Food festivals. They're the urban equivalent of village fêtes really aren't they?

I mean, where else would otherwise anti-social human beings mill around sampling chutney and talking to complete strangers about cake?

Ok, Taste East might be a bit poncier than that. Part of a six day celebration of all that East London has to offer, the food bit, held at Spitalfields, could be just what the area needs to put it firmly on the culinary map.

Local restaurants St John's, Canteen, and Leon are taking part, with gourmet-superstars Fergus Henderson and Allegra McEvedy giving cookery demos. And of course there'll be stalls galore where you can spend all day sampling the finest epicurean delights Spits has to offer from Montezuma chocolate to Bedale's wine and Olivier & Co olive oil to Teasmith teas.