EASY NEW YEAR'S FOOD RESOLUTIONS
Well that was 2019, and what a year it was. As we head into the new decade, here’s some New Year's food resolutions to make your 2020 a whole lot tastier...
Try somewhere new every month
It can be quite easy to settle into a groove of eating in the the same old places. The front of house knows your name. You're wise to the best thing on the menu. Plus, you know all the best times to bag yourself a table and not get turned away.
“But there are no new restaurants near me!” we hear you exclaim: well, we know a few vendors which get around a lot. Which leads us to…
But you might be doing yourself a disservice. Your town or city probably has a few hidden gems tucked away you’ve not been to before. So, mark off a date in your calendar every month to try a new eatery. It doesn’t even have to be a fancy meal: maybe it’s a bakery, a sandwich shop or somewhere quick for lunch.
Go to a Street Food Festival
It’s cold and dark outside but this summer’s program of Street Food Warehouse events is already heating up. With a bumper list of festivals and a bigger and better roster of top-notch vendors than ever, mark a date in your diary today.
Have people around for food more often
Put that new kitchenware or cookery book you had for Christmas to good use and have your pals or extended around for a slap-up supper. You could even get everyone to bring something they’ve made themselves if the thought of tackling the lot is just too much to bear. If you’re looking for an excuse, tie it in to a big telly event like a season finale or cup final.
Start growing your own vegetables
There’s something quite idyllic about the prospect of growing your own fruit and vegetables, but actually getting out there and doing it is another matter altogether.
A vegetable garden for beginners isn’t actually too difficult – some good soil, a sunny environment and a steady environment is, in theory, all you need.
But what are the easiest vegetables to grow? The experts reckon carrots, lettuce and cucumbers are easy vegetables to grow for beginners. If you’re hard-pressed for space, then a herb box on your windowsill might be a good place to start. Or, consider putting your name down for your local allotment.
Give something up
Giving a particular food a miss for a year doesn’t necessarily have to be motivated by health reasons. Ditching a go-to favourite can push you out of your comfort zone to try new recipes and ingredients. And if it’s something unhealthy, you might even have some pleasant knock-on effects too. It could be anything from going meat and dairy free – here’s some easy vegan substitutions to get you started – to giving up your go-to lunch for something different.
Tell us your New Year's food resolutions for 2020 on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.
Street Food Warehouse is available for hire: from corporate events to weddings and more. Hit us up to find out how we can add a bit of spice to your event.
VEGAN CHRISTMAS DINNER IDEAS
Christmas is fast approaching. With more people plumping for a vegetarian or plant-based diet, that means there’ll be quite a few less folks getting stuck in to a turkey, goose or glazed ham this December 25.
Fortunately, the days of a vegan Christmas nut roast being your only feasible option are long gone. So, here’s a few tasty ideas for a vegan Christmas dinner to get your tastebuds tingling…
Stuffed squash
For sheer centrepiece wow factor, it’s hard to go wrong with a big, stuffed seasonal gourd. Get creative with fillings: quinoa, cous-cous or rice are good places to start, and add some chickpeas and dried fruit, and nuts too. ‘Tis the season after all, so don’t forget a good pinch of cinnamon or other aromatic spices. Butternut squash are the most common variety in our supermarkets, but we reckon it’s worth seeking out a red kuri squash or current foodie fave the crown prince squash for a rich and nutty flavours.
(Image: Alexis Lamster via Flickr)
Roast cauliflower
The world at large has cottoned on to the fine, earthy flavours of roast cauliflower. It really comes into its own spiced and baked, and has the visual impact to proudly sit as the main event of a Christmas day spread. Like a turkey though, cooking it to a tee is a delicate art. If you want an easy life break up the florets to ensure a quicker, and more even baked cauliflower. Bejewel with some pomegranate seeds and coriander leaves and you’ve got yourself a festive showstopper.
