London food events: December

Christmas is here and the goose is getting fat.

Christmas is finally here and London’s food events and festivals get into full swing in December from mulled wine, music, chocolate and cheese there’s lots to choose from. There are also two charity events worth noting, namely the Great Christmas Pudding Race at Covent Garden and the Mince Pie project, both raising funds for worthy causes, do check them out and be prepared to bid for those mince pies.

Our selected London food events for December 2013 are:

Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival in Hackney
Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th December 2013
Round Chapel, Powerscroft Road, Hackney, E5 0PU
Did you know London has lost half of its pubs in the last 30 years in the East End & City area alone, according to CAMRA some areas have lost more.  CAMRA works hard to save threatened pubs and the Pig’s Ear Beer festival is one way to show your support for this noble endevour.

Spitalfields Winter Festival
Friday 6th to Tuesday 17th December 2013
Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, Spitalfields, London E1 6EW
Enjoy a magical winter in Spitalfields with music and mulled wine. Visit the abundance of quirky cafes and elegant restaurants and enjoy and listen to the many intimate performances on offer.

Great Christmas Pudding Race at Covent Garden
Saturday 7th December 2013
Covent Garden Piazza, Covent Garden, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD
Now in its 33rd year, the Great Christmas Pudding Race invites teams of 6 to raise money on behalf of Cancer Research UK.

The Mince Pie Project
Wednesday 11^th to Saturday 14^th December 2013
Now in its third year, the Mince Pie project is a 72 hour mince pie marathon, whereby 100 of the UK’s best chefs cook an exclusive batch of 50 mince pies to be auctioned off to raise money for the Crisis and Galvin’s Chance charities. This years project has an impressive list of chefs contributing from Michel Roux Jr. through to Marcus Wareing, visit their site for a full list and don’t forget to bid!

An Evening of Cheese, Borough Market
Wednesday 12^th December
Borough Market, Stoney St, London SE1 1TL
Borough Market’s cheesemongers will be on hand to talk about, sample and sell a range of fabulous cheeses.  There will also be hot cider, beer and wine available and advice on how best to match your cheese. The evening promises a variety of artisan cheeses, from Ardrahan to Valencay, and will be a great opportunity to pick up tips and insights into their craft

The Chocolate Festival at London’s Southbank
Friday 13^th to Sunday 15^th December 2013
The Southbank Centre, Queens Walk, London, SE1 8XX
Like the very best Advent calendars, The Chocolate Festival at the Southbank will be packed full of surprises, gifts and chocolates.

Real Food Christmas Market
Thursday 19^th to Sunday 22^nd December 2013
The Southbank Centre, Queens Walk, London, SE1 8XX
Wooden chalets filled with festive food, drink, gifts and treats run along the twinkling riverside. Enjoy mulled wine, bratwurst and gingerbread while taking in the lights, sights and sounds of London at Christmas time.