I think street food is brilliant. It’s the most incredible way of experiencing different cultures and broadening your horizons through your stomach. I love to support small independent business, but what’s not so great is all the packaging and cutlery waste that often goes with it.
For many street food traders, the goal is to one day open a bricks and mortar permanent restaurant space. That’s what Sinead Campbell & Lee Johnson were aiming for with their Filipino-inspired BBQ Dreamz when they appeared on BBC Two’s My Million Pound Menu. They were looking for investment to transform what makes their KERB-based truck so special into a home that is a little less mobile.
Last year me and my wife Kirstin embarked on an adventure of a lifetime. New Zealand had long been top of both of our lists of places to visit and we’d finally been able to plan the trip we’d always wanted: 3 weeks across the 2 islands, exploring one of the most breathtaking places on the planet. Here’s some of the incredible food and drink we had in our time there…
The street food scene in London is thriving. Brands like Kerb and Street Feast have brought together some of the capital’s most interesting and talented chefs to squares, festivals and even abandoned warehouses. Market Hall have now joined the party, giving traders a more permanent base inside disused properties with personality.
Meaty legends Bleecker Burger and Pitt Cue Co joined forces on London’s Southbank for one night only to raise money for charity in the tastiest possible way. For Pitt Cue Co this was a real return to their roots, starting out as a food truck in the same stretch of the capital.
For my birthday this year my wife Kirstin took me for a weekend away to seaside town of Margate in Kent. The present itself was to stay at the absolutely gorgeous Reading Rooms B&B, a restored Georgian town house a few minutes away from the seafront.
We were spoilt for choice when I visited with my wife in early May with so many amazing restaurants and bars just outside our hotel. The first place we visited on arriving in the city, was Tasquina do Be to tackle the local delicacy: the francesinha. Layers upon layers of various kinds of pork sandwiched between 2 pieces of white bread, covered in melted cheese, topped with a fried egg and drenched in a tomato soup-like sauce. Just what we needed after the early flight. They also make gluten free versions of this and other dishes here.
While staying in Perth we grew particularly fond of the laid back atmosphere of nearby Fremantle (Freo to the locals). Not only that but there seemed to be a real passion for independent food and drink.
Plot is new to Tooting’s booming scene. Sandwiched in the Broadway Market it spreads out into the usually bustling walkway to serve some of the finest small plates of seasonal British produce. At just 15 seats it’s about as intimate as they come, so make sure to book.
Time Out recently did a feature on Garratt Lane, a road close to where we live in south west London. As part of this, they listed all the trendy places you must go along this road, in order to stay cool.
The Jolly Gardeners is a local pub with a restaurant headed up by Masterchef 2010 winner Dhruv Baker. It’s a real hidden gem with a compact menu, allowing the chefs to focus on delivering some truly stunning plates of food.
We opted to go straight into mains and, having been salivating since reading about it in Time Out, had to go for the pork belly. The pork was beautiful, proper melt in your mouth. It had incredible flavour from fresh chimichurri over the crispy crackling skin. Sitting on a bed of buttery, silky spring greens, roasted beetroot and carrot and cardamon puree it was as much a treat for the eyes as the tastebuds.
My wife had the daily special, perfectly pink roast lamb with dauphinoise potatoes that were the ultimate decadent complement to the meat.
I’m kicking myself knowing this has been on our doorstep since we moved to the area years ago, but now we’ll most definitely be back for more!