THE STREET FOOD VAN RISING FROM THE FLAMES...
THE STREET FOOD VAN RISING FROM THE FLAMES...
What happens when your beloved street food van burns down? You pick yourself up, dust yourself down and start again…
Things were looking up for Ellie Penny, the owner of touring street food van Last Night a Vegan Saved My Life. The festival-loving former model and dancer launched the business in 2018 after illness made her change her diet. “I found that vegan offers at festivals tended to be pretty much limited to falafel,” she says. “I spotted an opportunity – what I want at a festival is something a bit dirty and naughty, but which will also line your stomach.”After applying for a start-up grant and importing an Airstream van from China, she launched the business at a Bloc Party gig at Alexandra Palace in October 2018. A busy November full of corporate events followed. The van had a busy summer booked for this year, but in March her long-term illness forced her to go back into hospital. When she was finally discharged, she got a call which would change everything.“I got a call from the yard where the van was locked up,” recalls Ellie. “They said ‘it’s been burnt’. I said ‘What, like damaged?’. ‘No,’ they said. It’s been completely burnt.”
In total, the fire which tore through the Upminster storage site where the van was locked up took out 10 caravans, three cars, four trailers, a shipping container, a boat… and one Airstream. It took eight fire engines and 60 firefighters to tame the blaze. “I was devastated,” says Ellie. “When I was in hospital the only thing that was keeping me going was the van. I didn’t think I had it in me to start again.”To compound matters, her insurance payout didn’t amount to much. “I had insurance for the structure, but it wasn’t enough – I’d underinsured. it didn’t cover the loss of earnings from the festivals we would have been at either,” she says.So, the Monday following the van’s untimely destruction, Ellielaunched a GoFundMeto start again. After setting a target of £15,000, in the first 24 hours they raised £16,000 and ended up reaching £23,000 in total. “I think people were like ‘how can this one person have such bad luck’”, says Ellie.
With a new Airstream-style van due for delivery, Last Night a Vegan Saved My Life is nearly ready to hit the road again this summer, serving up its array of fried chicken seitan and curries to families, festival goers and ravers at events including CarFest and Elrow Town. The break from the fire has given her time to rethink her strategy too. “Originally I was doing pre-preparation in my own kitchen,” says Ellie. “I’ve got two chest freezers in my living room! But now I’m renting an industrial kitchen one day a week.”After an incredibly testing few months, Ellie’s more determined than ever to make a success of the van. “I will do this again,” she says. You get the impression that when Last Night a Vegan Saved My Life returns, it’ll be better than ever…
Keep up to date with the progress of Ellie and Last Night A Vegan Saved My Life here. Also be sure to follow Street Food Warehouse on Facebook and Twitter for information on our Summer Street Food Tour.
FOOD HACKS WITH MARCUS COOKS AT SWANSEA STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
Food Hacks with Marcus Cooks at Swansea Street Food Festival 2019!
The Street Food Warehouse team partnered up with Instagram foodie guru Marcus Cooks over the early May bank holiday at Swansea Street Food Festival 2019 to create some insanely tasty dishes by combining the work of two different street food vendors! We took advantage of the immense range of cuisines at Swansea Street Food Festival to create ultimate street food deliciousness, taking the best bits and bobs from different vendors and combining them to create a whole new dish... From a vegan affogato to a Malaysian chicken taco!
Makasih x The Bearded Taco
For this dish, we took deep fried Malaysian chicken from Makasih and popped it in a taco from The Bearded Taco, all brought together with kimchi and sesame aioli, topped with a drizzle of syrup, sesame seeds and chillies. Possibly one of the most photogenic dishes from the weekend. Who knew Malaysian and Mexican would make such a good combo?
Grubshed x Gourmet Street Kitchen
Mac ‘n’ Cheese loaded fries… yep you heard me! The perfect combination to create a guilty pleasure dish for all you carb lovers. We took seasoned fries from the Grubshed and topped them with deliciously gooey Mac ‘n’ Cheese from Gourmet Street Kitchen, who finished it all off with crispy onions and bacon – Yum!
Monte Forte x Spicer’s Meat Wagon
Spicer’s Meat Wagon (the home of the deadly but delicious Wings of Fire Challenge) handed over some of their slow cooked BBQ beef brisket to pop on top of a classic Monte Forte pizza with all the cheesy and spicy trimmings, to create the most more-ish meaty pizza ever! Makes it even better when it’s cooked fresh in front you within minutes.
