The Eurovision Song Content returns this Saturday with people gearing up all around the world to watch the annual spectacle on television, one often celebrated alongside food and beverage. We take a look at how you can combine the two this year.
There are a number of venues around the country where you can soak up the atmosphere, most commonly in weird and wonderful fancy dress costumes too, each offering a theme and feel. Venues in London include Skylight Tobacco Dock where cocktails, bingo and drag queens combine for a fun-filled evening. Oxford Street's Arcade Food Hall will also be screening the event with drinks and cocktails a plenty. Another London food hall getting in on the act is Greenwich's Design District Canteen where you'll enjoy another drinks filled festival atmosphere.
Up in host city Liverpool, there's plenty going on too, as you'd expect. QSR chain McDonalds is giving away free chicken nuggets at the official Eurovillage. With last year's winners Ukraine unable to host the event due to the ongoing conflict, Liverpool has dutifully represented the nation through food, activity and celebration.
Paul Askew, chef patron of award-winning restaurant The Art School, has created a menu that marries Ukraine's ingredients and produce local to Liverpool. Special dishes include "Fillet of Loch Etive Trout 'Odessa'" and "Nalesniki", a gateaux of layered pancakes topped with hazelnut, raspberries and "amazing Ukrainian preserved baby pine cones in syrup", he said.
Another high street chain name celebrating Eurovision is Greggs who have slashed prices nationwide, offering 25% off for all customers shopping through Just Eat.
Something a bit quirkier we spotted this week too was an AI creation of pizzas to represent the various nations in the competition. The UK's was a beef roast dinner pizza, with potatoes on a bed of gravy, covered in horseradish sauce; Germany got a bratwurst sausage pizza loaded over chips, drizzled with ketchup and mayonnaise; whilst Australia's creation was a bit more out there ... with fairy Bread, an old-fashioned Australian snack made from white bread, butter and 'hundreds and thousands' sprinkles.
However you're celebrating Eurovision this year, enjoy!