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Craft beer festivals. Hot sauce festivals. Chocolate festivals. Eel Week (maybe). We love a quirky food and drink-themed blowout here in London. But until now, we’ve been deprived of one very crucial food-themed celebration: a pasta festival.
But now Italian heavyweight Emilia’s Crafted Pasta has taken on the mighty task of hosting London’s very first penne party.
This weekend, on Sunday August 21, the restaurant’s Canary Wharf branch is throwing an outdoor shindig, on the riverside terrace and in the surrounding parks, turning it into a space celebrating all shapes and sizes of pasta. Visitors can expect live music, pasta-making demos and kids’ activities. Entry is completely free, but you do have to pay for your ‘pasta picnic’.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a festival without a headliner. No, it’s not a carbonara. And it’s not recent ‘Love Island’ winner Davide Sanclimenti. It’s ‘X Factor Italy’ finalist Davide Shorty, who will be performing a live set to celebrate Italian culture.
And for those who have always wanted to learn how to make the perfect al dente pasta, there will be a pasta cookery masterclass so you can boss it in the kitchen ‘MasterChef’-style when you transform your dough into a delicate farfalle. Emilia’s Crafted Pasta has partnered with Boutinot Wines, who will be coming along to advise on wine and pasta pairings, while Rosella Cirillo will be sharing her tips on moving towards a zero-waste lifestyle.
So, on Sunday, come to the pasta party. It’s BYOB (bring your own bottarga). Just kidding.
Summer Pasta Festival, 12 George St, Wood Wharf, E14 9QG on Sun Aug 21, noon-8pm. Masterclasses are free but you’ll need to book your space here.
In the festival mood? There’s a load of classic boats coming to London next month.
ICMYI: everything you need to know about the tube strike in August.