Feast

We Feast - A pop up food market and bar in the grand but worn out setting of an old post sorting office in Islington, London was the place for a full-on food fest last Thursday.

The building had big gapping holes in places and huge heaters which only managed to singe the hair of those standing a couple of metres away, any further and it was like being outside but at least there was a roof (pretty hand when it started to rain). To be fair the state of the place all added to the charm, we arrived and the place was bustling, everyone crowding around the different food stalls trying to decide what to tuck into or having made there decision sitting on the long communal tables drinking winter cocktails, camden brewery beers or Prosecco with a band playing in the background.

Myself and Mat went for the first thing we saw with pulled pork on - it was layered on a white bean mash and included a little sausage too, a cassoulet from The Charles Lamb, a pub in Islington. Everyone else wanted to look at all the stands and make sure they were making the best decision, where I am a grab what I fancy as I go kind and hope I don't get too full.

Next stop was three oysters from Randall and Aubin, a restaurant based in Soho which specialises in seafood. I went for one of the classic sauces on each - lemon, tabasco and a shallot vinegar. These were amazing and even only the third lot of I have ever had, I think they were freshest and best - maybe they are just growing on me more each time. I still can not get Mat to try them though.

We then grabbed a bottle of Prosecco to drink whilst we queued up for Anna Maes mac n cheese. I did have a little wander around (and left Mat in the queue) with the bottle of Prosecco in my coat pocket (I have large pockets on the winter coat, handy as I was trying to eat at the same time) and grabbed a little shot glass filled with ceviche from a stall aptly named Ceviche. Based in Soho this restaurant was offering meaty morsels of fish cooked only in lime juice in a bitesized portion served with raw red onion, perfect before I moved on to what I now consider my main meal of the night.

I could not resist Anna Maes mac n cheese topped with pulled pork, Mat did not want to share so we got one each and made with three different cheeses it was delicious but so stodgy, I finished it but it was struggle after everything else I had eaten so far.

The place was starting to empty out so we grabbed our final dish of the night and waddled to a table with our bottles of prosecco. We all went for some sweet waffles covered in chocolate or cherries from Waffle On (just one of the great puns spotted throughout the evening) and huddled together for warmth and chatting.

The only thing we did not see was a Bompass and Parr installation of a huge pickle chandelier - the pickles apparently conduct electricity and set fire. It was a great evening out and I will be looking out for the next one they organise.