Future of Food Festival is this spring’s unmissable foodie event

The West End has never been short of enticing eating options and exciting food events, but this spring the area is about to get a whole lot tastier thanks to Future of Food Festival.

For the month of May, Regent Street and St James’s will play host to a programme of events, including chef-hosted dining experiences, workshops and a sustainable food market.

Taking place for the first time in spring, Future of Food Festival will feature supper clubs with world-renowned chefs, including an evening with Michael Caines (23 May), pictured above. At his Michelin-starred restaurant at The Stafford in St James’s, Michael will share insight about sustainability within the hospitality industry alongside serving an exceptional four-course menu celebrating seasonal British produce.

The festival will see several culinary titans come together for a series of all-star dining experiences. Chefs from Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill and nearby Fallow are meeting in the kitchen to serve an oyster-led banquet (19 May), while Alex Dilling of Hotel Café Royal and Merlin Labron-Johnson from Osip will combine their Michelin-starred culinary skills for a sensational four-course feast (20 May).

More highlights from the packed schedule include a talk on the power of adaptogens (plants that can help the body adapt to stress) followed by a plant-led set menu by herbalist Schia Mitchell Sinclair (13 May), and a wild botanical cocktail masterclass with Flavour Fred (14 May) – both hosted at Brityard on Regent Street. Grower and author Poppy Okotcha will host a dinner celebrating freshly foraged ingredients at Fortnum & Mason’s Food & Drink Studio (19 May).

If you miss out on tickets to the events (they’re selling out fast, so grab yours as soon as possible to avoid disappointment), you can still take advantage of the festival’s delicious discounts, offers and menu exclusives throughout May.

Restaurants such as Wiltons, Franco’s and Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal will be serving one-off Future of Food Festival dishes or set menus, while you can enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz when you dine at Maison Francois, and get 10 per cent off your final bill at Riviera and Richoux.

When it comes to shopping, there’ll be discounts on cookware at Smeg, own-brand wines and spirits at Berry Bros. & Rudd, and own-brand coffee beans at Brityard. Get 10 per cent off all products at the likes of Floris and Aromaria, while Biogena will be offering 25 per cent off their products and treatments.

The cherry on top? St James’s Food Fair, the festival’s inaugural food market, will take place on the Saturday 16 May. Restaurants, producers and suppliers will take over St James’s Market for a day-long celebration of food, drink, chef demonstrations, interactive workshops and tastings. Wander the stalls, soak up sustainable kitchen tips and enjoy an alfresco lunch, with the likes of Fowl and Toba serving dishes from their terrace grill.

To see more information about Future of Food Festival, and to buy tickets for supper clubs, workshops and dining events, visit here