East Village E20 is best known as the neighbourhood where the athletes lived from the momentous 2012 London Olympics. Nearby to Westfield Stratford and easy to reach on the central line or overground train, this area has become a buzzy place to live or spend a day out in London.
Last weekend I was invited to the East Village E20 Cheese and Craft Beer Market, a celebration of artisan products. When we arrived at the start of the day the sun was out and the market was already full of foodies and craft beer enthusiasts. Families and friends alike were snacking on toasted cheese sandwiches and sampling unique beers. Alongside the cheese and beer there were other cuisines to choose from, vegan options and dessert stalls, should you desire something sweet.
We headed straight for the main marketplace where cheese expert Ned Palmer was giving a talk on the history of cheese and how it can be enjoyed. It was fascinating to learn how it had initially been a poisonous product, and he explained how it became the addictive, wonderful product that it is today! Interestingly Ned also told us that cheese is lactose free making it suitable for those with some dietary restrictions, a fact I’d never been aware of. It was brilliant to witness Ned’s infectious enthusiasm for the topic while trying a range of tasty cheeses he’d bought along for us to try, the crowd grew and grew over the course of the talk!
Feeling full from the cheese feast we wandered round the market in search of a refreshing pint. There were so many great independent craft beers to choose from, my favourites included The Kernal pale ale brewed in London and the Portobello Brewing Co’s range of drinks from lagers to ales.
It was great fun to explore this new neighbourhood and learn something new at the Cheese and Beer market, I can’t wait to see what pops up next in this exciting part of town.
More information on the Cheese & Beer Market and upcoming foodie events, including their upcoming sensory supper club series, head to: www.eastvillagelondon.co.uk
This is a sponsored post in collaboration with East Village E20.