More street food, yes please.

It was just a conversation that was being held at work , we was being shown a slide show of a presentation about what is , or is not trending in food. And at the end of it I did find one thing rather depressing and that was, if you are not in London then you are probably not on trend. Or that is what you would have been made to think.

Personally I wish I could say that it is not true, that the rest of the country is leading the way in what is new and what is not. That regional identity’s are pushing down barriers for food and service that we were not just looking at London but elsewhere.  The sad thing is that I had wished that for a long time and well it is still to London I think you have to go to see what is really happening, or at least see what the trends are.

The conversation came about as the trend for bench eating came up. Now bench eating as I used to call it when I was a boy is street food. And having just been to London and walked the markets of Brick Lain and Camden Lock I must admit that I know of nothing like that around here. Which is a shame, but why not. It was the mix of diverse cultures interesting shops and mixed together with the intoxicating smell of spice in the air that made it almost irresistible to not try something.

For just a few pound you could have had, Indian, Thai, Brazilian, Italian, Pork of a spit roast, crêpes , vegan whole food , South African, Caribbean in fact the list could go on. It was fast it was friendly it was fun. And yes this is Briton so the weather was not brilliant but that did not matter. We all had a good time.

 Now if this is the way that things are going quick fast grab and eat, all different, something for everyone areas then I am all for it. So this is what I would like to see, every manger city and town create a craft, fashion and food market area. No big chains and low, low pepper corn rents. Create areas of interesting creative and divers business. It will be areas like this that would bring people in to town centres, to eat shop and just generally be. Then let’s have more pop up restaurants and well just more of things like this.

The good thing about it was both young and old seemed to be enjoying the food and the surroundings, and if every city in the country did one then you could have a true revitalised town centres, stop every one form going to the same old ubiquitous chain eating houses. Fill them full of fresh local ingredients and good local talented cooks and chefs. 

Check out the web sites below

Street feast London  and KERB food, you will get what I am talking about if you have a look at them.