In addition to all the official events happening over the fortnight that is this year's London Restaurant Festival, Hot Dinners was given an exclusive early look at some of the more interesting fringe events taking place.
Boris pizzas
Pizza Express will be putting on two new £10 pizzas for the month - a Boris pizza 'with mop of grana padana' and Red Ken with an 'abundance of red tomatoes'. The most popular pizza will be revealed at the Festival Awards on Oct 17th.
Butchery masterclass
King's Cross restaurant Rotunda welcomes farmer, Ian Scott; butcher Daryl Roach and chef Ian Green for an evening devoted to great meat on 4 Oct. After a welcome drink and canapes there’s an insightful talk by the two Ians and a butchery demonstration by Daryl. followed by a four-course beef-focused dinner all for £45 per person.
Thames-side ski lodge
Riverside spot Cantina del Ponte will run a Italian ski lodge and terrace from 3-17 October. The Cantina ski bar will serve up hot chocolate, warm cocktails and bagna cauda - a classic Piedmontese dish, similar to fondue, with fresh seasonal vegetables dipped into a hot anchovy and garlic sauce.
Gastro road-trips
In addition to the festival-run Gourmet Odyssey trip, two of London's gastro-pub chains are putting on their own versions.
Renaissance Pubs have a £49.50 south-west London pubs tour via The Bolingbroke, The Abbeville and the Avalon of London on 15 October while Tom and Ed Martin have a £60 culinary safari includes five courses in five different venues plus fine wines and cocktails at Chiswell Street Dining Rooms, The Hat & Tun, The White Swan, The Botanist, The Cadogan Arms on 5 October.
Heston dinner
Finally, if price is no object, how about the Suite Gourmet Safari at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park? For a mere £1650 you'll get two nights at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge, room service spending money, and guaranteed reservations at Bar Boulud and Dinner by Heston.
For the full list of Side Orders taking place, see the official London Restaurant Festival website.
London Restaurant Festival: Top 10 things to do
Our round-up of some of the events worth catching in the 2011 London Restaurant Festival.
