for our brilliant Cocktail Tours. Each bar involved will serve their own bespoke London Cocktail Week drink available at a reduced-price for those wearing a London Cocktail Week wristband.

Free transportation around the city will also be provided with dedicated London buses running every night of the week - plus master classes, tastings and parties are happening all over town - time to Drink Up London!

For more information, visit their website on www.diffordsguide.com/london-cocktail-week.