A free festival on Tooley Street will celebrate the culture of Uzbekistan, with traditional music, art and live cooking from a Guinness-world record-winning chef.
On Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18 the first-ever Uzbek Food and Culture Festival in London will take place in Potters Fields Park in Bermondsey.
To honour the culture of Uzbekistan, a country in central Asia, visitors will be able to experience a day of traditional Uzbek food, music and crafts.
The centrepiece will be their world-famous “Plov” dish (a rice dish made with lamb, onions and carrots), prepared by celebrity chef Bahriddin Chustiy, who currently holds the Guinness Book World Record for having prepared over seven tonnes of Plov to date.
The festival brings together a line-up of guests from both Uzbekistan and the UK’s Uzbek diaspora community, including craftspeople and leading lights from the world of dance and music.
An art exhibition will showcase the intricate artistry and traditional craftwork of Uzbek textiles, clothing and accessories.
In addition to the exhibition, the festival’s stage is set to offer audiences sounds and beats from the heart of Central Asia, with sets from popular artists and DJs from Uzbekistan.
One of the other chefs who will be cooking on the day, is Muzaffar Sadykov, CEO and Executive Chef of OshPaz, located in Mercato Metropolitano.
He expressed his excitement about the festival, saying: “It has been my dream to introduce the national Uzbek dish, plov, to London.
“I am incredibly proud to be part of building a bridge between Uzbekistan and the vibrant culinary scene of London. By cooking one tonne of plov alongside the talented Bakhriddin Chustiy group, I hope to leave a lasting impression on the taste buds and imaginations of Londoners and visitors alike.”
This historic festival has been supported by OshPaz Authentic Street Food, Bahriddin Chustiy, several other local UK companies, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Uzbekistan, and the Staff Network of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
It will take place from 12 pm until 7 pm in Potters Fields Park, Tooley Street near Tower Bridge.