Ice Green x The Bean Coffee
Last but certainly not least – dessert time! We took a scoop of Ice Green’s delicious Coffee Crunch Ice Cream and poured over a fresh espresso, provided by The Bean Coffee to create an amazing vegan Affogato. The perfect combination of hot and cold, a traditional Italian dessert made street food style!
Did you create any of your own Street Food Hacks at Swansea Street Food Festival 2019? Let us know and send us some pictures!
IT'S STREET FOOD TIME IN SOMERSET THIS JULY!
IT'S STREET FOOD TIME IN SOMERSET THIS JULY: SOMERSET STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
Weston-super-Mare, it's time to get your street food on, as Street Food Warehouse bring the acclaimed street food tour to Somerset this summer between 26th - 28h July!After a highly successful 2018 filled with food, drinks and lots of sunshine in six destinations, we're back this year with an even bigger street food tour. Our latest event announcement is none other than Somerset Street Food Festival 2019, and we can not wait to bring our lovely street food vendors with us to the South West of England. Whether you're a Weston-super-Mare local or are travelling from far and wide, you might be wondering what can be expected from Somerset Street Food Festival. So, picture the scene in the Italian Gardens: sunshine beaming down on a host of some of the country's best street food vendors serving incredible food from all over the globe, plenty of drinks and good times aplenty. Are you in? We'll see you between 26th - 28th July, then... Joined by a whole host of creative and unique street food vendors, from 12pm until 10pm over a three-day food extravaganza Street Food Warehouse will welcome curious foodies, festival lovers and and sun-soakers alike for this midsummer bash to enjoy menus brimming with the exciting, the exotic and the extraordinary.
There's plenty to shout about when it comes to the street food vendors trading at the first ever Somerset Street Food Festival. We've got some Street Food Warehouse favourites involved, including The Dog House with their insane loaded hot dogs, and Gourmet Street Kitchen serving their out-of-this-world mac and cheese. Alongside some of our regulars, as well as a host of exciting newbies too, we'll be joined our sister company Pop Up Bar Hire who will be on hand to provide the drinks; be it a pint of craft beer, a Cygnet gin and tonic, or a zesty mojito in the summer heat. Designated driver? Pop Up Bar Hire have a delicious range of non-alcoholic drinks to be purchased too!At Street Food Warehouse, we like to ensure that everyone is catered for. Our selection of street food vendors travel from all over the UK with their tasty dishes and have the ability to cater for gluten and dairy intolerances, veggies and vegans. This family-friendly event has something for everyone… even dogs, who are always welcome to our events!
We feel like we’re forgetting to mention something? Hmmm… Perhaps that 2019 is the year that Street Food Warehouse will be sponsored by the UK’s number one hot pepper sauce brand, Encona! At Somerset Street Food Festival, a number of our vendors will be incorporating Encona’s range of sauces into their favourite dishes ready for you to try!A weekend of outstanding food, refreshing beverages and good vibes awaits – the only thing missing is you! Tickets are free, so no excuses. Register for your free tickets here and you’ll be in with a chance of winning x4 street food meals and cocktails, all sponsored by Encona! Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for a number of foodie competitions that'll be running as we build up to the big weekend.
We’ll see you soon, Somerset!
FAQs - SUSSEX STREET FOOD FESTIVAL
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - SUSSEX STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
Below are a bunch of FAQs for you to refer to prior to (and during) Sussex Street Food Festival 2019 - we hope these help!
Where is Sussex Street Food Festival?The Stade, Hastings. When is Sussex Street Food Festival?Saturday 25th May - Monday 27th May.Do I need to show/print the tickets I have pre-booked for the event?No, these are to provide us with an idea of attendee numbers for the event - though they will still guarantee your entry during peak times, so it helps to have it handy on your phone. Are dogs allowed at Sussex Street Food Festival?Yes! The more doggos, the merrier.What are the opening hours?12:00-22:00 daily, unless all traders sell out.Will there be cover if it rains?Yes! We have a huge marquee to keep you dry.Are there vegetarian and vegan food options available? Yes, Sussex Street Food Festival has carefully selected its vendors to cater for vegetarians, vegans and those that are gluten intolerant.
Head over to our Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with all things Sussex Street Food Festival throughout the weekend, including foodie competitions and prizes!
PEMBS PUNS: TV FOODIE FUNNIES FOR PEMBROKESHIRE STREET FOOD FESTIVAL!
PEMBS PUNS: TV FOODIE FUNNIES FOR PEMBROKESHIRE STREET FOOD FESTIVAL!
