Eating Out: Taste of things to come Hot, happening and opening soon By Gaby Huddart

l If you're looking for a quiet night out, steer clear of Soho for the next few weeks because the Soho Jazz Festival is coming to town (24 Sept to 4 Oct). More than 50 restaurants, including Mezzo (pictured right, 0171 314 4000), L'Escargot (0171 437 6828), Soho Soho (0171 434 3401), and Kettners (0171 437 6437) will be hopping to the beat of artists including Paul Moran, Gill Manly and the Jason Rebello Trio.

l Claridge's (0171 629 8860), the luxury hotel that's a home from home for royals, presidents and ambassadors, is celebrating its 100th birthday by offering dishes served at the state banquets it's hosted over the century. The Taste of History menu (from 28 Sept until 11 Oct) includes a chocolate, praline and pear ice-cream bombe said to be a favourite of the Queen and Prince Philip, so you never know who might be dropping in!

l Jean-Christophe Novelli, Oz Clarke, Madhur Jaffrey and Ken Hom are just some of the big names visiting Manchester soon for the first Manchester Food and Drink Festival (4-11 Oct). Numerous restaurants will be hosting expert talks and cookery demonstrations, and special gourmet menus are also on offer. Some establishments worth a visit include Simply Heathcotes (0161 835 3536), Beaujolais (0161 236 7260), Little Yang Sing (0161 228 7722) and Barca (0161 839 7099).