A historical picnic

Last week I found myself at the London College of Fashion - not a venue I've visited before, but this opportunity was opened up to me by the wonderful London Festival of Architecture.

The event was a "panoramic picnic" with a view of London's rooftops, celebrating the launch of the college's roof terrace and also commemorating historical themes in architecture.

Food was provided by AVM Curiosities. The drinks included "plague water", a 17th century syrup with an infusion of rosemary, sage, tarragon and angelica.  I was pleased to be able to tell a couple of slightly bewildered guests what angelica is (as you may know, it's a herb which is most often used in crystallised form as a cake decoration, but also used to flavour the liqueur chartreuse, and sometimes even gin).

We also had a nod towards contemporary architecture, as in the pickled cucumber salad (a reference to the Gherkin, obviously) and the shards of chocolate (the Shard, equally obviously). The pickled cucumber salad, pictured above, was the most beautiful dish of the evening, thanks to the edible flowers that garnished it. It was also a popular dish of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Some of the food had a Great Fire of London theme - so there was charcoal beef (flavoured with teriyaki sauce), and charcoal crackers (with beetroot and horseradish cream), pictured below. Beetroot and horseradish is always a fabulous combination, and here the crackers add crunch. Though I've yet to be convinced that charcoal is really a worthwhile addition to a cracker.

There was charred pineapple, because pineapple used to be a symbol of wealth and hospitality - you can still spot stone versions on buildings in London.

Finally, there was a parting gift - a white chocolate and pineapple edible door knocker. Beautiful.