A London Foodie Christmas - Our guide to the most indulgent month of the year

It's official - the Christmas countdown has begun and there's plenty going on in London this December to fuel a foodie’s festive spirit. Here’s our pick of London events to get you in the mood for Christmas.

NORTH LONDON

Pick up some locally grown treats for your Christmas table at the Queen’s Wood Café’s ‘Christmas Fayre’ on the 14th December. Between 12 and 4 the café will be selling chutneys, jams and honey, all made from garden produce. There will be tours of the community garden and the cafe will be serving up cakes and mulled wine to sip on whilst you browse.

There’s a number of festive workshops happening across London that will help you to cook up plenty of seasonal treats. The Culinary Anthropologist is running a ‘Festive Bread workshop’ on the 6th December. The session will teach you how to make a number of seasonal treats for your family and friends, plus there will be a scrumptious Christmas lunch provided. Book soon to avoid disappointment!

If you’d rather have the treats cooked for you, head to the York and Albany in Camden for cockle-warming cocktails, seasonal snacks and meaty meals at the Winter Cabin Pop-Up. Promising a “bijou mountain lodge for urban carnivores”, the Winter Cabin can be hired for groups between 4 and 12 and will be open until the end of February so you can maintain the Christmas spirit into 2015.

WEST LONDON

To pick up some foodie gifts in West London, check out the ‘Good Food Festival’ in Brunswick Square Gardens on the 18th December. There’s loads of stalls to browse as well as cooking demonstrations and a chocolate tasting session from Ubuntu Chocolate. Not to be missed!

Leith’s cookery school has put on a number of classes especially for Christmas. From ‘Cake Decoration’ to an “Italian Christmas’ you can pick up the essential skills for a perfect Christmas from one of the most respected cookery schools in the world.

SOUTH LONDON

South London is the place to be for festive pop-ups. Check out Jimmy Garcia’s ‘The Lodge’ on Hildreth Street, Balham. The venue has been transformed into an Alpine Lodge, and with a menu which includes cheese fondue, it’s London’s answer to apres-ski (minus the ski). If you’ve already had your ski holiday and are looking to embrace wintery London life, Caiger & Co are running a Christmas pop-up in Borough Market. Using produce from the market this event will provide you with a unique perspective on London’s famous food market.  

South London also offers the perfect solution to the ‘what-do-I-get-them’ question. Brixton Cornercopia have put together a hamper full of foods made in the Village, perfect to stick under the tree for a South London foodie! You can also pick up gifts at the Clarkshaw Brewery’s ‘Christmas Party’ at the Tyrrell Trading Estate on the 7th December. You can build your own Christmas hamper with the artisanal charcuterie, cheese and, of course, beer, which will be available to consume on site and take away. Tours of the brewery will also take place on the day.

If you have your gift-giving sorted and are looking for the perfect decorative touches, why not make them edible? EcoLocal are running an “Xmas Edibles’ decorations class on the 14th December where you can learn to make unique decorations for your home using food.

EAST LONDON

Night Tales returns to Shoreditch until the 20th December, with a long list of guest teams providing the very best in street food. In addition to food, cocktail bars will provide seasonal drinks, so you can get a head-start before heading out to check out the infamous Shoreditch nightlife.

Christmas can be a tough time for vegan foodies. Not to fear! Dinner Exchange East is serving up a 4 course vegan dinner on the 8th December. Not only will the very best in sustainable eating be on offer, but the meal will be accompanied by live jazz provided by Valia Calda.

For those of us counting the calories this Christmas, Made in Hackney is running a ‘Xmas Feast Community Class’. This pay-by-donation class will teach you how to make a delicious and nutritious festive meal, so you can dine ‘guilt-free’ this Christmas.

Get all your shopping done in one place with the Growing Communities’ Stoke Newington Farmers Market, where trees will be available alongside the impeccably sourced meat and veg normally on offer. There will also be a number of organic goodies for sale, so you can pick up a few edible gifts whilst you’re at it. Or, for an East London twist on the Christmas hamper, check out  ‘Hackney Hampers’. They’re packed full of treats from small producers all over Hackney; the perfect gift for the locally-conscious foodie.

