Taste the trends at Norwich Fashion Week

Lady Gaga and her infamous 'meat dress' cooked up a storm in the fashion world last year. It seems unlikely that designers at Norwich Fashion Week will be dressing their models in the finest Norfolk steak, or sausages from Battle of the Bangers winner Archers Butchers of Plumstead Road. However, what is tipped to be a fashion collaboration is the partnership between the fashion on the catwalk and the food trends at the restaurants, bars and events during the week.

A few eateries in Norwich are preparing to create an on-trend menu for fashion goers. Whether it's a pre-show dinner, a light lunch, or traditional afternoon tea, there is something on the menu for everyone.

Here are some of the food trends the Life Matters team are looking forward to during Norwich Fashion Week:

Designer dishes

There are many 'designer' dishes making their debut at fashion week, including Oysters with ginger soy and wasabi, homemade thin crust pizza with fresh figs and pine nuts and not one, but a trio of miniature chocolate desserts. The Library Restaurant on Guildhall Hill with be offering a pre-fashion show supper before the launch show at The Forum on September 22 and the Norwich Lanes fashion show on September 23, and all four of the Raffles Restaurants will be having a Taste the Trends menu throughout the week. Life Matters loves the pan fried homemade potato gnocchi at The Library Restaurant, the crispy prawns with a parmesan crust at Pinocchio's, the chocolate passion fruit delice at St Benedict's Restaurant and the sharing platter at Pulse Caf� Bar, which includes our favourite smoked Norfolk dapple cheese. It's perfect for lunch while at one of the many shopping and fashion events or for supper before one of the fashion shows.

Cupcakes

Cupcakes were a must-have treat at Norwich Fashion Week in February and it looks like these delightful little cakes will be a hit at the second fashion week. Many of the fashion and shopping events will be serving beautifully decorated cupcakes with a glass of something sparkly to refresh the crowds and give them energy to shop for the latest trends.

Life Matters loves the peanut butter cupcakes,from Great Yarmouth company Cupcakes To Your Door, who will be at the Madhatters Vintage Tea Party and Vintage Fashion Show at The Library Restaurant on Sunday September 25 from 11am.

Fashionista cookies

London Fashion Week went crazy for cookie couture (cookies designed by fashion designers) and now the craze comes to Norwich Fashion Week. The giant 12-inch cookies designed by designers such as Clements Ribeiro, Elizabeth Lau, pictured below, Lu Flux and Yang Du will be on sale at Millies Cookies in The Mall throughout Norwich Fashion Week.

Life Matters loves the cookie designed by Elizabeth Lau which will be our cookie treat during Norwich Fashion Week. The cookies cost �12.99 each. Ten per cent of all profits from the cookies will go to the charities Save the Children, UNICEF, British Heart Foundation and Dementia UK.

Bellinis

The drink for vintage lovers, the Bellini cocktail, pictured below right, a mix of sparkling wine and peach puree was invented in the 1940s and is the drink of choice for those who love vintage fashion. Sip a Bellini at the Fashion on Film event at Cinema City on Wednesday September 28 where Vintage Norwich will be taking over the bar and you can sip cocktails while watching fashion icon Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Bellinis will also be served at the Madhatters Vintage Tea Party and Fashion Show at The Library Restaurant on Sunday September 25.

If you want to create the taste of Norwich Fashion Week at home here is a recipe courtesy of The Dining Rooms at Cinema City:

What you will need:

2 ripe peaches – seeded and diced

1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon of sugar

1 bottle of chilled prosecco sparkling wine

2 chilled glasses

Pur�e your peaches until they're lovely and smooth, spoon half into the chilled glasses and slowly top up with champagne, stirring as you pour.

You should ideally have one third peach pur�e to two thirds champagne.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Cocktails in teapots

This has to be one of the trendiest drinks in Norwich this season. A rum cocktail served in a teapot and drunk out of tin cups is quickly becoming a fashion fad from new bar on the block Revolution de'Cuba.

Absolutely deal if you like the quirky trends at fashion week or you love festival style, as the teapot and cups remind the Life Matters team of the type of crockery you take camping. Perfect for a pre-evening or after show drink.

Real Ale

Once thought of as the drink of bearded middle aged men, real ale has begun to shake off its old image and is quickly becoming the drink of choice among fashionistas.

There are many pubs serving real and locally produced ale in Norwich including The Murderers on Timberhill and the Ribs of Beef on Wensum Street. Both are a stone's throw from the studios and boutiques on the Open Store local designers fashion trail taking place on Tuesday September 27 as part of fashion week.

If you are still not convinced about real ale, Kate Moss has been rumoured to enjoy a pint and if it's good enough for her…

Tea and cake

It's the great British tradition which fashionistas just cannot do without. With vintage trends featuring heavily in the shows what better way to revive yourself ready for the evening events than with a pot of tea and a slice of cake. The Library Restaurant on Guildhall Hill will be serving afternoon tea complete with sandwiches, cakes and a glass of low calorie champagne at the Madhatters Vintage Day on Sunday September 25. The Cloisters Vintage Fair on Wednesday September 28 will be offering free tea and coffee when you produce a copy of that day's Norwich Evening News.

Norwich Fashion Week takes place from Thursday September 22 until Thursday September 29. Get all the news from the shows and events in your Norwich Evening News and follow Norwich Fashion Week on Twitter @NorwichFashion or like the Norwich Fashion Week page on Facebook.