Unmissable events in October

By The Artful Diner (@TheArtfulDiner)

Now that autumn is here the nights are colder and menus are comforting (homemade crumpets anyone?). But you can forget snuggling up at home because there is WAY too much going on in London this month to even think about staying in.

Here’s a lovely leaf out of my diary for October…

First up, London Restaurant Festival events run until 15 October – I love all the special LRF restaurant menus (check out the salt marsh lamb from Mickael Weiss, two courses and a glass of champagne for £25).

On 12 October there’s a one-off collaboration, as chefs Mark Jarvis from Blueprint Café and Helena Puolakka from Skylon cook together. They’ll be serving up a special game menu called The Game is On at the Blueprint Café.

I’ll make sure to save room for Chocolate Week, from 8-14 October. I’ll be making a beeline to Almeida to try the special dessert concocted by chocolatier Paul A Young and head chef Alan Jones (sticky chocolate fig pudding with warm salted caramel, milk chocolate ice cream and cocoa nibs, since you ask).

On the evening of 11 October I’m off to Choc Tales From Dean Street to meet the likes of William Curley and Rococo for an evening of chocolates and cocktails. Don’t miss the chocolate restaurant menus, like this one from head chef Arnaud Delannay at Sauterelle.

Cocktails and culture...

As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also London Cocktail Week from 8-14 October (why not?). I’ll be at a cocktail masterclass with the lovely Alvaro, bar manager at the Royal Exchange, on 9 October (£25 per person) and will be posting some great cocktail recipes. (Don’t miss Rumfest on 13 and 14 October.)

On to culture, there’s the BFI London Film Festival (10-21 October) on the South Bank and the Frieze Art Fair in Regent’s Park (11-14 October). I also love the Bronze exhibition at the Royal Academy, which runs until 9 December (read my mini-review).

Pumpkins and Prince Charming (or Halloween speed dating)...

I’m determined to brush up on a few skills this month, so will learn how to make tortelloni and tagliatelle at a pasta masterclass on 20 October at Cantina del Ponte, taste wine at the Mas de Daumas Gassac tasting on 23 October at the New Street Wine Shop (followed by dinner at the New Street Grill) and catch up with my old friend Eddie the master butcher at a butchery masterclass on 28 October.

With Halloween at the end of the month I’m heading to a black and orange wine tasting a couple of days earlier at Butlers Wharf Chop House. But if you’re “looking for love among the cobwebs” (all a bit Miss Faversham) on the spooky night itself then don’t miss the annual hoot that is the Halloween speed dating at Bluebird.

Finally, if you haven’t yet tried out the food at new restaurant Angler I’ve heard tell it’s one not to be missed. Of course, by the end of the month I think I’ll be stuffed but then – just whisper it – there’s the Spirit of Christmas Fair at Kensington Olympia.

What a month…