A Star In The East

Norwich has taken a little longer than most cities to ‘get’ street food. Until quite recently, it was still perceived as drunk food. When BBC Look East came to look round the action in today’s heats of the British Street Food Awards, the reporter (a charming man called Mike Liggins, who is a total local legend) was clearly impressed at what he saw. Trucks! Trailers! He asked one trader, rather excitedly, if he’d ever actually fallen out of his van whilst on the job. So it’s a shame to see that the council aren’t taking the opportunity to use that enthusiasm for urban regeneration (see the link below). The well deserved winners of the heat were Steak and Honour. The Steak and Honour wagon, an eye-catching red vintage Citroen H van, roams the streets of Cambridge with local chef Leo Riethoff at the helm preparing proper burgers made with local produce. The burger is street food at its best: local Riverside chuck, minced daily, brioche bun made by a local artisan baker, fresh garnish of gherkin, onion & lettuce, finished off with the classic American combination of French’s mustard and Heinz Tommy K. Leo learnt his craft from some of the best, including Hix Mayfair and Restaurant Alimentum. Follow the local lad’s progress as he prepares to go up against the very best in Europe at the British Street Food Awards in Leeds on September 26-28. Tickets on sale now!