We’ll be donning our Christmas jumpers and getting into the festive spirit by attending the Hub Brixton Christmas Market Party on December 11th. For one night only, the Impact Hub Team will be transforming our usual co-working space in a traditional German Christmas market, complete with mince pies, carols and stalls showcasing the wonderful wares of local artisan makers. If you’re in the area, why not pop by and join us for a glass of Glühwein (or two); it’ll be the perfect way to ignite that festive feeling whilst supporting amazing local producers too.

What foodie events will you be attending to get into the festive spirit?

© Photos by Flickr Users Remy Sharp, Me!bourne Mermaid, David Dixon and are reproduced under the creative commons license

Industry Insiders: Helen Santer,

We love hearing from other Londoners who are keen to champion small businesses, so it was great to catch up with Helen, from Waterloo Quarter to find out about all the amazing things they're up to at the moment. They're mission is to make Waterloo a better place to do business, and are working on loads of cool projects to make sure that happens. Helen shares her thoughts on small businesses, startups, and supporting independents.

Tell us a bit about yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

I’’m Helen Santer. I run Waterloo Quarter, which is a Business Improvement District (BID) that works with 320 businesses next to Waterloo station. Local businesses pay a small annual levy  to Waterloo Quarter, which we use to run projects to improve the area. I am also the Director of Lower Marsh Market. Lower Marsh is a historic street market in Waterloo, which went through a long period of decline, but has recently benefited from significant investment and a growing number of stalls. We run lots of services to support our members – ranging from recycling to events, a promotional website and lobbying the Council on issues that affect them.

What does your typical day look like?

My typical day is very varied – I can be setting budgets with the Directors, meeting new members, commissioning new projects and supporting the team with delivering events – all in the space of a few hours!

What does ‘Artisan’ mean to you?

‘Artisan’ to me means something made with love and attention. It doesn’t need to mean expensive or exclusive, but it does need to mean high quality and made from the heart.

How can small artisans stand out?

Small artisans can stand out by focusing on their unique qualities that make them so different from larger producers and chains. By focusing on the quality of the product and the personality behind it artisans can give themselves a real point of difference.

How do you think small artisan food producers should be supported?

Small artisan food producers deserve our support. At Lower Marsh Market we offer very favourable rates to producers looking to trade and support them with their marketing as they start out on the market. We also work with food producers looking for retail space in the area, putting them in touch with landlords with appropriate space to let.

What are your words of wisdom for starting out?

To anyone starting out as an artisan food producer I would say have faith in the quality of your product and be honest about your sales skills. The most fantastic product in the world will struggle to sell if customers are not tempted in and encouraged to come back. Consider whether you need any support to improve your sales skills or whether it’s worth partnering up with someone who does this better than you.

What do you think about our big ideas and what we’re trying to achieve?

We’re completely sold on Kitchen Table Projects’ model for creating a food hub that supports emerging artisans to access the high street. Street markets in particular present an affordable opportunity for even the newest start-up to access a piece of the high street. From a consumer perspective, this can only be a good thing, as it increases the range, affordability and point of difference to the high street, helping it to stand out from the norm.

We love what Waterloo Quarter are doing and think their ideas are great. To find out more about Waterloo Quarter BID visit www.waterlooquarter.org, and for all the information about Lower Marsh Market visit www.lowermarshmarket.co.uk. For all queries, please email info@waterlooquarter.org

Are you an Industry Insider who wants to be featured on our blog? We'd love to hear all your foodie insider tips and tricks- drop us a Tweet @KitchTablePro with the hashtag #IndustryInsiders or send us a message to hello@kitchentableprojects.com

Top Picks: London's Best Independent Delis

We’ve all been there. Grabbing a Starbucks before dashing for the tube; popping up the road to pick up your meal deal from Tescos at lunchtime; ducking into one of the seventy-seven London branches of Nandos (yup, Londoners really love their chicken) for a quick bite on the way home from work. With a new chain eatery popping up on just about every street across London, eating out and buying your food on the go has become more convenient than ever. In fact, in a high street dominated with big-guy chains and supermarket giants, it can be easy to forget about the capital’s thriving independent scene. Kitchen Table Projects love discovering quirky new coffee shops and delis, and supporting their unique menus, thoughtful service and quality produce. And we’re not alone. 75% of the foodies that filled out our ongoing survey said they were bored of what they were seeing in the supermarket, and 72% of you were ready to try something new. So this week, we’ve put together a list of our go-to deli’s across London (and one not-so-local favourite!)

