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Take Whitstable oysters: delicious at £4 a pop from Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill in Mayfair. Or you could rustle up some charming/attractive company, hop on a train, and gorge on the critters by the bucket at the town’s famed annual Oyster Festival – paired, naturally, with a glass or two of the good stuff at one of the Taittinger Champagne masterclasses they're hosting.
Since you're on a roll, Leigh-on-Sea (in the nice part of Southend – trust us) is even quicker and easier to get to. Less than an hour (and a tenner) away, pack a blanket and bottle of Prosecco, and head to their very own festival the weekend after next, where you can set up beside the sea and feast on some of the country's freshest shellfish served from the cutest seaside stalls.
Of course, sometimes you want both the day-trip impulsiveness and a proper sit-down meal too. And for that, we're all about the Turner Contemporary. Set in Margate (an area surprisingly on the up), this sexy, glass-fronted café and restaurant has just launched its summer season of Friday and Saturday three-course dinners (think Seared Scallops, truly local Lobster Bouillabaisse and gratis Prosecco) – perfect after a lazy wander around the gallery or through the old town's cobbled streets and growing collection of almost chi-chi stores.
We may love London’s city farms, coastal-themed pop-ups and farmer’s markets – but sometimes, to get really fresh, local food, it’s better (and more fun) to make a trip straight to the oyster's mouth.
Info
Whitstable Oyster Festival, Sat-29 July.
Leigh Fishing Festival, 31 July, 11am-4pm
Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate, CT9 1HG.
Fridays and Saturdays: 2 courses £18.50,
3 courses £23 |
