Flame & Smoke Borough Market

As the appetite for flame-cooked food grows and barbecue becomes an even bigger part of our cultural conversation, more events are popping up around the country that celebrate this elemental way of cooking. London’s iconic Borough Market is following suit this September and hosting its own celebration of fire with a brand-new event: Flame & Smoke.

Taking place on Thursday 10th September from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, Flame & Smoke will showcase the skills of traders, chefs and restaurateurs from Borough Market, creating their own barbecue small plates especially for the occasion. The menu is influenced by the breadth of fire cooking traditions represented at the historic site, with traders collaborating and sharing each other’s produce to curate original dishes inspired by flavours from the Mediterranean, South Asia, Southeast Asia and beyond.

A selection of the market’s restaurants and traders will be sharing tips through live demonstrations at a central fire pit stage hosted by Shauna Guinn of Hang Fire BBQ. These demonstrations will give visitors an insight into the techniques behind their special dishes, and explore skills such as achieving the perfect sear, heat management, and low-and-slow cooking with different charcoals and woods.

“Barbecuing in the UK is too often reduced to burnt sausages and burgers in the garde,” says Bethan Davies, Head of Communications and Marketing at Borough Market. “Flame & Smoke is here to change that, showing just how exciting, skilful and versatile cooking over fire can be. Our traders draw on traditions from around the world to create bold flavours and make exceptional produce sing.”

Flame & Smoke will be taking over Borough Market’s Green Market, extending into the open air space next to Southwark Cathedral while a live DJ will provide the soundtrack to the after-hours event. Tickets are £7 and can be purchased through boroughmarket.org.uk