Borough Market will play host to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage team this September, to celebrate London’s culinary heart.
The partnership will see River Cottage leave its west country home and head to the city to deliver a season of cookery courses, free talks and events at London’s world-famous Borough Market.
Fearnley-Whittingstall will also be hosting a vegetable feast to celebrate the launch of the latest River Cottage book, Much More Veg, with profits of the dinner going to the Borough Market Trader’s Relief Fund which was set up by the Borough Market Charity to support traders affected by the closure of the market after the June terror attacks.
The partnership will emphasise Borough Market and River Cottage’s hands-on, ethical food ethos, using flavours fresh from the field and shore.
There will be lots of familiar River Cottage faces around the market throughout the month. Award-winning food writer, chef and founder team member Gill Meller will be inviting guests into the world of wild cooking & nose-to-tail eating. The River Cottage foraging guru and home brew raconteur John Wright is the best team member to extol the virtues and laws of wild food.
River Cottage Head Gardener Will Livingstone joins the group with his comprehensive guide to the art of urban veg gardening and nutritionist and author of River Cottage Gluten Free, Naomi Devlin will be inspiring market-goers to look after their gut. Rachel de Thample has been a big hit at River Cottage with her seasonal preserving courses so will continue to entice visitors by preserving the flavours of autumn.
And River Cottage Head Chef Gelf Alderson will be hotfooting it straight from Park Farm HQ, bringing a fresh breath of Devonshire air and encouraging guests to master a range of new culinary skills.
There will be a programme of free talks and demos delivered in the Market Hall as part of Borough Market’s Demo Kitchen. Visitors will be able to tuck into a taste of the west country at the River Cottage stall which will be in the Market Hall throughout September, featuring a collection of regional, artisan producers selling the best in local, sustainable fare.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said, “We are hugely excited to be heading to Borough Market this September, to show solidarity with this culinary heartland of the capital and all its excellent traders.
“Borough Market represents so much that we believe in at River Cottage, from supporting ethical and sustainable food producers, to their award-winning efforts in reducing food waste.
'The market has always had a special place in my heart and I’m thoroughly looking forward to visiting Borough again to enjoy the top quality produce that is always on offer, and also to bring a taste of River Cottage to the city.”
Darren Henaghan, Managing Director at Borough Market, said, “Borough Market is a place where people come together to share and celebrate good food, food with values, sourced with pride.
'River Cottage’s programme of events fits seamlessly with our own, and is a welcome addition to what will be an exciting month of activity, celebrating top notch skills, chef demonstrations and of course delicious produce. We can’t wait!”