The world-famous La Tomatina Festival, which takes place in Spain every year, is heading to London this August.
A bucket list item for many travellers, La Tomatina is a festival dedicated to all things tomato. Although traditionally hosted in the Valencian town of Buñol, London restaurant aqua nueva is putting on its own version of the festival on Saturday, August 25. The event will start with a mannerly meal in the restaurant, followed by a Bloody Mary masterclass, and finishing with an almighty splat.
The meal, created by Head Chef Yahir Gonzalez, will be tomato-based (surprise, surprise) and is designed to be enjoyed tapas-style. Dishes will include: crispy pork skins with pico de gallo salsa and marinated mackerel; Iberican ham croquettes with roasted tomato emulsion; aubergine and tomato pisto; and Iberican pork fillet with green tomato topped with a mustard vinaigrette.
After lunch, you’ll head to the nearby Downstairs at Carousel, where things will become a little more lively – starting with a lesson on how to make the perfect Bloody Mary. Then, once you’re suitably educated, you’ll get kitted up in ponchos while large buckets of “ugly” tomatoes will be placed around the fighting area ready to begin the hour-long battle.
You’ll be able to hop on and off the battlefield as you please; keeping hydrated at the on-site bar. And, once all of the chaos is over, Westminster City Council and its recycling partner Veolia will step in to make sure all tomato waste is recycled.
Location: aqua nueva, 5th Floor, 240 Regent Street. (Entrance at 30 Argyll Street, W1F 7EB.) See it on Google maps.
Opening hours: Saturday 25th August, 12:30pm start.
Entry: £49 per person. Tickets include a welcome cocktail, lunch at aqua nueva and a Bloody Mary at Downstairs at Carousel (as well as the tomato-throwing, of course).
Find out more and purchase tickets: on the Aqua Nueva website.
? by Mik Man