Discovery Food Markets Bring Food Theatre to Westfield Stratford City

Westfield Stratford City is delighted to announce the start of a one of a kind series of discovery food markets in partnership with QED London (Quality Eating and Drinking) from May to November 2012 which will explore the unusual and the unique in the world of fresh food.

The discovery food markets will take place every month* with an evolving food theme, each of which will provide hands-on and palate-priming food activations and masterclasses which will invite food aficionados to learn how to create dishes in novel ways from products which will be available to purchase.

The markets will be based on Westfield Stratford City’s International Square which is located next to The Great Eastern Market which provides the perfect extension to Westfield’s existing offer of international and specialist delicacies.

The Great Eastern Market is a collection of delicatessens, bakeries and chocolatiers based in an artisanal precinct inside the centre that pays homage to the original Great Eastern Market that operated in the area more than 100 years ago. The modern interpretation of the market is inspired by the some of the best global markets that celebrate local culture and cuisine through independent traders.

Westfield and QED London’s shared ethos of celebrating food and drink which is carefully and skilfully prepared, provides the perfect stage to inspire consumers on how new foods and varying cooking styles can be embraced in today’s food culture.

The first in the series of discovery food markets will kick-off from 18th to 20th May with a Fire and Ferment theme and is set to demonstrate how flames and fermentation can transform raw produce into extraordinary feasts and a handful of specialist food producers will offer eat-on-the-spot tastings.

Items on offer at Fire and Ferment will include:
• Beers and wines
• Sour dough breads
• Lactically fermented vegetables, pickles and sauces
• Fermented bean and grain products
• Smoked meats, fish and cheeses
• Surströmming and other fermented fish
• Coffees and chocolate and teas
• Yoghourts, buttermilk, sour creams and other fermented dairy products

A WORLD OF FANTASTIC FOOD AWAITS THIS 2012
18-20 May

Fire and Ferment
Dual focus on artisan food and drink featuring the use of fire (e.g. smoking) and fermentation techniques (e.g. fish & vegetables as well as beer & wine)

8-10 June

Totally Baked
All manner of baked goods: sweet and savoury; dough based or pastry plus more

21-23 September

Veggie Might
A harvest festival, but also representation of all things vegetarian and vegan

19-21 October

Charcuterie & Co (II)
A carnival for carnivores, incorporating a celebration of the inaugural QED British Charcuterie Awards.

16-18 November

Hooked on Fish
Everything from fish soups, fish pâtés & smoked fish, to a fresh fish stalls. Highlighting sustainability.


Key Locations

International Square

Outdoor host location for the discovery food markets which is between Stratford International and Tap East at the Waitrose end of the centre. Q&A sessions with cookery experts will be on offer as well as professionally prepared examples to purchase from stallholders and comparative tastings and cookery demonstrations

Four Dials

An outdoor precinct just a few metres away from International Square, which is overlooked by John Lewis’ coffee shop on Westfield’s prestigious pedestrianised The Street

The Great Eastern Kitchen

An indoor demonstration kitchen that will host cookery classes for the adventurous DIY food enthusiasts