‘Experience in the park’; International Food Festival showcases London’s diversity

The annual London International Food and Drink Festival shows off London’s diversity. CTV London's Brent Lale reports.

You only have to walk a few steps in Victoria Park to get a mix of cuisine from around the globe.

The annual London International Food and Drink Festival shows off London’s diversity.

“We are making a fresh sugar cane juice,” said Vidhi Sevak, of the Sugar Cane Project.

Having immigrated from India, Sevak says the juice is a natural source of sugar.

“Everyone is amazed because they are they are seeing it for the very first time that I’m making a juice out of a sugar cane juice. They think that it’s bamboo, but it’s not a bamboo, it’s a sugar cane.”

They are just one example of a hidden success story in the Forest City.

“We brought in all kinds of different kinds of food from around the Caribbean, from Africa, India, it is all represented here,” said Doug Hillier, the festival organizer.

“What you can really expect in a show like this is culture. You’re going to see all kinds of culture represented and their food. What we really want to do is have a real experience in the park.”

With musicians playing on stage all weekend, the drinks were flowing, and patrons were taking refuge in the shade in the summer heat.

Back in the food row, it was impossible to ignore the smell of fresh barbeque from Bikongs Express.

“We’re mainly Filipino food and barbecue is like a staple for us,” says Miguel Gianan who is part of the family business.

“We all feel really honoured to be here. To know that there are people from other countries who want to try our food, it warms my heart to be like seeing all these different cultures or like different backgrounds.”

The business located in east London was voted Best Food in 2024 at the festival.

“Seeing my parents like built this business from the ground up,” says Gianan.

“We were just making bread from our house and to come in here being part of a festival. Everyone knows our name and we’re starting to build something.”

The festival runs until 9 p.m. Sunday.

“We have great culture here in London and we are so well mixed,” says Hillier of Family Shows Canada, which also runs London Ribfest.

“We’ve have had such a great immigration of people that have come to this country and created their own foods and then brought it to us. We didn’t have to go there; they brought it to us right here in Victoria Park.”