London - In the northern hemisphere, food lovers are celebrating the arrival of autumn and its many gastronomic treasures with a host of festivals.
l In the UK, try the Falmouth Oyster Festival from October 10 to 13, where the programme includes chef demonstrations and an oyster-shucking competition.
Wild mushrooms are plentiful this time of year, too. You can pick some on a guided foray during the International Mushroom Festival, held in Ireland from October 12 to 13.
l Baltic-herring fairs have taken place across Finland in the autumn since the 17th century, to mark the end of the fishing season. The Helsinki fair, from October 6 to12, is the country’s largest. Fishermen gather in the Market Square to trade their catches.
Autumn’s bounty provides a great excuse for chefs to meet up and cook. Some of the world’s top culinary talent will be at Portugal’s International Gourmet Festival held at various locations in the Algarve from November 7 to 17. The line-up of cookery demos and events includes a dinner cooked by Portuguese chefs with 13 Michelin stars between them. – The Independent on Sunday