Jamie Oliver's BIG Feastival - Thyme for Motherhood

I’m a big fan of Jamie Oliver. I love his delicious yet simple Italian recipes. I’m huge supporter of the Jamie Oliver Foundation, including his Fifteen Apprenticeship Programme, where he trains fifteen young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds of the restaurant business.

Upon hearing from Kenz’s colleague whose girlfriend works for Jamie Oliver that he was hosting a 3 day foodie/music extravaganza called the Big Feastival in Clapham Common, I had to go. I didn’t feel bad either for dishing out £35 per ticket as all proceeds go towards the Jamie Oliver Foundation and the Prince’s Trust to help disadvantaged youth.

We got tickets for Sunday’s event. The day was packed with food demonstrations in the Big Kitchen with big names celebrities including Giorgio Locatelli of Locanda Locatelli and Jamie Oliver himself. On the main stage, Jamie’s guests enjoyed some great music from the Athletes, Guillemots, and the Bees while devouring some delicious dishes. The Feastival also featured the Kitchen Garden, WI Tent, an Artisan Food Market, Fun Fair for the kiddies, and a big BBQ competition organised by the British BBQ Society.

As for the food at the Feastival? Yum. All dishes were reasonably priced at £5 each, payable only with the Big Feastival “token cards.” They had a good variety of wines, champagne, cider, beers, and the summertime favourite – Pimms on hand, although at one point, I think the bar was six-person deep. A sampling of what we had below. Don’t start drooling now…

Mango Tree – Award-winning Thai cuisine in chi-chi Belgravia: Som Tum (Green papaya salad) served with grilled marinated chicken

Benares – Michelin-starred contemporary Indian restaurant: Chicken Tikka Pie

Locanda Locatelli – Michelin-starred Italian restaurant: fabulous fresh pasta

Abeno – Okonomi-yaki Japanese restaurant: Okonomi-yaki of course! Brings me back to our trip Japan in the winter of 2002/2003.

The Providores – Wine Bar/Café in Marylebone: NZ Lamb Sam: grilled ciabatta / sourdough filled with roast spiced New Zealand lamb, minted yoghurt, tomato tamarind gooseberry chutney and salad

Unfortunately, Barbecoa, Jamie Oliver’s latest restaurant with Adam Perry Lang; and Fifteen, Jamie’s flagship restaurant all sold out of food by the late afternoon. Darn – guess we will need to snag a reservation at these restaurants soon.

Good food, good music, good cause makes for a very fun afternoon in Clapham Common!