The 2012 London Restaurant Festival kicks off on 1 October and from the early information coming from the organisers - it looks as though this year's festival could be more, well, interesting than previous years.
We really like the idea of Graze, which focuses on certain foodie streets in London - namely Exmouth Market, Bermondsey Street, Marylebone High Street, Charlotte Street, Brixton Village and Soho each on one night of the festival. Festivalgoers can apply for an LRF Graze keyring which will get them a free glass of wine when they pay for a dish in any participating restaurant on the street.
Another new event will be a food meets street theatre piece on Saturday 6 October. It sees the LRF partnering with the Old Vic Tunnels and the Eat St food truck collective combining street food with music, poetry and other performance arts.
There are some regular features returning - namly the Gourmet Odysseys. This year the London routemasters will heading on three new tours where you eat your starters, main course and desserts in different restaurants. The 2012 tours are Classics, New Restaurants and the hippest places to eat in East London.
Each year sees the festival's key sponsor, American Express, put on something special for their cardholders and 2012's festival is no exception - Kitchen Influentials will feature ten lunches across London by chefs and their former protégés, friends or soulmates "cooking in a unique and inspiring collaboration."
The 2012 London Restaurant Festival runs from 1 - 15 October. Tickets for selected events go on sale from 16 July at londonrestaurantfestival.com