(Image: Jules Stonesoup via Flickr)
Tofu
Seasoned vegans may be wise to the merits of the infamous Tofurkey. But, given it gets imported from the west coast of America, that’s a lot of food miles to consider. That doesn’t mean you can’t make tofu the star of your Christmas spread: British tofu producer Tofoo has a bevy of festive ideas for its made-in-the-UK tofu. It’s also a prime candidate for a sweet sticky glaze if you want to scratch that festive honey-mustard itch…
Mixed root veg
Root vegetables have always shone in the winter months. With a bit of imagination you can make them a show-stopping centrepiece of a vegan Christmas roast. Chop up some colourful carrots, beetroots, parsnips, add some spices – coriander seeds work particularly well here. Add some sticky honey and a squeeze of clementine juice for some extra festive oomph, then roast. With vegan pastry, you could even make root vegetables the filling of a vegan Christmas pie.
(Image: Joyosity via Flickr)
Vegan pigs in blankets
Following in the footsteps of Greggs’ famous vegan sausage rolls come a host of plant-based substitutions for the traditional porky treat. Most of the major supermarkets have now started stocking them, with Sainsburys and Morrison being among the noteworthy purveyors of this guilt-free sausage-and-bacon bites. They’re also not a bad shout for a vegan Christmas breakfast in a sandwich…
So, there’s a few vegan Christmas dinner ideas to get you started. For more ideas check out a vegan Christmas recipe book, such as this one.
Tell us your ideas for vegan Christmas dinners on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Stay tuned to the Street Food Warehouse blog for more vegan ideas and news on where our festivals will be popping up next.
CHRISTMAS FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Christmas Food From Around the World
Christmas dinner means turkey, stuffing and sprouts, right? Or for the daring, an excursion into ham, goose or nut roast territory. But there's a lot more to Christmas food elsewhere in the world.
So, hop on board Street Food Warehouse's magical festive sleigh and join us for a whistle-stop tour of delicious traditions from around the globe…
Europe
Close to home, there’s a few European Christmas traditions which might surprise you. On Christmas eve in Poland, the Wigilia – Christmas eve vigil – sees a river fish like a trout or carp take centre stage on a plate. Fried fish is also customary in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Scandinavian countries go big on Christmas, not least Sweden. Julmust (above) is a fizzy carbonated drink that gets quaffed a lot during the festive season. Think of it as being a bit like a spiced cola, or root beer.
Image: Cyclone Bill via Flickr
Asia & Australasia
Christmas in Japan wouldn’t be complete without a visit from… the Colonel? KFC on Christmas day has become a massive yearly occurrence in Japan since the 1970s, when the global fast food giant started advertising its food as something to get stuck into on December 25. Now, it's such a popular festive tradition you have to order well in advance or risk having to wait for hours in a queue.
In the Philippines, which has a big Catholic population, Bibingka takes the place of a hearty Christmas pud. It’s made from glutinous rice – a bit like rice pudding – and baked in a clay pot with lined with leaves.
The Indian region of Goa is home to a sizeable Christian community. A traditional Christmas dish from here is Sorpatel, a curry which has its roots in Portuguese cuisine. Pork vindaloo and Babinca, a layered cake made of plain flour, sugar, ghee, egg yolk, and coconut milk, is also a regular fixture.
In Australia, it's summertime - so a Christmas barbecue is common, particularly in some of the country's hotter areas.
Image: Wikipedia Commons
Middle East
The Christmas story hails from the Middle East, and there are Christian communities around the region which observe the holiday. For Christian families in places Jerusalem and Bethlehem, Christmas eve Eve dinner is heavy on barbecued meat, salads, dips and breads. In Iraq, Kleicha, a biscuit made with dates, is a frequent treat at Christmas and Easter time.
Image: Zeev Barkan via Flickr
Africa
Lots of traditions in South Africa have their origins in European Christmas. But in other African countries, you’ll find jollof rice and chicken stews in place of turkey and trimmings, while in eastern African countries goat and Mandazi – a fried doughnut-like bread - are popular.
Image: Wikipedia Commons
The Americas
America and Canada have lots of similar traditions to the UK so we’ll leave them for now. In Mexico, Christmas is a big deal – everything from Ensalada de Noche Buena - a colourful seasonal salad – to tamales (above), little packages of meat and cheese wrapped up in a pancake and steamed. The Mexican twist on turkey – a native bird - has also got us slavering: it’s basted in a rich, dark mole sauce.
Across South America, which have huge Catholic communities, the festive season is celebrated with much aplomb – not to mention meat, chocolate, and European items like Panettone.
Got a flavour for food from around the world? Then keep an eye on our events for the latest on Street Food Warehouse events near you, or hire us for weddings, corporate events and more.