The British Street Food Newsletter Autumn '13

Images from Bill Robinson

Vans, trucks and trailers had been hand-picked from across the entire continent by the British Street Food team. There were burgers from Paris, the home of world gastronomy. And tacos with a New Nordic twist from Stockholm. There were seasonal low country soups from Amsterdam and toast-as-art from Brussels. The Germans brought the Käs Spatzle. Which was an education. And the Italians brought the offal. They parked up opposite the very best traders selected from all over Britain. There was Kentish cobnut cake in a vintage caravan, and a little tricycle spinning Bakewell Tart candy floss. And sushi. From Dorset. The Ribman cooked up a new bourbon hot sauce specially for the event. And the big guns were there in support – Manjit's Kitchen, Big Apple Hot Dogs and Street Kitchen – as well as the winners of last year’s British Street Food Awards, Ginger’s Comfort Emporium. All developed brand new menus to try and keep the Awards in Britain. And the public got to taste – and vote on – everything. So who were the winners? Click to read more

Do we want street food in Britain to be safe and sanitised, controlled by the government? Or a little bit chaotic and anarchic?

Richard Johnson — the founder of British Street Food — decided to take a long hard look at the future for the Food Programme on BBC Radio 4 last month. Featuring contributions from Roy Choi, the man behind the Kogi barbecue truck, and Petra Barran, the founder of Kerb, Johnson suggests a 'Third Way' informed by his trip to the World Street Food Congress in Singapore. 

On the British Street Food website, there's an unedited version of Richard's Guardian column that talks about Singapore (which was voted the world's number one street food country at the Congress)  and its culture of street food 'hawkers'. But if you want to hear the thoughts of Angus Denoon, Tooting's own street food hawker, listen to the Food Programme on BBC Radio 4. You won't be disappointed.

Images from Bill Robinson

This is mini-Ginger, the Ape currently serving BSFA-winning ice cream at Manchester Airport. It's the first in a series of collaborations between SSP, the food and travel experts, and British Street Food. Expect more street food 'brands' in airports and railway stations in 2014. More here.

Stan is inspirational. And not just because of his snow cones. Admittedly they're crunchily cold and -- with his syrups -- utterly delicious. But the really inspirational thing about Stan? He's 13 years old. See him with Richard Johnson and two other BSFA finalists on C4's Sunday Brunch -- 50 minutes in here.

Using Technology To Track The Revolution

It's a nightmare, trying to stay on top of the British street food scene. Who's trading what, when and where? And why? Are they any good? In a bid to collate all the useful information, and get people to rate what's out there, we have put together the free British Street Food app. Come and download it here.