Taste of London

Stylogs,

The summer is here. It's cold, grey and that's on the good days when it doesn't poor down as if this is the Europen version of Niagara Falls. In England, when summer steps in, it is the cue for a host of festivals to sprout out, like mushrooms after the rain. and rain there definitely is...

Glastonbury is the famous one for mud, wellies, rain and spending the night in someone elses tent. Oh, also there's music. If Glastonbury's too high brow for you, try Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts, no doubt the low point in the summer festivals' programme.

Thai food decoration at the Taste of London Festival

To set off on the right note, we went to Taste of London, in Regents Park. Under ominous skies of grey, with intermittant showers, thousands of people wandered around dozens of stalls carrying around small disposable plates with tiny portions of fancy dishes such as:

Crab salad with avocado puree, Tuscan melon and toasted hazelnuts - great texture, though the avocaod felt a little too bland, or

Acquerello risotto with 8year-aged organic Parmesan - a bit too rich, I couldn't finish the (small) bowl.

The best way of handling the weather was the British Airways' lounge, which looked like a glass fuselage where you could sit down and enjoy your dish of choice.

1940s are back. The Dresses, the music, the Union Jack

Overall, the food was good, but the crowds made waiting for the best stalls almost not worth the wait. the BBQ and gourmet burger stands seemed to be the most popular, with the ice cream and frozen yogurt gigs feeling the chill (sorry, I couldn't resist the punt).