The pavement is crispy with leaves, and the air is frosty and smokey from bonfires – but it’s not time to hibernate yet, instead it’s time for bonfires, mulled beverages, autumnal feasts and, err, pizza festivals.

Chuck another log on the wood burner, it’s time to hear about what you’ll be doing this month…

Novel November

It’s a mixed bag of a month – not only do we have oodles of dinner events, classes, markets  and food festivals, but we also have a few unusual food events you might like the sound of…

First up, this month sees the first ever Bristol Social Media Week (14-18th), and on the Monday they’re doing a special focus on the Bristol food scene – so you can either go to a talk on How to Become a Successful Food Blogger (I’m on the panel, but don’t worry, there are proper pros on there too), or How to Use Social Media to Promote Bristol’s Food Scene – get involved!

If you’re feeling a bit more nostalgic, how about the 80s brunch party at The Old Bookshop on 5th November? You’ll get a two course brunch, welcome cocktail and 5 hours of 80s hits for a tidy £21 – there’s also a UK garage brunch rave on the 19th November if that’s more up your street!

It’s already time to celebrate Bristol’s finest businesses – the Bristol Good Food Awards have announced their shortlist (it’s fairly impressive), and are now selling tickets for the awards ceremony & gala dinner on Sunday 13th.

And if you’re  a fan of pizza, Saturday 19th might just be your dream day out – there’s a Pizza, Beer and Fizz Festival coming to town! The day will include several pizza stalls, music, a craft beer & cider bar, a prosecco van (!), a pizza eating competition and an opportunity to judge the best pizzas of the day. Tickets only available from Foozie.

https://twitter.com/FoozieBristol/status/793379821942439936

Bonfire night

It’s the time of year where we feast on toffee apples, sup warm cider (oh how I have missed you these balmy summer months) and applaud fireworks and a massive pyre marking a terrorist attack in the 1600s. Top stuff. Here are some of the foodier famiy events going on:

• Bonfire night at Boiling Wells (St Werburghs) – Sat 5th; bonfire, food & drink stalls, phosphorescent forest(?), glow sticks and a kids rave. 3pm-8pm, £5 adults, under 12s go free.
• Victoria Park bonfire night (Bedminster)- Sat 5th; bonfire, hot dog stand, bar, no fireworks. From 6pm, free.
• Trinity Centre Fireworks Party (Old Market) – Sun 6th; winter treats, fireworks, music indoors from 8. £2 suggested donation, gates open at 6pm.

Dining events

Lots of tasty dinners going on across town this month, with an extra special one taking place in the form of the Severn Sister Feast, which is being organised by chef Romy Gill to raise money for Action Against Hunger, featuring 9 courses prepared by a variety of local food stars including Elly Curshen (or EllyPear for fans of her famohead Instagram feed), Xanthe Clay and Rosie Birkett.

91 Ways are back for their final supper club of the year on 9th November with A Taste of Egypt,  which will include a mezze of 3 courses prepared by Egyptian-born Bristolian Viviane Bowell – all money raised will go to fund the 91 Ways International Peace Cafe.

In other exciting news, Durty Gurties Dining Room are making an eagerly-anticipated return from 16-19th November – the dinner will be held in a mystery location and have an Alice in Wonderland theme!

If you’re in the mood for all- you-can-eat pizza (and when are you not, let’s be honest) nab yourself a ticket to the Giro Pizza night at Bertha’sGiro Pizza night at Bertha’s on Tuesday 15th – bring a group and be prepared to shout!

And if you’re not hungry enough by now, Thali Cafe have some amazing November specials from their collaborative menu with Meera Sodha, including (have a napkin ready): Mushroom and walnut samosas, Goan pig cheek thali, Pumpkin, black-eyed bean and coconut thali and Chocolate kheer s/w almond chikki – phwoar!

Classes & tastings

Learn something this month!

