News / Bristol24/7
Celebrating Bristol’s culinary scene with a tasting time machine
Pioneers of the Bristol’s culinary scene assembled for one night only to take diners on a unique walk down memory lane.
Bristol bites back: the tasting time machine was hosted by Bristol24/7 as part of our ten year celebrations and featured some of the biggest names in the restaurant industry – many of whom have gone on to make their mark beyond the city.
Casa provided the venue for an evening of time travel through some of the best Bristol restaurants over the last ten years.
is needed now More than ever
The stellar lineup of some of the finest chefs saw them work in collaboration to create an eight-course tasting menu.
The stellar lineup of some of the finest chefs saw them work in collaboration to create an eight-course tasting menu
The event was attended by 68 guests, including Bristol24/7 members and well wishers. The meal kicked off with a smoky sea trout dish with asparagus, garnished with wild garlic, working its way through a spectrum of culinary delights that culminated with deep fried custard and roast rhubarb.
The chief organiser of the event, Meg Houghton-Gilmour, Head of Audience at Bristol24/7, said: ‘Local journalism and the local food scene have an important and symbiotic relationship.
“Anyone who works in local restaurants will tell you the significance of local media coverage, and anyone who works in local media will tell you what a privilege it is to cover local restaurants.”
Meg continued: “I knew we wouldn’t be able to celebrate ten years of writing about Bristol with some kind of event involving food, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be able to pull this out the bag and that all these amazing chefs would be so up for getting involved.
“We are very lucky to have the independent scene that we do in Bristol, and so I hope that people will continue to support our journalism and our restaurants as we continue to support each other.”
“Local journalism and the local food scene have an important and symbiotic relationship.” says Meg Houghton-Gilmour
The assembly of chefs for the evening were:
Barny Haughton – Square Food Foundation / Bordeaux Quay / Rocinantes
Jirarat Reis – Jean’s Bistro
Raja Munuswamy – Nutmeg / Nadu / Kal Dosa
Seldon Curry – Wallfish
Josh Eggleton – The Pony
Peter Sanchez-Iglesias – Casamia / Paco Tapas
Louise McCrimmon – The Blaise Inn
Jan Ostle – Wilsons
The tasting menu captured various culinary traditions from classic British, Thai, Indian and Italian.
Seldon Curry from Wallfish said: “I’ve had a great time. Did I like working with the team? It’s been great. They are lovely. Everyone’s been so welcoming.”
On the culinary odyssey of Bristol over the past decade, he added: “I think it’s been an evolution. When I was younger (I grew up in Bristol by the way) and went to university in Bristol and there wasn’t anything like this. But now the food scene is absolutely incredible.”
Double agnolotti by Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, marking the transition from savoury to sweet during the night
Speaking to Bristol24/7 on the night, chef Louise McCrimmon said: “I’m loving being here. It’s great to actually be with all the other chefs that you never see because you’re working, and it’s just a really good vibe, really good fun.”
Guest Phil Haughton, the founder of Better Food, added: “It was partly memory lane, but more a kind of paying homage, if you like, to all the great chefs, old chefs like my dear brother Barny, who is founder of so much of the dynasty of Bristol’s amazing food.
“And some of the chefs that have come through, they’re just such a community of great people. And some of them are genius like, you know, they are real craftsmen. Beautiful, beautiful food. It was quite an honour to be a part of it.”
Redcliffe & Temple Business Improvement District has partnered with Bristol24/7 on the ten year anniversary celebrations.
All photos: Milan Perera
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