And so, less than a year after the idea was hatched the first London Restaurant Festival has begun. I am writing this from our fantastic chrome 1950s Airstream caravan in Covent Garden that is operating as our hub for the entire festival.
Do come down if you are around as there are all sorts of activities going on from the world’s greatest pizza tossing acrobats to book signings with Antonio Carluccio and Jason Atherton among others. Legendary underground restaurateur Ms Marmite Lover is hosting our Supplier’s Market today and other restaurants will be doing so over the next few days. Meanwhile across London over 500 restaurants are busy preparing to serve their first Festival Menus and we gather that to date over 5000 reservations have been made.
Richard Corrigan is revving up to be the first chef to serve guests at the incredible pop-up restaurant in a capsule of the London Eye and Pierre Koffmann is prepping everyone for the first service at the extraordinary restaurant on the roof of Selfridges that has been constructed for the London Restaurant Festival.
I’ve just spoken to group of journalists who have flown over from the States to cover the festival and they’re going to the Tate Modern to see the Pop Art exhibition and try the Festival Menus the Tate have prepared inspired by Pop Art.
Festival Launch Party
Last night we had a wonderful launch party at Quaglino’s attended by 350 influential sorts from the restaurant industry and BBC news came to film a live link. It was all deemed a triumph so Fay and I and all the team are thrilled and grateful for all the support.
So, there’s masses going on. Get out there and enjoy yourself. I’m off to have lunch at Pierre Koffmann’s, but only after I watch the amazing pizza tossers kindly arranged by one of our patrons, Pizza Express.
Back soon.