• Home brew club at Brew Bristol on the 9th & 23rd and monthly tasting session on 24th.
• Knead and Feed at Pinkmans’s on 21st – learn how to make cornbread, filled brioche and brioche buns. Tapas, canapes and treats available to eat throughout the evening – £39.
• Game course at Source on Wed 16th – how to pluck, skin, gut and cook game.
• Bourbon & blues tasting at Bordeaux Quay on Wed 9th, £35
• DIY Christmas Cake class at Little Kitchen on 29th November (£80 for one course, or £120 for all 3 courses, including 6th & 13th December)
• Vegan pizza making at Pinkman’s on Mon 28th from The Chocolate Bear kitchen, £26

Pop-ups

A fairly swift round-up this month – Kansai Kitchen will be serving up a tasty Japanese menu at Love Inn from 2nd Nov, and The Hillgrove are having a bumper few weeks, with Uncle Ho’s in their kitchen until 12th November, then Bearded Tacos from 15th-19th, then Feastie Boys from 22nd November.

Newbies

Finally, give a warm welcome to these fresh faces in town – make sure you pop in and say hello!

• The final few Wapping Wharf food businesses have opened their doors, including noodle & bao joint Woky Ko, Chicken Shed, Pigsty, The Bristol Cider Shop, Lovett Pies and Box-E. A special Caribbean-centric branch of Biblos will also be arriving soon!
• Oowee Diner is now serving hefty sandwiches, mega desserts and freakshakes on Picton St.
• Eatchu are busy steaming and frying tasty gyozas in St Nicks
• Rebel Roll has opened its doors on Redcliffe St (try the Krabbi Patty every Thur!)

• Nutmeg is now serving incredible curries in Clifton Village
• The Jetty has opened as the bar & restaurant attached to the new Harbour Hotel
• Pangea Bristol is moving from its pop-up roots at Prince’s Pantry in the harbour to more permanent (and warm) digs – watch this space…

That’s all from me this month, let me know on Twitter if you go to any of the events I’ve mentioned (I’ll see you at the ’80s brunch), and let me know if there are any round-ups you’d like me to do this winter! In the mean time…

• The Top 12 Brunches in Bristol
• The Best Places for Gin in Bristol
• The Vegetarian Guide to Bath & Bristol
• Bristol’s Best Pizza Joints
• The Quest for the Best Roast in Bristol

Dates for the diary

• Fri 4th – Scotch egg mastaerclass at Little Kitchen
• Sat 5th – 80s brunch rave at The Old Bookshop
• Sat 5th – Bonfire Night at Boiling Wells
• Sat 5th – Bonfire Night at Victoria Park
• Sun 6th – Fireworks party at Trinity Centre
• Wed 9th – Home Brew Club at Brew Bristol
• Wed 9th – Bourbon & blues tasting at Bordeaux Quay
• Thu 10th – Cheese & wine tasting at Arch House Deli
• Thu 11th – Cheese & beer at Small Bar
• Sat 12th – Friends & Falafel at Falafel King
• Sat 12th – The Wines of Italy at Borderaux Quay
• Sat 12th – Magical macarons class at Little Kitchen
• Tue 15th – All you can eat pizza at Bertha’s
• Wed 16th – Game course at Source
• Wed 16th-Sat 19th – Durty Gurties Dining Room
• Fri 18th – Gin & tonic tasting at Bordeaux Quay
• Sat 19th – UK Garage brunch rave at Club Haus
• Sat 19th – Pizza, Beer & Fizz Festival
• Sun 20th – Yoga brunch at Hamilton House
• Mon 21st – Knead & Feed at Pinkman’s
• Mon 21st – Cheese & beer at Small Bar
• Wed 23rd – Friends & Falafel at Falafel King
• Wed 23rd – Home Brew Club at Brew Bristol
• Thu 24th – Tasting session at Brew Bristol
• Thu 24th – Cheese & wine tasting at Arch House Deli
• Sat 26th – Cheese & chutney tasting at The Bristol Cheesemonger
• Sun 27th – Severn Sisters Feast at Yurt Lush
• Mon 28th – Christmas wine tasting at The Library
• Mon 28th – Vegan pizza making at Pinkman’s
• Tue 29th  – DIY Christmas cake class at Little Kitchen