Herbfest is a new “botanical experience” for summer 2013 at Southbank. It’s part of the greater Festival of Neighbourhood running until 8 September and provides London folk a riparian reason to learn about herbs, eat food prepared with fresh herbs and simply relax in a leafy green urban oasis.
Key to the herbaceous celebrations is a temporary greenhouse curated by Britain’s leading herb expert, Jekka McVicar. Organic gardening expert, author and broadcaster – McVicar knows her stuff too and shares it with enthusiasm. She owns the UK’s largest collection of culinary herbs (Jekka’s Herb Farm near Bristol) with more than 600 varieties and has been awarded 62 62 Horticultural Society Gold Medal for her organic herb displays, including 14 at the Chelsea Flower Show.
The greenhouse is located right on the Thames just outside Southbank Centre’s Riverside Terrace Cafe. It’s free to wander through and is well worth doing so with nostrils flared to take in all its headily herby grandeur.
Helping transcribe the herbs from the soil to the plate is Company of Cooks caterers with renowned pastry chef, Claire Clark MBE. Claire’s had a delicious career having shared her delectable creations at everywhere from French Laundry, to the Ritz, Claridges, and a whole lot more.
Venues involved in Herbfest – and will be using herbs from the greenhouse on their menus – include The Royal Opera House, Kenwood House, Southbank Centre’s Riverside Terrace Café, and The Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden with fantastic views of the Thames and the skyline and plenty of garden plants and grassy spots.
More info at southbankcentre.co.uk.
