
Tiddly Om Pom Pom
Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside – especially when it’s the historic Platinum Jubilee weekend! We couldn’t wait to return to the sun-drenched plaza of the South Coast’s biggest outlet shopping destination – our much beloved Gunwharf Quays – for the Southern heats of the 2022 British Street Food Awards. Finalists were asked to create a Jubilee-inspired dish for their menus. But would it be enough to win your vote?
The festival of flavour spanned the entire Bank Holiday weekend. But we still managed to lure Jonathan Marsden-Jones, formerly of ‘The Black Rat’, away from his barbecue for enough time to head up the judging panel. He was joined by Nicola from Nicola’s World of Food, and Novalina from Nova Made This, who announced the Judges’ Choice – as well as the People’s Choice. Both will go on to compete at the British finals in September, with a view to representing the UK at the grand finale of the European Street Food Awards in October.
Among the finalists of the Southern heat this year were the extraordinary Brazilian barbecue of Carne no Carvao, and the rainbow arepa pioneers, La Pepia! New vendors for 2022 included the fabulous Filipino fusion of Humble Kusina – who went on to become champions – and the vegan pizza from Stones Throw Kitchen as well as local entrants, Earth To Oven, hailing from East Hampshire.
Champion:
1. Humble Kusina
2. Potjie Man
3. Oh Babu
People’s Choice:
1. LJ Hugs
2. Baked Bird
3. Carne No Carvao
With traders popping up at various times across the weekend, it was a properly movable feast. From the healthy oven-baked chicken of Baked Bird to the finger licking’ Cajun chicken of LJ Hugs. Plus the exciting Spanish flavours of Tapas Culture, as well as the Korean flavours of ROK Kitchen, the Indian flavours of Oh Babu, the South African flavours of Potje Man. And, well, those Killa Waffles.
Yvonne Clay, Centre Director at Gunwharf Quays, was excited to have us back. “It feels wonderful to be able to come together to celebrate the region’s talent with such a unique and exciting event over the bank holiday weekend!” she says. And she was right. We ignored the weather forecasts and ploughed on regardless. Our faith was rewarded, with wonderful crowd that lasted four days. Thank you Portsmouth. We’ll be back. Next stop Edinburgh for the Scottish Street Food Awards…