Slow Food Christmas Market, South Bank, London

I live in a part of of London that's lucky enough to have a weekly Farmer's Market and although the Slow Food Christmas market isn't a farmer's market - it has that same feel about it that you have when buying food from the people who reared / grew / cooked / or caught it.

As Londoners, we tend to forget that there's often a story behind the grub we throw into our mouths and it's nice to be reminded by a real person rather than having to look at the "1 of your recommended five a day" and "150% of your daily fat allowance" food alerts legally plastered on supermarket food.

Like other reviewers here I made the most of the spicy warmed cider with added slices of apple while tucking into the roast pork sandwich.

Xmas pressies for friends included the Turkey Vindaloo chutney and a frozen chocolate terrine from the pate stall.

Look forward to seeing more Slow Food markets appearing in London next year.

It's not a place to visit if you're in a hurry. This is slow food, after all. And you got to take it... slowly. Get a glass of the warm spiced cider, wrap your scarf a little tighter and drift towards the stalls that look most interesting to you. Take your time. Walk around twice. There's no hurry. Sit down for a little while, rest your feet. Stop for a chat. Come back for more.

I had a really lovely afternoon here that made my hardened bitter anti-Christmas heart melt into grinning carol-singing giddiness. While commuters and culture vultures rushed back and forth between Waterloo station and the South Bank Centre, I took my time and walked slowly around the small cluster of stalls, sampling, chatting, looking at and smelling things that each had a story and was created with love and good conscience.

It was a particularly charming looking market, with all the chilly stalls under a dark and brooding sky, with the London Eye always in sight. The strings of lights, the stripy aprons, handwritten signs, the conversations springing up across the market space all combine to create a simple but incredibly heartfelt shopping and eating experience.

Each stall holder was willing to chat about their wares and gave out little samples; small gestures like catching your eye and telling you exactly how long a certain cheese is allowed to mature and what makes it different to the next one makes every mouthful special

It's not strictly a Christmas market, the emphasis is more on slow food, it's producers, it's promoters, lovers and consumers. But for setting up excitement for the big Christmas dinner, this market did wonders for reviving my palate, so jaded already by supermarket mince pies and cheap, mushy cocktail sausages. I would definitely like to see more markets like this - and more often.

Great for a cold winter's evening - friendly committed selllers of top-class local food. The usual range of fayre but complements the gluwein equivalent (spiced cider) and prices quite fair. The hog roast was particularly tasty and welcome - which when accompanied by a talk from one of the Slow Food organisers, made it feel like a more special occasion! Kevin

For poor little old me, this particular holiday season has been more decked with burdens and last minute obligations than boughs of holly. So, it was with Yuletide glee that I dawdled about Slow Food London’s festive yet mellow “good and clean and fair” Christmas Market. The market, open 11am-8pm until Sunday the 23rd, is a first … but hopefully not the last. In addition to a heartily yummy roast pork sandwich (Royal Festival Hall’s Canteen restaurant provided a proper, traditional hog roast) and a cup or three of warming spiced cider, I was actually able to mark a few names off my Christmas list.

One of the nice things about buying edible gifts is the possibility that the recipients might share a bit of whatever tasty treat with you. What’s particularly pleasant about buying such gifts at Slow Food’s Christmas Market is being able to sample many of the items … that, and the fact that at least some of your money goes toward a good cause (www.slowfood.com). Most of the market’s vendors had samples worth your taste buds’ attention with many deserving the opening of your wallet, but if I had to single out one for the B-line … Altissima’s lardo was memorably savoury.

I’m really glad I was able to check out the market, if only for its decelerating atmosphere. It’s nice to know there are vibrant and interesting alternatives to the High Street grind at this time of year.

This place is fantastic. I love markets where you can wander around for hours sampling different sorts of food and drink. I think i had the most fun at the chutney stand. Hot tomatoes & garlic & wild bore vindaloo are the tasiest ones that stick in my mind. The staff at this stall were brilliant and didn't seem to mind us devouring all the samples they had!

After looking around the stalls, we retired to the outdoor seats at Canteen for some apple cider and pork sandwiches. We ate quickly and with gusto. Judging by the lip smacking and noises from around the table, i think i can assume everyone enjoyed the food!

A great place for Christmas shopping and perfect for after work fun!

The Slow Food Christmas market takes places over four days in December behind the Royal Festival Hall, in the square in front of the restaurant Canteen.

Slow food is an international organisation of people who care about retaining food's heritage and protecting it from globalisation, through various initiatives such as this market.

There were around 25 stalls on the market selling everything from spicy Indian pickles (Turkey Vindaloo chuney anyone!?) to Christmas meats (hams, turkeys etc,), and wine and beer, plus cheeses, cakes and even Italian lardo (slices of surprisingly delicious thick fat cured with herbs, pepper, and salt).

The market is a great place to pick up a few last minute Christmas treats for your foody friends and family, and if all the shopping gets too much for you then you can sit down under the heaters and much away at a huuuge roast pork sandwich slathered in apple sauce and English mustard and sip on warm spiced cider courtesy of the restaurant Canteen.