2019 WAS THE SUMMER OF STREET FOOD!
2019 WAS THE SUMMER OF STREET FOOD FOR STREET FOOD WAREHOUSE!
The summer months hurtled by in a food-fuelled blur. Between May and late August, the Street Food Warehouse calendar was booked to the brim with our summer tour, and having had time to take stock, let us now say this: WOW!
From Aberystwyth to Devon, Swansea to Somerset and Pembrokeshire to Dorset, the Street Food Tour took us to some of the most picturesque places in the country, and gave us the opportunity to appreciate golden hours and golden moments aplenty with insanely talented street food vendors and thousands of wonderful festival attendees across the UK. Hopefully, you were lucky enough to join us at one or more of our events in 2019, in what was our biggest year yet; nine weekends of street food madness, and as we look to the future, we're only just getting started...
Back in May, things kicked off with an explosion of colour and fun as we brought Swansea Street Food Festival back to the Museum Park. Sharing the weekend with Swansea Pride, the biggest bank holiday party in South Wales ensued. A selection of some of our favourite vendors brought their A-game, and the Pop Up Bar Hire sales were through the roof. The Westival boys rocked up with three days worth of party pumpers and served up tasty tunes across the weekend, and with Pride parading through the site on a heaving Saturday, it really was one for the history books.
Then, we took a drive to the South East coast as Sussex Street Food Festival descended upon Hastings. Amongst the awesome line up was a serious selection of Southeast Asian cuisine, and boy did they go down well. Another bank holiday success, and May ticked off.
If we're talking excitement levels for the Street Food Warehouse gang, June felt like December. Why? Because between 14-16, we were looking at Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival - it's like our Christmas!
The fourth Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival was, as predicted, a massive success. Located upon the picturesque setting on South Beach, Tenby, thousands of hungry foodies arrived to chow down on a bang-tidy selection of street food. Bao Selecta were selling buns quicker than they could make 'em, and we were absolutely thrilled to see family-run cheesecake champs Dutty's embark on only their second ever event! Did they sell out? Silly question, really.
Local party-starters in the form of the Westival resident DJs returned to the fold, turning the marquee into a makeshift dancefloor on Saturday night, whilst we also welcomed young children and doggos aplenty for what several punters claimed was one of the best family-friendly events in the area across the summer period. You'll have to judge that for yourself, and come along in 2020.
July went by quicker than you could say 'Mac and Cheese', as we hit the road up and down the country to deliver big street food vibes to Dorset, Aberystwyth and Somerset. Beginning at the beautiful coastal town of Lyme Regis, Dorset Street Food Festival entailed three idyllic days of sitting on that hill with the sun beaming down, and a long ol' line of street food to get stuck into. Tucking into Little Marrakesh's Moroccan chicken whilst staring at the purple sunset was a summer highlight for us.
From the South West of England to the West of Wales, our tour then debuted in Aberystwyth. The sun shone in our blessed homeland, as we brought a highly-lauded army of street food vendors. The mayor popped in for a bite amongst heaps of others, and it was a weekend of celebration all round as graduating students joined us at the Marina.
Another debut saw us back down south, as Somerset Street Food Festival arrived for the first time in Weston-super-Mare. At Italian Gardens, a mere amble away from the famous pier, with water fountains and cocktails flowing in equal measure, it was a pleasure to see so many punters from Weston and beyond heading home each evening with full bellies and smiling faces.
On our old stomping ground of Ilfracombe, it was our fifth (yes, fifth!) year of Devon Street Food Festival, and it was by far the most successful year we've had there so far. The weather was incredible, the place was bustling, and the setting was spectacular. Similarly, we got super lucky in Milford Haven with glistening sunshine for our second stint of the summer in Pembrokeshire. You'll have to check out this video to see just how awesome that weekend was.
Then, to wrap things up it was a biggy - the Welsh Street Food Awards in partnership with Hellmann's. Back where it all began at Museum Park, Swansea, Welsh vendors battled it out for the two places at the British Street Food Awards later this year. Pink Peppercorn took the judges prize for their phenomenal, Welsh-history-inspired dishes, whilst Malaysian maestros Makasih won the public vote for their array of Asian delights. A huge congratulations to both, as well as all vendors at the event. You could never get the Street Food Warehouse staff to pick just two - we love you all!
And just like that, summer was gone. 2019, the summer of street food. So... What now? Well, with vendor applications opening again soon for our 2020 events, there's no rest for the wicked. We'll soon be putting the forms on each individual event page and social media profile as they are released, so for the vendors - keep a keen eye out.
As for you street food punters, Street Food Warehouse are available to you! Street food continues to explode in popularity, and as such, our events calendar next year is expanding even further. But how about some street food at your event? Whether it's a birthday party, wedding or private function, hit us up at Street Food Warehouse if you want to get street food-y!
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TAKE YOUR TASTEBUDS ON A TRIP AT ABERYSTWYTH STREET FOOD FESTIVAL!
TAKE YOUR TASTEBUDS ON A TRIP AT ABERYSTWYTH STREET FOOD FESTIVAL!
In the height of summer, Street Food Warehouse is bringing the famed street food tour to gorgeous Aberystwyth for a packed-out weekend of incredible food from all over the globe (19th - 21st July). Hey, perhaps the odd beer or cocktail, too? Some of you lovely festival-goers will no doubt have your summer holidays booked in, but you wont need to go so far to take your tastebuds on a trip of a lifetime. An international selection of food from some of the UK's best street vendors means whilst you enjoy the Welsh coastline in the sun, your tastebuds will be headed for all corners of the earth. Below we list some of the faraway lands that Aberystwyth Street Food Festival could take you. 