The All-In-One: Greensmiths (Waterloo)

With a Butcher (ran by the amazing guys from  The Ginger Pig - check them out if you haven’t already), Baker, Greengrocer, Coffee Specialist, Wine Merchant, as well as in an in-house cheesemonger and a whole host of grocery and dairy products in stock AND a delicious cafe, Greensmiths is a little deli with a helluva lot to offer. Branded as a local independent supermarket, this little gem is sure to give even the most established high street giant a run for their money with its attention to detail, passion for its produce, and delicious cafe fare. A must for anyone looking for convenience with a conscience.

The Brilliant Butchers: Dugard and Daughters (Herne Hill)

This family-run butchers nestled in the heart of South London is bursting with pride for their produce, and are really passionate about the future of independent shopping in London and beyond. On the butcher side of the business you can find anything from Rare Breed cuts sourced from small English farms, to a wide selection of poultry, game, lamb and pork, all sustainably sourced. And be sure to check our their Aladdin's cave of deli and store cupboard products; a selection that will be sure to make foodies and store cupboard hoarders alike weak at the knees.

The Unique: The Dry Goods Store (Maida Vale)

We love the unique concept of this cute little deli in West London. The Dry Goods Store have embraced a more traditional shopping experience where you buy grocery items by weight. This means busting the time-old problem of half-used packets that sit in the cupboard for months, as well as encouraging a more sustainable shopping experience where shoppers reuse their packaging and reduce their waste. Like us, they love independents, and are keen to champion skilled artisans from London and beyond. They hold some cracking events, too - follow their tweetings to find out what they’ve got coming up soon.

The ‘Viva Espania’ - Brindisa (London Bridge)

We might not have their weather, but Brindisa’s Deli at Borough Market brings a taste of the Mediterranean sunshine to London, even on the rainiest, dreariest days. This eye-catching deli offers something for all lovers of spanish gastronomy, including hints and recipe tips for creating your own authentic tapas at home. Sounds good to us...pass us a Sangria!

The Italian Job - The Italian Farmers (Finsbury Park)

Continuing your Mediterranean foodie journey, make a beeline for The Italian Farmers at Stroud Green. Offering authentic fresh and store cupboard Italian staples shipped direct from farms across Italy, this charming deli is super keen to support authentic Italian produce, attempting to combat the large counterfeit Italian produce market both here in the UK and in Italy. They offer some great events and tasting evenings too - be sure to check out their website to find out more.

The ‘Get the Greek’ - The Life Goddess Deli (Bloomsbury)

We love this little Deli in Bloomsbury, which aims to make great Greek food a defining feature of London’s gastronomic map. They believe that cultivating, preparing and sharing food is a ritual, and that food is a symbol of respect, gratitude, friendship and love. Selling great traditional produce, The Life Goddess aims to import this into everything they do. London breakfast-lovers, make sure you check out their breakfast menu!

The W11 - Daylesford Farm (Notting Hill)

This Deli is jam-packed with local produce sourced from their farm’s market garden, as well as fresh produce daily from their butcher, creamery and bakery.They’ve been farming organically for over 30 years, too, and love drawing out the process of farm to fork so their customers know exactly what they’re putting in their mouths. Unfortunately their W11 branch will be closed for the summer whilst they make some exciting new improvements, but will be open again from September. Until then, we wait with anticipation...and grumbling stomachs!

The Hidden Gem - Swiss Cottage Grocers (Swiss Cottage)

Tucked away on Finchley Road, this charming Grocers offers an amazing array of organic fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as a number of store cupboard essentials. Prices are fair and there's a little trunk at the front for good seasonal deals. Check it out if you’re in the market (excuse the pun) for some quality, delicious ingredients for your next summer evening dinner party.

