Seasonality the key at Local to London

The event offers direct contact with the regions' best producers and growers, samplings as well as master classes and demonstrations. Beginning at 7am with breakfast, visitors will be given the opportunity to meet the producers, and see new and innovative ways of cooking and serving a range of seasonal produce within the master classes and demonstrations. The team behind Local to London is keen to encourage the catering trade and public away from standard shopping lists and to follow instead the seasons and opportunity to source from more local producers. Matthew Prestwich, Managing Partner at R and G Stevens, will also be running a culinary herb masterclass at the event. Henriette Reinders, Director of the South East Food Group Partnership, said: "Why put apples, for example, on a menu through the early summer, when you have easy access to the best soft fruits in this country. That's why we are keen to demonstrate more than lip service at the event with a range of seasonal chef demonstrations to see how easily recipes can be adapted to the seasons." The event is part of a three year project to get more local produce into the Capital, and is timed to link in with the Great British Food Fortnight and the Wholesaler Month involving all six wholesale markets in London through October. Local to London has been initiated and supported by a partnership that includes Tastes of Anglia, the South East Food Group Partnership, New Covent Garden Market and London Development Agency.