Marcus Wareing explains how to boil an egg
When a snack involves a Wagyu beef burger or a soft-shelled crab, or a suckling pig with black truffles, then it really is foodie heaven. The top London restaurants - Le Gavroche, the Cinnamon Club, Petrus, Maze, Skylon - you name it and the chance is that it is there. The chefs also put in appearances (with the exception of Tristan Welch who was missing from his own masterclass), and are very happy to talk to visitors. The biggest crowd of adoring foodie fans were to be found hungrily hanging onto every word offered by Michel Roux.
And it is not just the chefs and restaurants. Also on display were a number of producers - bread, honey, mozarella, cup cakes, ice cream - all on display and handing out generous free samples. My favourite was the black and white pudding supplied by Irish company Clonakilty.
Where there is food there is drink, and there really was plenty. From rum enhanced by Angustura Bitters to Laurent Perrier Rose champagne - there was something for everyone. We went to a Laurent Perrier tasting class, hosted by a slightly seedy-looking journalist, whose claim to fame was his marriage to a top executive from TK Max. The tasting was okay, although in no way comprehensive, but the food matches for the champagne quite briliant. Carpaccio of Sea Bass with an endive to go with a 2002 brut, grilled prawns with the Rose.
The high end of the UKs culinary world was very much on display and will have done themselves no harm by their presence for the four day festival but the far bigger beneficiaries are the small local producers whose hard work and dedication to local food and ingredients is getting recognition at events such as these.
Enjoying the festival despite the rain
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