In under one month's time, a whole host of your favourite street food vendors - and favourite street food event organisers, for that matter - will be descending on South Beach, Tenby for the third year of Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival. It's about time we start getting you all in the mood for a weekend of foodie fun in the sun, then! As the weather steadily improves, you no longer have to spend your evenings cooped up inside, hiding from the miserable weather and binging on tv programmes. However, that's not to say we should disregard the medium of television here. We love a bit of Game of Thrones here in the office - despite that ending. Line of Duty? Feed it to us like a bowl of mac and cheese. Tv. Good. You get the picture. You know what else we like? Puns! You can probably see where this is going...Below, Street Food Warehouse whip up some pun-believable foodie crossovers for you, whilst previewing some of the fantastic street food vendors trading at Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival. Tuck in.
GREEK-Y BLINDERS
Can't imagine Tommy Shelby and the gang would turn down a bit of the Meating Point's incredible Chicken Gyros, can you? We're not sure whether Souvlaki had made its way over to the Birmingham streets in the 1920s, but no doubt the dapper-capped boys in grey would have been tucking right in, between gunning down Italian gangsters and being general wrong'uns. You wouldn't be pushing in front of them in the queue, that's for sure...
BREAKING BAO
Arguably the greatest TV show of the twenty-first century, Breaking Bad is, in its basest form, all about knocking something up in the kitchen ('something' being a pretty loose term here). Instead of the badness of Walter White's Shakespearean rise and fall though, we're all about Bao at Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival. Bao Selecta, to be precise. Squishy, delicious buns full of all sorts of meaty goodness - much better than Los Pollos Hermanos, right? Just don't tell Gus Fring.
SWINE OF DUTY
We've found out who H is, and Britain's favourite detective show is all set up for another series. But it's time to get stuck into our own bit of investigating: where can you find the best pork dishes at Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival? The Dog House are serving loaded hot dogs with some super succulent pork goodness topped with all sorts of insanity. Really quite incredible stuff. There's also the seriously tasty SoCo Pulled Pork Bun from Spicer's Meat Wagon. Either, or both? Whatever the case, you'd better be following our foodie advice... TO THE LETTER.
GAME OF CONES
The talk of the town over the last few months, whatever you think of the final season Game of Thrones, they know how to get people chatting. The same goes for the lovely Ice Green, which is often the talk of our street food festivals. Want to know why? Incredibly tasty ice-creams, and all of it dairy-free! The vegan treats on offer are instead made with a combination of fresh fruit, nuts, cocoa, oats and rice. Some serious foodie magic. It's that time of year when the ice-cream cravings set in, too. After all... summer is coming.
THE HALLOUMAID'S TALE
The dark dystopian Channel 4 series is back on our screens in June for series three. What else is returning in June? Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival, d'uh! Unlike the characters in the TV programme, you'll be free to roam as you please, and what we'd suggest you do with this freedom is: stuff yourself with the halloumi fries Clark's Kitchen are serving. They're regular sell-outs too, so be sure to get 'em whilst they're still on Offred. Ouch... Too much?
Make sure you drop us a comment on our Facebook page with your own foodie/tv pun to put yourself in with a chance of winning x4 street food meals, x4 cocktails and a bunch of Encona Sauces at Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival 2019!
AROUND THE WORLD AT DORSET STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
AROUND THE WORLD AT DORSET STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
As the Street Food Warehouse team look towards another weekend of seaside shenanigans in Lyme Regis this summer (12th - 14th July), it's got us thinking about the international foods that are going to be on show for attendees at Dorset Street Food Festival 2019. We're bringing an incredibly diverse selection of vendors down to the South West again this summer, with delicious cuisines spanning the whole globe convening in Lyme Regis to create a food-lovers heaven for an entire weekend. To give you a taste of the international selection that'll be on offer, we're taking a few pitstops at the vendors' counters to see where in the world they'll take you. 
Italy: Monte Forte
Now established as a firm (and favourite) resident of the Street Food Warehouse tour, Monte Forte do a seriously delicious pizza. We know that some people believe that all pizza is good, and there are simply just different levels of goodness, but Monte Forte is top tier, trust us. Innovative, authentic and beyond tasty, there's a reason why the Monte Forte folks are regular features at our festivals. What better way to taste Italy? Fantastico. 
