Reasons to be excited about food and drink in October
From events like Oktoberfest and Halloween to the rich, comforting flavours of autumnal produce, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about food and drink this month.
As the colours of the leaves change, so do the ones on our plate. Warm orange pumpkin, deep red beetroot, rich brown meaty stews and golden crumbles make up this season's culinary palette and herald the return of cooler days and cosier nights.
Yes, October is the gateway into winter. Soon, the clocks will be turning back and the nights drawing in. But that doesn't mean it's time to hibernate – not with so much going on.
Tastes of the season
With the barbecue packed away for another year, we're now reaching for the slow cooker to create warming stews and curries packed with seasonal ingredients like butternut squash.
Roasting autumnal veg such as pumpkin, beetroot, carrot, swede, turnip, broccoli and cauliflower in big batches is a great idea, and you can dial up those comforting flavours with woody herbs like rosemary and thyme, and warming spices such as smoked paprika and cumin.
Rather than just making one tray of veg, fill the oven up so you’re getting value for money – or use an air fryer if you have one.
Once your veg is cooked, freeze it so it's ready to use in dishes like risottos, veggie lasagnes, soups and hearty salads. The latter is something Elena Silcock, author of Salads Are More Than Leaves, embraces.
“People's perception of what a salad is often involves summer-fresh, crunchy ingredients, but some of my favourite salads in the world involve roasting pumpkins and beetroot and then serving them with lentils, a tahini dressing and salsa verde. These types of autumnal salads make rich, indulgent meals, and can be as comforting as a big stew or a cottage pie.
“Another of my favourite salads is roasted squash with burrata. I drizzle brown butter and loads of herbs and hazelnuts on top. I make it for friends all the time – it’s a real people pleaser.”
There are lots of wild foods to forage in October, too. Blackberries, sloe berries, elderberries, cobnuts and sweet chestnuts can liven up a whole range of dishes (think crumbles and pies just for starters) and take cocktails to the next level.
If you’re tempted to forage for mushrooms though, do so carefully. There are many varieties springing up at this time of year, including extremely poisonous ones – and it is notoriously tricky to distinguish between some of them. The National Poisons Information Service told BBC Food that in 2021 they were informed of 29 cases of people suffering with symptoms after eating potentially misidentified mushrooms, and 49 cases the year before.
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October events
October is associated with two big events: Halloween and Oktoberfest. There are lots of ways you can celebrate both at home, marking the occasions with fun food and drink.
Oktoberfest
While traditionally associated with Bavaria, this annual celebration is now popular in the UK too. To join in with the festivities at home, perhaps try cooking a meal and pairing ales with it. Drinks educator and landlady of The Hop Inn in Hornchurch Alison Taffs says that, when looking for beer to complement food, the number one rule is to pick one that matches the intensity of your dish.
“What you don't want to do is end up with a massive, rich, full-flavoured beer and put it together with a really delicate food, otherwise it will wipe out the flavour of the dish. Equally, you don't want to have a really big, punchy, full-flavoured dish with a really delicate beer as you won’t be able to taste the drink.”
If you’re sticking to German beers, then try a pilsner or wheat variety (weizenbier), suggests Alison. “Classic German pilsners go tremendously well with fried foods such as fish. They're also brilliant with curries.
“I've recently come back from a trip to Munich – one of the great beer cities – and they have incredible weizenbier which has an amazing banana and clove flavour. They match it with the fantastic German sausages that they have. Wheat beers also go tremendously well with fish and seafood.”
Halloween
In recent years, the popularity of this spooky celebration has shot up in the UK, with many of us putting special effort into hunting down the best Halloween treats out there. Homemade versions can be fun to make and don’t need to be expensive. Sweets such as coconut ice, bonfire toffee and fudge require just a few budget-friendly ingredients.
Alternatively, you can give regular dishes a Halloween twist with little to no extra cost. Perhaps try making fluffy American pancakes shaped like pumpkins, with little stalks.
If you're planning to carve Jack-o-lanterns for the occasion, look for an edible variety of pumpkin. That way you can use all the flesh you scoop out to cook up some delicious meals.
Dates for the diary
Five food festivals
Morpeth Food and Drink Festival (1–2 October)
You can expect a farmers' market, bar, live music and street food at this free two-day festival in Northumberland. For foodies, the main draw will be the demo kitchen which is holding sessions on themes such as tea, chocolate, wine and ale. There will also be competitions to take part in, including a 'beat the chef' event and a pancake-flipping contest.
Powderham Food Festival (1–2 October)
Held in the grounds of Powderham Castle in Exeter, this two-day ticketed bash includes a food demonstration stage, campfire cooking workshops, hot dog eating contest and a chilli eating contest. If art is more your thing, there are chocolate sculptures to admire and a food-themed art competition.
The Yorkshire Pudding Festival 2022 (1–2 October)
This paid-for event in Leeds is an ode to everyone's favourite roast dinner staple. Look out for the cooking demos, where you'll be able to pick up pro advice on how to make the perfect pud, as well as recipes for vegan and gluten free versions. There will also be kids events and some interesting Yorkshire pud-flavoured drinks to try – including whisky, beer and gin.
Newport Food Festival (8 October)
This South Wales food festival returns after two years away, and to celebrate the city centre will be awash with food and family-friendly events. While passionate home cooks will love the cookery demonstrations from local chefs, younger visitors will enjoy the street theatre and face painting. The festival is free to attend, too.
Wells Food Festival (9 October)
This year marks the 10th anniversary of this free foodie fest. It's super family-friendly – there are cookery sessions taking place for kids so they can make their own cheese and tomato swirls, and a fun trail to take the little ones on. For adults, there’s a Ready Steady Cook-style competition, hosted by Charlie Bigham.
Five drink festivals
Want to experience the fun of Oktoberfest without hopping on a plane to Germany? There are plenty of events happening across the UK where you can enjoy the beer-soaked festivities and try some new and exciting ales (costs apply).
Oktoberfest Belfast (29 September–29 October)
Custom House Square is the venue for this month-long event, which is modelled on the famous Munich festival. Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in Lederhosen or Dirndl (and if you do, you will be rewarded with free entry). As well as German ales, there’s traditional Oktoberfest fare such as bratwurst on offer, and each evening visitors will be treated to a live performance from an Oompah band.
Ayrshire Real Ale Festival (6–8 October)
You’ll find it hard to find an event that has quite as many drinks available as this CAMRA-associated shindig: there’s expected to be 150 types of cask ales and 30 varieties of real ciders and perries on the go. If ale isn’t quite your thing, you might be tempted by the new gin bar, which will be featuring for the first time in this festival's 21-year history.
Edinburgh Cocktail Week (7–16 October)
Love the idea of Oktoberfest but not so keen on ale? The Scottish capital is hosting a cocktail festival which might appeal. A ‘cocktail village’ will be set up within Festival Square, housing 21 pop-up bars. If that's not enough, 120 bars in the city are getting involved too, each producing their own signature cocktail for the event.
Newcastle Oktoberfest, 14–29 October
This festival takes place over three consecutive weekends, and you can expect beer, music and bratwurst at all of them. The event taking place on 28 October has a special Halloween twist, too.
London Oktoberfest (20 October–5 November)
It’s expected that 50,000 people will attend this beer festival, which, again, is happening over three weekends. To up the Bavarian experience, the bands – like the beer – will be travelling over from Germany.
There are plenty more food and drink events happening across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check online to see what’s on near you.
Originally published September 2022.