The Out of London - The Hungry Guest (Petworth, West Sussex)

Jump on a train this weekend and head off to the beautiful West Sussex, where you can find this amazing Deli. Nestled in the heart of the South Downs in the sleepy market town of Petworth, The Hungry Guest serves delicious freshly-baked breads, tasty lunches, homemade cakes and coffee, as well as boasting a wholesale artisan bakery and food shop, complete with its own butchery, cheese room and catering service (phew.) They’re serious about food and sourcing local produce, and love making sure their customers leave full and happy. Brunch, anyone?

Have we missed something out? Tweet us your faves @KitchTablePro!

Forget the Football- The Brazilian Food Festa Right Here in London

Its official- England, along with the rest of the world has entered in to a state of football frenzy. This June thousands of people will be flocking to the Southern continent to cheer their country to victory, but you don’t have to venture halfway around the world or even be a football fan to enjoy the festa. In fact, as Kitchen Table Projects have been discovering, there’s plenty of ways to experience a taste for Traditional Brazilian and Latin American culture right on our doorstep here in London.

It is no secret that Londoners love South American food- not just eating it, but cooking it too. Whether it be the battle for the best Burrito in London (for us, its got to be Daddy Donkey near Farringdon- Lunchtime in the office regularly leaves us dreaming of the Carnitas Daddy D) or the newest exciting Brazilian street food stand- If you’ve got a hankering for some salsa and some spice, London pretty much has the answer.

After a more traditional taste? There is a whole bunch of really great independent deli’s, markets and Latin American grocers across London that source and sell traditional, specialist Artisan products. Our favourites have to include Empório São Paulo (Parson’s Green) and La Bodeguita (Elephant and Castle). Here you might pick up some traditional Brazilian Requeijão, a ricotta-like cheese with a creamy taste that’s great in salads, or Linguiça, a cured sausage similar to Chorizo. Or jump on the Victoria Line and head north to the Seven Sisters indoor market, where you can find an abundance of traditional Latin items produced by local native foodies and crafters. Be warned, this is not your average fruit and veg market; the Latin Salsa music blasting and the smells of spices and amazing food cooking will leave you wondering whether you really did make it to Brazil.

A taste of Latin London with be incomplete without a visit to one of the many independent Latin American restaurants across the capital. You can expect to be served anything from a huge variety of dishes; from Feijoada, a stew made from black beans and cured meats that has widely been considered to be Brazil’s national dish, to flavour fusions that mix Traditional British food with a Latino twist, London pretty much has everything.  We love the menu at Prima Dona in Brixon, which is based on traditional Brazilian street food (plus its right next to the Kitchen Table Projects office so its a perfect lunchtime treat!) We also think that it really great how John Rattagan, the chef at the Buen Ayre (Hackney) draws on his experiences living in Buenos Aires and uses the techniques in his cooking that he learnt whilst living there, such as the art of the asado (the Latin equivalent of a BBQ). Camden has its own quirky offerings; both Coco Bamboo and Made in Brasil offer great menus as well as a tasty take on the Brazilian favourite Caipirinha Cocktail. But if you seriously know your cocktails then Cocobananas, a Brazilian Beach shack in the South of London, is the place for you to head- plus they’ll be showcasing the football live from huge screens if you’re keen to stay updated on all the action.

There’s also some great one off events happening around the city as well. Another great place to enjoy the party is at Boteco Brasil in Soho. This gigantic party  will immerse you in Brazilian culture by not only showcasing the football, but will also host cookery and cocktail classes, Brazilian martial arts and samba demonstrations, as well as live music. Or if you’re really serious about getting into the Brazilian spirit and learning about their culture, then why not book yourself into one of Jenius Social’s special World Cup cookery classes and learn to cook, as well as eating, great authentic Latin American cuisine.

So whether you’re a football fan who is keen to embrace the spirit of the event, or just someone looking for a slice of Latin culinary culture, make sure to support these great independent artisans, makers and producers to experience food which not only tastes amazing, but tells a great local story, too.