JAPAN: SWSHI
Our first stop is a long-haul journey all the way to Japan, as we grab some chopsticks and chow down with Swshi. Alongside these Welsh wonders, we're looking forward to 'letting the good times roll' throughout our weekend in Aberystwyth. Whilst producing incredibly high quality sushi in the heart of our homeland, they're ensuring that their Japanese treats are still Welsh through and through. According to the Swshi gang, "the crab in our rolls is from Cardigan Bay, we get meat from our local butcher in Tregaron, and we use Jonah’s fishmarket in Aberystwyth for our fish. Even the soy sauce we use is made in Abertillery!" If you're a sucker for sushi, we'll see you in the queue. 
MOROCCO: STREET FOOD SOUTH WEST / LITTLE MARRAKESH
Next, we head all the way down to North Africa for a taste of Morocco at the Street Food South West stall. This lovely lot can knock up a feast of spice-infusions and charred meats, and don't they look good in front of the camera, too! Whether it's slow cooked lamb or saffron-infused chicken, they're complimented by gorgeous, fluffy flat breads and a rainbow of fresh vegetables, fruits & spices. Some seriously unique and inspired dishes here. 
MEXICO: THAT STREET FOOD VAN
The Cardiff-based street food van - yes, That Street Food Van - are rolling around the country dishing out Mexican delights of the highest order, and they're coming to Aberystwyth Marina to take your tastebuds on a trip to Mexico's heartlands. No doubt our mid-July shindig will blessed with beaming sunshine, and what better way to enjoy the heat than with some hearty Mexican and a cold beer? Loaded nachos, tacos and taquitos jammed with meat or jackfruit plus all the trimmings will make for some messy fingers and smiling faces in the summer heat. 
ITALY: TAFEL A TÂN
The Welsh-speaking pizza pioneers at Tafel a Tân are taking you day-trippers to Southern Italy with their delicious wood-fired pizzas. We didn't know this until recently, but pizza actually means 'pie' in Italian. There's a fact for you. Every day's a school day, eh? Reading about food and learning different languages, what a dream. Another fact: Tafel a Tân's pizzas will make your mouth water and your eyes pop. This, however, you could probably have worked out for yourselves. Go and grab your self a pitsa (that's pizza in Welsh) and say hello to this lovely bunch of dough-flinging wizards.
MALAYSIA - MAKASIH
Malaysian heaven awaits at the Makasih stand at Aberystwyth Street Food Festival. The family-run business prides itself on hearty, Malaysian-inspired dishes both meaty and veggie, with the most popular being their gorgeous Beef Rendang. Already this year they've been seen racking up hefty queues at events on the Street Food Warehouse summer tour, with some of their dishes being the talk of the town (and the festival). A trip to Southeast Asia that your tastebuds will not be forgetting in a hurry.
Want to secure your spot at Aberystwyth Street Food Festival? Sign up for a free ticket here.
A NEW TOUR DESTINATION: ABERYSTWYTH STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
A NEW TOUR DESTINATION: ABERYSTWYTH STREET FOOD FESTIVAL 2019!
Last year, Street Food Warehouse took our street food tour to six different locations across Wales and the South West of England. After a super successful summer of food, drinks and lots of sunshine, we're back this year with several new tour destinations. Our latest event announcement is none other than Aberystwyth Street Food Festival 2019, and we can not wait to bring our lovely street food vendors with us to the west coast of Wales.What can newcomers expect of the new festival? Beaming sunshine, an incredible selection of eclectic food that cites influence from all over the world, plenty of drinks and good times aplenty. Are you in? We'll see you at Aberystwyth Marina between 19th - 21st July, then... Joined by a whole host of creative and unique street food vendors, Street Food Warehouse will welcome curious foodies, festival lovers and and sun-soakers alike for this midsummer bash. From 12pm until 10pm over a three-day food extravaganza, there are menus brimming with the exciting, the exotic and the extraordinary.
There are some seriously wholesome vendors booked at Aberystwyth Street Food Festival, with regular SFW bookings and some newbies too, all serving delicious food with a smile and a story behind them. Joining our gang of innovative and unique food professionals will be our sister company Pop Up Bar Hire. They'll be on hand to provide the drinks, be it a pint of craft beer, a Cygnet gin and tonic, or a zesty mojito in the summer heat. Designated driver? Pop Up Bar have a delicious range of non-alcoholic drinks to be purchased too!
At Street Food Warehouse we ensure that everyone is catered for. Our selection of street food vendors travel from all over the UK with their tasty dishes and have the ability to cater for gluten and dairy intolerances, veggies and vegans. This family-friendly event has something for everyone… even dogs, who are always welcome to our events!
We feel like we’re forgetting to mention something? Hmmm… Perhaps that 2019 is the year that Street Food Warehouse will be sponsored by the UK’s number one hot pepper sauce brand, Encona! At Aberystwyth Street Food Festival, a number of our vendors will be incorporating Encona’s range of sauces into their favourite dishes ready for you to try!
A weekend of outstanding food, refreshing beverages and good vibes awaits – the only thing missing is you! Tickets are free, so no excuses. Register for your free tickets here and you’ll be in with a chance of winning x4 street food meals and cocktails, all sponsored by Encona!
Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for a number of foodie competitions that'll be running as we build up to the big weekend.
We’ll see you soon, Aber!