Thailand: Little Somboon Kitchen
Fusing South East Asian ingredients to provide street food with a kick, Little Somboon Kitchen are on hand to take you all the way to Thailand. Lon, one of the Little Somboon chefs, grew up near Khon Kaen in the Thai heartlands, and so will be bringing the authentic experience and knowledge of Thai cooking all the way to us lucky folks in Dorset. From Teriyaki to Hoisin, there's an eclectic menu and super friendly faces from these guys. 
Spain: Idelica & Dios Mio Churros
Bringing a touch of Spanish class to Dorset Street Food Festival is Idelica. Will a paella menu to die for, they're seasoned pros on the street food circuit, having been on the road as a catering service since 2012. Having started out as online retailers, importers and distributors for Spanish fine foods and all things paella, Idelica are now on hand with their giant pans and a mouth-watering menu to match. We're all in safe hands, here.
If that's not enough to quench your insatiable Spanish hunger, we've also got Dios Mio Churros on the bill for your desert course. Serving their classic Spanish doughy treats alongside a bunch of saucy sides - Champagne, Dulce de Leche and Habanero Hot Sauce - churros are a favourite amongst street food lovers, and this lot are one of the reasons why. 
China: West Country Dim Sum
West Country Dim Sum are relatively new on the street food circuit, having burst onto the scene last year with their Dim Sum delights. They've gone from strength to strength since then though, creating and serving innovative yet traditional Chinese dumplings and bao sarnies like it's nobodies business. Championing local ingredients in their dishes, their menu is a star-studded list of meaty, fishy and veggie deliciousness that'll no doubt be turning heads all weekend at Dorset Street Food Festival. There are some fascinating combos, too: 'pork, prawn and seaweed', 'venison, parsnip and apple' and 'smoke & spice crab n fish', to name a few. The main man behind the counter, Frazer Povall, says his influences range from an Australian Chinatown to his travels in Hong Kong. We're buzzing to have him on board, bringing us some very Dorset Dim Sum for our sunny Lyme Regis weekender. 
South West England: Furzeleigh Down Dairy
Aaaaaaaand, you're back in the lovely UK, you weary international jet-setter! What better way to round off your foodie travels than a scoop of ice-cream made only miles away from the festival site? Furzeleigh Down Dairy are bringing the local goods from Axminster to Lyme Regis, so you can enjoy an ice-cream by the beach. Nothing better, we reckon. The Furzeleigh Dairy peeps have been farming on the same site for four generations now, raising happy cows and serving happy customers. Sometimes, there's no place like home.
Want to know more about Dorset Street Food Festival? Click here, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
INSIDER COFFEE TIPS FROM CARDIFF'S PROFESSIONALS
Insider coffee tips from Cardiff's professionals
What beats a good old slug of coffee to perk you up in the morning or as a pre-night out pick me up? Not much in our book.But, readers, many of us often get it wrong when we’re brewing up at home. From scalding our coffee in boiling hot water to skimping on decent beans, the road to a perfect cup is a fraught one, riddled with potential pitfalls.So, check out these insider tips from some of Cardiff’s best baristas and roasters, on how to kick your home brewing skills up a few degrees.
Cole Quigley, Coffi Co
Has south Wales mini chain Coffi Co got the most picturesque spots for a hot beverage in the south east Wales era? They’re certainly in with a shout – their two locations in Cardiff Bay (one out on a jetty in Mermaid Quay and another next to the Barrage in a converted shipping container) have stupendous waterside views and the coffee’s great too.“Here’s a good method for a cold brew coffee: get a filter, pop in a scoop of coffee, tape the filter round a cup or bottle, fill it with water so the coffee sits below the surface overnight.”
Sam Thomas, Hard Lines
Hard Lines Coffee – formerly known as Outpost – have come a long way since opening as a pop-up AeroPress bar in 2014. They now roast their own beans, picking up plaudits far and wide for their limited edition coffees. After a spell in the Castle Emporium, they now trade primarily from Cardiff Market, but a Kickstarter campaign last year saw them raise the funds for a new home. Keep an eye on their consistently entertaining (and often surreal) Twitter and Instagram accounts for more information on their new cafe.“For the best brew, grind beans fresh at home. Coffee that is pre-ground has released all its aroma and flavours.”
