Last friday, me and my friends went to the fantastic latest feast event. Held at a former north london mail centre, it was the perfect venue for the mélange of london’s street food heroes and a selection of some of the most exciting chefs the capital has to offer.
We were amazed how the events organisers transformed this unique victorian sorting office into a buzzing and festive epicurean experience with minimal but very effective decorations.
The walkway to the venue only rivalled by the red carpet at the oscars made you feel you’re about to enter some fashion show in milan!
You were greeted by stunning lighting that made this derelict site, soon to be transformed into a luxurious development of apartments, cultural spaces and a shopping destination, look spectacular. There were even christmas trees for sale.
I promise i didn’t use photoshop to enhance these colours. That’s what one part of the development looked like.
And off we go!
Upon entering, you immediately felt the buzzing atmosphere of the stalls, people serving food, lights, wonderful aromas and hoards of foodies who were wandering from stall to stall without knowing what to devour first. We decided to walk through the venue before settling on our first course.
My favourite part was this section of tables forming a long banquet and the globe lights. It felt magical and reminded me of those outdoor events with banquet dining.
And then we finally settled on our food choices. The food on mishkins stall looked far too appealing.
Their salt beef mini burger was perfectly assembled and a pure delight. Believe me, i know my salt beef. This was perfectly balanced, not too salty and interestingly served as a burger instead of the usual rye bread.
We also couldn’t resist the moro stall. Known for it’s incredible cooking, owners and chefs sam and sam, as well as their main restaurant and morito, have a street stall in exmouth market i often eat at.
There was so much choice but the eyes are bigger than the stomach so you couldn’t try everything. Here are some more photos of the excellent stalls and food choices that were on offer.
Happily fed, we almost stayed until the end. This was only the second venture for feast. Their first one was over the summer at guy’s quad which was far smaller and less spectacular. We all loved it and are sure to return when they announce their new dates for forthcoming events!
I have a weakness for street food. I love how it brings people together, how i’m closer to the actual food being prepared in front of me. There’s something very raw about using food in that way and the new trend for street food in london is totally rocking it.
How do you feel about street food? Do you enjoy it? Have you had any experience with it?
It’s now really cold in London and there’s no getting away that we are in the midst of winter. Happy weekend. I hope it’s festive and people are getting ready for the holiday season. I know i am. See you monday.
26 Comments
Fabulous photos as usual Tina and you completely captured the lighting and atmosphere of the event. It was a great evening, really felt like a happening, the sort I have experienced at the Milan Furniture Fair in the past.
They had put in a lot of work to build all those temporary structures on a huge building site. The use of hoarding materials and scaffolding to build the bar and the lighting was brilliant.
And the food! The food subtleties and tastes were magnificent! Loved Moro and I really appreciated the absinthe hot chocolate from Lilly Vanilli towards the end!
xx
ps Moro will also be at the Secret Emporium this weekend 15/16 December x
It was truly a great evening and we had so much fun!!! The buzz, the food, the people, the space. Really magical!
Of course, as designers we look at how someone transforms a derelict space like this and brings it alive! I think that’s exactly what they managed to do. It felt alive, despite the winter and dreary weather outside.
The food was very delicious and I particularly like being seduced by aromas and visual delights. Moro has been great from the first day Sam and Sam opened their restaurant. The quality is always been maintained and they haven’t diluted their brand. Morito and the stall outside Exmouth Market are just an addition. I have huge respect for them!
Did I taste the hot chocolate? But am sure it was fab!!
Let’s go again next year xx
I would love to go to an event like the one you photographed so well above. I’m with you on street food. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something exciting and thrilling about the experience. I also quite like that you can try different types of food from one stall to the next, until you’re properly full. I enjoy eating this way. We don’t have anything quite like what you describe above here (that I’m not aware of), but we do have a food truck trend that is very popular here right now. Think of Feast with each stall preparing food in a truck rather than a stall. It’s a fun experience.
Happy weekend to you too, Tina!
Yes, we have copied your food truck trend!
http://www.streetkitchen.co.uk/home.shtml
To be honest, these guys really started it all and then it just grew and grew… I reckon there’s more to come and I welcome it all!!!
Thanks T:)
Fabulous! I love street food, I get exactly what you mean about feeling closer to it somehow. I especially like it when it’s coldish, makes me feel cozy when I’m chewing and can’t feel the tip of my nose so well.
Thanks for sharing about Feast. Even though I don’t live in the UK, I’ve signed up to their newsletter 🙂
GREAT pics!
Xx.
Ha. Yes, that’s quite cold when you can’t any longer feel the tip of your nose!!!
Thank god this was indoors:))
Enjoy their newsletter. It’ll be good for you guys to read up on what going on in the street food culture in the UK.
