One of the ambitions that Fay and I had for the London Restaurant Festival was that restaurateurs, and others, would generate their own fringe events and that these could fall under the umbrella of the festival.

The idea being that no matter how big or small these events may be, the sum of these happenings across London would, in years to come help the London Restaurant Festival become a celebration of restaurants, food and wine that spanned the capital.

Happily this already seems to be happening even in year one. Chirpy jockey Frankie Dettori has decided to celebrate the London Restaurant Festival by putting on a Night at the Races at Frankie’s Sports Bar and Grill at Chelsea FC.

Frankie is a shareholder in Frankie’s along with Marco Pierre White. The evening will be co-hosted by jocular racing pundit John McCririck.

The evening takes place on Thursday Oct 8th at 7pm. You can have a three-course dinner and then take a punt on televised races throughout the inevitably raucous evening. All proceeds go towards Help a London Child.

Meanwhile, for those who would like a more rarefied experience, Tate Britan and tate Modern have organised a series of Art Lunches to run throughout the London Restaurant Festival.

Tate Britain, where the Turner and the Masters exhibition is on, have decided to serve a two-course lunch inspired by Turner with dishes the artist himself would have enjoyed eating. These include steamed mutton pudding with minted caper and lentil jus, using Welsh mutton steamed for five hours.

Over at Tate Modern where Pop Life: Art in a Material World is running, the Tate Modern Restaurant has Marilyn Monroe Crème Brulee, a seasonal crème brulee inspired by the pudding once famously served to Andy Warhol at London’s Café Royal.

It is these fringe events that will help give the London Restaurant Festival its longevity and help it appeal to as many people as possible. Well done to Frankie and the Tate and thanks very much.