Dan Lukins, Lufkin Coffee
Husband and wife duo Dan and Frances Lukins opened Lufkin Coffee in King’s Road Yard in Pontcanna. They roast single origin, speciality grade beans from their home, but recently secured funding to open a new site nearby as well as a roastery and shared working space in bustling Grangetown.“Our tip for making better coffee at home would be to bloom your coffee. Whether using the pour-over, AeroPress or cafetière brewing method, allowing the coffee to bloom after an initial pour of 60-100ml of water, will ensure that you get the most out of your coffee. When you bloom your coffee you’re allowing for a quick release of gas from the saturated grounds. Bloom and rest for around 45 seconds before your next pour. Allowing the gas to escape will help you achieve a more even extraction and will result in a more flavourful and balanced end cup.”
Megan Sheperdson, Little Man Coffee
Little Man Coffee, a stone’s throw from the Admiral Tower and St Davids shopping centre, is a haven of independent coffee and has a stupendously appointed basement space. It’s also got an outpost in Riverside – its upper deck is a popular spot for tech workers, but it’s also a top spot to just watch the trains rolling in and out of Cardiff Central station.“It's very important to make sure you are using the correct grind size for the type of coffee you are brewing. In general, you need a very course grind for French press, very fine for AeroPress and then somewhere in-between for V60s. Your home grinder will usually have instructions to help you determine the correct setting to achieve this or ask your local independent to grind the coffee for you at the point of purchase.”
What's your #1 coffee tip? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter.
A NEW TOUR DESTINATION: ABERYSTWYTH STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
A NEW TOUR DESTINATION: ABERYSTWYTH STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
Last year, Street Food Warehouse took our street food tour to six different locations across Wales and the South West of England. After a super successful summer of food, drinks and lots of sunshine, we're back this year with several new tour destinations. Our latest event announcement is none other than Aberystwyth Street Food Festival 2019, and we can not wait to bring our lovely street food vendors with us to the west coast of Wales.What can newcomers expect of the new festival? Beaming sunshine, an incredible selection of eclectic food that cites influence from all over the world, plenty of drinks and good times aplenty. Are you in? We'll see you at Aberystwyth Marina between 19th - 21st July, then... Joined by a whole host of creative and unique street food vendors, Street Food Warehouse will welcome curious foodies, festival lovers and and sun-soakers alike for this midsummer bash. From 12pm until 10pm over a three-day food extravaganza, there are menus brimming with the exciting, the exotic and the extraordinary.
There are some seriously wholesome vendors booked at Aberystwyth Street Food Festival, with regular SFW bookings and some newbies too, all serving delicious food with a smile and a story behind them. Joining our gang of innovative and unique food professionals will be our sister company Pop Up Bar Hire. They'll be on hand to provide the drinks, be it a pint of craft beer, a Cygnet gin and tonic, or a zesty mojito in the summer heat. Designated driver? Pop Up Bar have a delicious range of non-alcoholic drinks to be purchased too!
At Street Food Warehouse we ensure that everyone is catered for. Our selection of street food vendors travel from all over the UK with their tasty dishes and have the ability to cater for gluten and dairy intolerances, veggies and vegans. This family-friendly event has something for everyone… even dogs, who are always welcome to our events!
We feel like we’re forgetting to mention something? Hmmm… Perhaps that 2019 is the year that Street Food Warehouse will be sponsored by the UK’s number one hot pepper sauce brand, Encona! At Aberystwyth Street Food Festival, a number of our vendors will be incorporating Encona’s range of sauces into their favourite dishes ready for you to try!
A weekend of outstanding food, refreshing beverages and good vibes awaits – the only thing missing is you! Tickets are free, so no excuses. Register for your free tickets here and you’ll be in with a chance of winning x4 street food meals and cocktails, all sponsored by Encona!
Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for a number of foodie competitions that'll be running as we build up to the big weekend.
We’ll see you soon, Aber!
FAQs - SWANSEA STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - SWANSEA STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
Below are a bunch of FAQs for you to refer to prior to (and during) Swansea Street Food Festival 2019 - we hope these help!
Where is Swansea Street Food Festival?Swansea Museum Park, where Winter Wonderland was.Do I need to show/print the tickets I have pre-booked for the event?No, these are to provide us with an idea of attendee numbers for the event - though they will still guarantee your entry during peak times, so it helps to have it handy on your phone. Are dogs allowed at Swansea Street Food Festival?Yes! The more doggos, the merrier.What are the opening hours?12:00-22:00 daily, unless we all sell out.Will there be cover if it rains?Yes! We have a huge marquee to keep you dry.Will there be music at the event?Yes, Westival are providing the event with their resident DJs across the whole weekend. Are there vegetarian and vegan food options available? Yes, Swansea Street Food Festival has carefully selected its vendors to cater for vegetarians, vegans and those that are gluten intolerant.