With Diamond Jubilee celebrations out of the way, you may be waiting for another excuse to celebrate all things British. Your wait could be over soon. There's not another Royal Wedding on the horizon, but this coming weekend for the first time we can celebrate another great British tradition - the biscuit. Great British Chefs blogger Chris Osburn previews the first ever British Biscuit Festival
Ginger snap biscuits - Josh Eggleton
Blog post by Chris Osburn
From digestives to custard creams to wafers, biscuits are about as British as it gets. And now there's an all-things-biscuit festival coming to London that's sure to send folks on a sugar rush. From the 8th June 2012, the Brunswick Centre in London will host the first ever British Biscuit Festival, a three day celebration with biscuit-centric activities and entertainment aimed to please young and old alike.
Lemon posset with raspberries and shortbread - Matthew Tomkinson
During the festival, a tasty assortment of biscuit makers, 'experimentalists' and biscuit-themed artists will showcase their goodies. Grown up biscuit enthusiasts will have a chance to enjoy jasmine tea infused cocktails out of chocolate cups while sweet tooths of any age will get to nibble on jazzed up biscuit delights such as elderflower, Earl Grey and shortbread flavoured macaroons.
Lemon posset with ginger snap biscuits and Earl Grey soaked prunes - Josh Eggleton
Festival goers will also find opportunities to create teabag art and customised biscuit tins. There'll even be a retro style photography booth to help keep your memories of the festival from ever crumbling away.
Here's a list of some of the yummier bits of the biscuit festival line up:
Build–a–Biscuit Workshops
Let your imagination run wild and 'build the biscuit of your dreams' with an array of toppings such as peanut butter, marshmallows, chocolate chips and frosted icing. Help will be on hand from a 'Cake Conjurer' for those who need a bit of inspiration on how to create the perfect biscuit. Donations collected from this activity will go towards the work of The Foundling Museum, London's “first home for abandoned children” which now shares its history with the public as a museum.
The Terrific Biscuit Tin Tournament
Biscuit Dunking Tournament
Think you can you eat a biscuit without licking away the crumbs, dunk a biscuit in tea without it going soggy or recite a sonnet with a mouthful of biscuits in your mouth? This tournament is for you. Free to enter with prizes going to the top competitors, this is eccentric British competition at its best!
Tea and Biscuit Social
Decorated with vintage lamps, photographs of the Queen and frilly pillows, the Tea and Biscuit Social is the ideal place to revive. “Trolley Dollies” will share their words of wisdom, relieving tired and weary visitors in need of a quiet five minutes to themselves away from the urban grind (and the kids). Designed by vintage and interior enthusiasts The Bijoux Editrix, the Tea and Biscuit Social promises to be a decadent haven where grown ups can kick back and relax.
Tea Dance
For the little ones and young at heart, there will be a variety of performances from The Ragroof Theatre as well as from secret spectacular acts. All will be encouraged to join in the singing, dancing and merrymaking.
Poached strawberries with shortbread - Tom Aikens
The British Biscuit Festival will run from noon to 6pm June 8th through to 10th June 2012 at the Brunswick Centre, just opposite Russell Square Tube Station between Marchmont Street, Bernard Street and Brunswick Square. Visit this link for more details.
Blog post by Chris Osburn for Great British Chefs
What are some of your favourite biscuits to eat or to bake yourself? Let us know over on Great British Chefs Facebook Page
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