SITWELL FOOD SAFARI AT HARPENDEN – 7PM FRIDAY 20 JUNE
BBC MASTERCHEF JUDGE & TELEGRAPH RESTAURANT CRITIC WILLIAM SITWELL IS BRINGING HIS FOOD SAFARI TO HARPENDEN
What: Sitwell Food Safari Harpenden
When: 7pm - 10.30pm Friday 20th June 2025, Park Hall Harpenden
Where: Participating are the contemporary public house The Silver Cup, the stylish, informal VinSanto, restaurant and deli The Silver Palate, coffee and bagel house Brad & Dills, and bakery The Pudding Stop.
Tickets: Include multiple courses, rosé, white and red wine, are just £80 per person.
Come and celebrate the best of Harpenden's food and drink as the Hertfordshire town's finest eateries join forces for a glorious summer Sitwell Food Safari. Hosted by MasterChef critic William Sitwell, it's a night of fabulous eating and drinking as you'll enjoy a tour of the town's best hospitality, from Greek delicacies and classic British fare, to Mediterranean bites and sweet treats.
Sitwell Food Safari is a fun-packed dining concept from William Sitwell, one of Britain's leading food writers, restaurant critic and columnist for The Telegraph as well as a TV presenter and public speaker. He runs his food safaris in small towns, large villages and city boroughs across the UK providing the opportunity for guests to get a taste of some five venues across a single evening.
'It's huge fun,' says William, 'and a great way for people to get a taste of what's available on their doorstep.'
Harpenden's Sitwell Food Safari is sponsored by Whittaker & Co, a leading independent estate agent serving Harpenden and the surrounding villages.
Principal of Whittaker & Co, Ken Whittaker, says:
'We are so delighted to support Sitwell Food Safari in Harpenden. It's wonderful that William is bringing his safari concept to the town so that we can celebrate some of our brilliant hospitality venues. Community is the cornerstone of Whittaker & Co and this event is a great way of bringing people together and of supporting and celebrating our restaurants.' Says William Sitwell: 'I'm so excited to be bringing my food safari to the beautiful town of Harpenden, to showcase the wonderful variety of food available and to host this exciting, communal event. At a time when many hospitality business are fighting to stay alive it's a wonderful way to support this vital part of our culture.'
Guests will meet at Park Hall for welcome drinks and speeches before being escorted in groups to the town's dining venues.
Each guest will be given a bespoke and keepsake glass for their rosé, white and red wine and Whittaker & Co are also providing goodie bags (at the final safari stop at Park Hall) filled with delicious treats...
PARTICIPATING VENUES
The Silver Cup
Established in 1838, this inn took its name from the cup presented to winning jockeys at the town's race course. Today it's a relaxed pub with the feel of a neighbourhood restaurant offering high-end food and drink. It's run by siblings Matthew (chef patron) and Olivia (food and bev director) who grew up in the town and they're proud to have been included in the 2025 Top 50 UK Gastropubs.
VinSanto
A new stylish, informal establishment from chef Daniel Fletcher who has worked in the kitchens of the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Jason Atherton and in 5-star hotels across the world. With an accessible, great-value wine list pairing a Mediterranean menu in the main restaurant, you'll also find a discreet and cosy Speakeasy in their brick-lined basement.
The Silver Palate
Starting as a deli in 1993, with a sister establishment in St Albans, The Silver Palate has now developed into a daytime restaurant serving scrumptious breakfasts, which revel in the smashed avocado, brunches and tasty lunches serving a fun and accessible mix of sharing plates, salads, pittas, burger and much more. There's a great menu for kids and The Silver Palate also offers a catering service.
Brad & Dills
An independent coffee and bagel house with four locations across the area, Brad & Dills began as Mitzi, a 1950s Metro van, in 2021. Now they are a beloved brand of coffee spots offering an eclectic and delicious range of bagels in addition to offering the likes of what they fervently declare as 'the perfect flat white in the land'.
The Pudding Stop
Beginning as the Pudmobile (a van packed with freshly made puddings at St Albans Station, The Pudding Stop is a now a bakery serving handmade goodies and excellent coffee with sister businesses across Hertfordshire, including its much loved Pizza Stop offering 72-hour slow dough pizzas between 4 and 8PM every Friday from the Redbourne Bakery.
MENU
The Silver Cup
Mercea Rock Oyster
Quail Scotch Egg
Pea and Black Garlic Tartlet
VinSanto
Arrancini 'Cacio e Pepe'
Porchetta Spiedini
Pea, mint and whipped Ricotta
Bruschetta
The Silver Palate
Saganaki Cheese with Honey, Sesame and Baby Iranian Fig
Hot Honey Taco, Halloumi, Pickled Pink Onion and Crispy Chilli
Greek Courgette Fritters with Feta and Chilli
Brad & Dills
Sambal Oyster Mushroom on Prawn Cracker
Chicken Bonbon with Nduja
Hot-smoked salmon with chive cream
'Ham, egg and chips'
The Pudding Stop
Eton Mess doughnut
ORDER OF PLAY
7PM: Drinks and welcome speeches at Park Hall. Each guest will be given a bespoke glass, which should be kept for the evening and then taken home as a memento
7.30PM: Guests will be escorted in groups to each of the four main venues.
10PM: Dessert courtesy of The Pudding Shop at Park Hall
10.30PM: Event ends
Purchase Tickets: https://www.williamsitwell.com/sitwellfoodsafariharpenden