London is known for its beautiful museums, Buckingham Palace, among many attractions, and now it can add restaurant festival to the list. The city held its first ever London Restaurant Festival which ran from October 8th to 13th, 2009. “The festival acknowledges and celebrates the pleasure and sustenance given to all by London’s extraordinarily diverse range of restaurants,” explained the Restaurant organizers.

The festival began with Vanity Fair’s Opening party at Quaglino’s and finished with an awards ceremony and closing do at brand new venue Pizza East in Shoreditch.

More than 500 restaurants across London participated and the festival included a range of events like:
Gourmet Odyssey: a culinary tour of top London Restaurants
The London Eye Restaurant Capsules
The Big Roast: London’s biggest-ever Sunday Roast was held at Leadenhall Market
Starter for Ten: a quiz with chefs v. critics, hosted by Bamber Gascoigne
Mouthing Off: Simon Schama’s lecture on eating and uttering
Eat Film: where guests watched a movie then were served a meal inspired by the film
Pierre Koffman’s Restaurant on the Roof at Selfridges
The Supersonic Masonique Pop Up restaurant

Visit London Restaurant Festival



~Photos courtesy, London Restaurant Festival 2009