The rise of the street food sensation

Author of Street Food Revolution, and judge on many a TV cookery show, Richard Johnson tells us all about his favourite subject: street food.

Far further than London

The street food revolution was never meant to be just another ‘London’ thing – a cool, skinny-trousered food fad, destined to disappear as quickly as nouvelle cuisine and edible flowers. It was meant to be properly British.

Thanks to the magnificent Northern StrEats, the word is now starting to spread North of Watford. Edinburgh and Cardiff are already well established, and The Manchester Food And Drink Festival is giving the winner of the British Street Food Awards a free pitch – and they don’t give owt away for nowt in Manchester.

When we were asked to bring some of British Street Food’s brightest lights to Quakers Friars, a cool piazza in Bristol’s city centre, the crowds went crazy for street food kedgeree. This thing that had started in London was spreading. And because it was private land, it meant that we could bypass all the petty governmental bureaucracy – and crank the generators up to 10. The BBC’s One Show was there to film it. Since the Awards were founded, back in 2009, we’ve taken them to Shropshire, and to Suffolk (check out previous years at www.facebook.com/britishstreetfood). 

Jamie Oliver gets involved

But like it or not, London is still the epicentre of the street food revolution. So when we were given the opportunity to bring the 2012 British Street Food Awards to Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, Fifteen, in the Hoxton quarter of the capital, we jumped at the chance. To create Fifteenstreet, on September 15 and 16, we’re working with Jonathan Downey, who is Mr Big Night Out. Like Jamie, JD is one of the blessed patron saints of street food, and hosts @tweat_up events at the drop of a hat. Remember Chilli Standoff? Ribstock? Working with him AND the team behind Jamie Oliver’s Feastival? In the East End? With cocktails, northern soul/reggae DJs, inflatable food, art happenings and ‘vibe’? Plus a beach hut (with seagulls) that serves fish and chips, and a horse box that bakes its own bread. We don’t want to spoil all the surprises. But they’re coming from all over Britain, and they’re the best of the best. Cor blimey, strike a light etc, www.fifteenstreet.co.uk will be gorgeous.

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