Taste of London 2016
If you are a full-on foodie and have yet to go to the event aptly named A Taste of London, then I would strongly recommend you book for the next Taste event as soon as tickets go on sale!
From 15th to 19th June, Regent's Park was transformed into a foodie wonderland for a week of eating, drinking and entertainment.
My first visit to this celebration of edibles left me with a feeling that I have been missing out all this time. 
The wines and champagnes available to sample were endless – thus it is always advisable to constantly snack on the samples of foods available, so you can actually get to the end of the day sober. There are so many stalls to see and so many samples to excite your palate.
I tasted several types of popcorn, nuts and chocolates, all in a multitude of flavours. I sampled exotic and unusual fruits, pastas & soups (packaged for easy consumption - either at home, or to be served at outdoor events) and a variety of fruit based drinks; including rejuvenating drinks made from wholesome natural products.
Bread in various guises was abundant everywhere, with vinegars and oils for dipping (the truffle oil was outstanding). There were more types of ham and sausage, containing various spices and utilising complimentary meat mixtures, than you could wave a stick at, as well as several purveyors of quality baked goods, including handmade deserts and cakes. And there was still so much more - the list was endless.
Of course, not all the foods are ready packaged. The aroma of cooking filled the air, and on closer inspection I discovered several demonstrations by some pretty amazing chefs - Asian, Italian and French foods were being conjured up as if by magic.
I tried grilled Octopus with smoked yoghurt, baby kale, and pumpkin seeds - and it was absolute Heaven. There were of course other wonderful looking choices to select from but my Greek side yearned for the Octopus.
All in all, it was a great day out, a good opportunity to discover new foods and also learn exciting ways to prepare everyday food.
As I left laden down with fresh fruit, bottles of various (and unusual) sauces which promise to liven up barbecues, salads, and sandwiches - and business cards to some rather interesting restaurants - I wondered why I hadn't been to this event before.
What struck me most was how lovely everyone was - the general public who came out in their thousands to visit, the security people keeping us safe and moving, the staff in general and, of course, the chefs and exhibitors, who were all exceptional in their display of people skills.
My verdict on A Taste of London in Regent's Park? Well done. Thoroughly recommended.
Discover more at www.london.tastefestivals.com