You can’t have failed to notice the increasing sight of customized food vans and trucks popping up on our streets, markets or disused warehouses. And I bet you’re constantly tempted by the tantalising aromas emanating from these stationary vehicles as they prepare culinary delights known as ‘street food’.
Some street foods are regional, (anyone fancy Jellied Eels?) but you’ll often see worldly gems such as Boureka from Israel, Jerk Chicken from Jamaica, or perhaps even Yakisoba from Japan being served from food vans in the surburbs.
Shift Those Perceptions
Street food is no longer associated with greasy burgers and fat-saturated chips served by a dodgy-looking bloke. Think a hipster with a big beard creating mouth-wateringly artisan cuisine and you’d be nearer the mark.
There’s been a huge shift in the way the public perceive food being cooked in a van, and because the start-up costs for would-be vendors is low, street food is becoming more available and more popular.
The industry is big – with an annual turnover of £600 million, it’s no wonder the likes of the Independent on Sunday are calling this game-changing concept “the most important trend in British food for years”.
You can’t watch a cooking programme without references to ‘street food’, and neither can you miss the ‘street food’ ranges at the supermarket. Street food titles are also a hot sector in the otherwise mundane area of food publishing. You can’t escape it – it’s all around us and it’s growing!
So Where Did It All Start?
Street food started off in Asia, with America catching on and now Europe’s following suit – particularly the UK.
Many of the most contemporary and successful restaurants have started out as street food establishments: MEATliquor, The Good Egg and Homeslice to name but a few.
Currently, there are pop-up stalls making and selling street food in warehouses, disused factories and even in people’s homes. The street food revolution has firmly taken grip of us.
Yep, there’s no denying it. Street food is here and it’s here to stay.
Why We Love It
Forget about being able to reserve a seat; forget about sitting on a normal chair; forget about eating indoors; and forget about talking to only the people you came with. Get ready for a totally new social dining experience: one with crates for seats and where you share a coat with someone you’ve just met to keep warm. And of course one where you get to taste some divine culinary delights.
What makes street food attractive to the discerning diner is the use of locally-sourced, authentic ingredients which are infinitely healthier than what you’d pick up at your average fast food joint. Perhaps a little more expensive, but you’re paying for what you get here.
Collective street food markets enable you to try a little bit of national and international cuisine within a small area. They’re buzzing places – wafts of smoke and strong aromas originating from the cooking, cheers and shouts from the customers upon tasting their delights and a general jolly atmosphere make for a truly theatrical experience.
The food, the price, the convenience and the atmosphere are the main reasons why street food is so popular. It’s the whole experience of choosing the type of food you want to try, engaging with the vendor, standing or sitting with other customers and having a social time – one you’re not likely to replicate in a restaurant – and of course, all for a fraction of a restaurant’s price.
Nor do you have to spend ages getting ready to go a street market; you can nip past on your way from work. Another huge plus point is that you can go alone if you fancy it – you’d be less likely to go alone to a restaurant, I’m sure.
Put simply, street food is not only revolutionising the way we eat; it’s enabling communities to come together and showcase regional cuisine that might not otherwise be experienced. Street food is not just food; it’s a way of life.
Where’s My Local Street Food Market?
At the moment in the UK, street food is seldom eaten on the actual street. It’s mostly eaten at markets or at special events. Below are a few of the most popular street food markets in the country:
London: https://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/londons-best-street-food-markets-and-food-halls
Manchester: http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/616/special-interest_markets/5773/street_food_market_at_piccadilly
Birmingham: http://www.custardfactory.co.uk/street-food-birmingham
Newcastle: https://www.newcastlegateshead.com/food-and-drink/restaurants/street-food