Thanks Holly xx
Oh why didn’t I know about this? Looks so much fun! for some reason I prefer street food in the winter, I don’t like the shows in the parks, feels wrong and I have no idea why.
I used to eat at Whitecross every Thursday which is fabulous and a brillaint break from Pret or Eat! x
I hate the shows in the park with all that ponce going on. Gordon Ramsay etc etc.
No, this is down and dirty and real, just the way food should be!
Yes, Whitecross is great and although I get that Pret and Eat are doing a good job feeding the working nation, they are my absolute last resort….
AHH Tina – here you go again making me wish to be back in London, hanging out and eating my way through stalls of fresh food. I love how popular street food has become – I too know my salt beef (Brick lane bagels haha I have had my fair share of those:) What a fun event – next time I’m over I’ll be hanging out with you,
Happy weekend.
Axx
Can you imagine if we would have met up at Feast??? You know, this is how we met, over a plate of food, outside, sitting in the blazing sunshine…… well, not quite that sort of food!!!
Ha. Brick Lane. Well, here comes a story. I came to Boarding School to the UK when I was 15. It was in Wallingford, just outside Oxford and rather strict. A group of us (some rebellious young women) would order a cab on a Saturday evening, sneak out of the complex, drive straight to the Bagel place on Brick Lane, buy dozens and dozens for our friends and cab it all the way back!!!)
I was never caught but still wonder whether they just shut an eye…:)) there you go!
Anytime sweetie xx
Tina – that looks amazing. Thank you once again for perfect armchair travelling! I love seeing London through your eyes, x Ingrid
Ha. Always happy to supply armchair travel! Very economical and carbon friendly:)
Thanks Ingrid x
I would have loved to have gone with you and Nicola. Great photography and the food looked amazing. I am definitely one for street food. Growing up in Malaysia, we had loads of hawker stalls and you often find the older generation chefs ( with the original family recipes) cooking up a feast there by the street side. Seeing the roaring flames and hearing the sizzle of the wok, then smelling the aroma makes the food when it arrives taste even better. Happy weekend x
Yes, not sure why you didn’t? Maybe I forgot to mention it to you. It was certainly local….
Gosh, bet the food in Malaysia is amazing and I would LOVE to have family recipes cooked for me….
Hmmm, I’m such a foodie, you can’t go wrong with some pure street food:) x
I ADORE street food! What self-respecting Nigerian wouldn’t? ;D
From a food intolerance point of view, I feel much more comfortable enquiring about ingredients in informal settings such as these.
You’ve captured the atmosphere so beautifully that I’m totally sold. What do you say? Shall we Feast together next year? 😀 xo
Haha. Of course, you Nigerian Queen:)))
Yes, it’s much easier and often it’s just meat with rice or salads or some wrap!
ABSOLUTELY. I feel a feast coming our way:)) x
Excitng, exciting, exciting. I love street food, it’s so innovative and pushes the boundaries like we see here. The whole setup looks amazing and the food so good. Well done to the Feast people. Hope Winter is treating you kindly. x
Yes, you would be in your element here… going from stall to stall inspecting what’s being offered and dissecting every ingredient!!! I can just imagine you being here with me:)
Yes, winter a bit mild these days…. Oh you lucky people in hot weather!!!
Enjoy x
that makes me want to find a feast here. lots of fun, and an eating adventures. i agree, too, about the lights and the long table. fun!
Hey Noreen. How are you?
I could happily feast on FEAST food all the time! There are many street food parts now in London so I feel terribly spoiled!
Yes, long banquet tables is fun and it looked so inviting. Happy Christmas.
So wonderful. I love the long banquet table with the amazing globe lighting overhead.
I am sometimes jealous of the amazing events that you attend:) I’m in awe of your sweet little burger, enjoy. xxx
Now, listen here. The grass is always greener… etc etc.
What do you think I feel when you instagram the most gorgeous setting, forest, gardens, sunshine etc etc etc etc The slow living, the considered hand made craft!
It is what it is and we can all share it with each other and learn.. that’s what I love about it all, the sharing!!!
The burger was that perfect combination of size, ingredients, balance of tastes and aesthetics. Just perfect!!!
Happy holiday lovely xx
Looks like a great event Tina. Is that the postal depot off Upper Street? I heard years ago it was going to be redeveloped but nothing seemed to happen. Excellent post as always!
Yes, It’s just behind Upper Street and they made it look incredible!
They are turning it into luxurious apartments, a shopping destination and some cultural spaces.
Thank you Sir James!
[…] didn’t concentrate on photographing food as i’ve done that before at feast. No, i wanted to capture the simply stunning colours, graffiti and very raw decor. I can’t […]
[…] The Edwardian Royal Mail sorting office has been empty for a few years. The last big event was feast, one of the first street food events back in December 2012 which has always been my […]