And They’re Off!

Forgot the general election on July 4 – THIS is the vote that really counts. The South Eastern heats of the 2024 British Street Food Awards at the iconic Blue Collar Corner. And what an amazing lineup of candidates to choose from! We (finally) got some sunshine, so that the good people of Berkshire PLUS our head judge, the Michelin-starred chef Adam Smith AND 12 of the UK’s GREATEST street food traders – chosen from over 2,000 applicants – could come down and do their thing. Big shout out to:

LA REAL PAELLA – who set the world on fire with their oxtail paella
SKULL DUGGERY DESSERTS – the UK’s cake or fake superstar
SPICE UP – with a vegetable samosa that showed up the shop bought alternative as nothing more than a pale imposter
SAFFRON HILL – who taught the world how to dress a stall
PAPELON – who are introducing us all to cachepas
SOJOK – who are bringing Syrian food to a new public
MABOUYA – who champion food from Guadeloupe, putting quality barbecue front and centre of what they do.
GRIDDLE GUYS – taking Philly cheesesteak to the next level. That mushroom!
BURGERVORES – Burger dons
MR PIGSTUFF – two chefs with one mission – to showcase pork.
ALL FIRED UP – pizza with imagination. And those toppings!
POLLOCKS – taking fish and chips to the next level, with side salads, sauces and suave.

At the heats of the British Street Food Awards, there are always two winners – the Champion, decided by our judges, and the People’s Choice, decided by the general public, with a few Wild Cards given out to traders who deserve a spot. All will go through to the British Street Food Awards grand final at Hackney Bridge on September 13-15. Maybe winning the chance to represent the UK at the European Street Food Awards in Germany on October 4-6. The voting at the South Eastern heat was CLOSE, but the results were as follows:

Champion
1. = Burgervore and Papelon
2. Mabouya
3. Mr Pigstuff and Sojok

People’s Choice
1. Papelon
2. Burgervores
3. Mr Pigstuff
4. Spiced Up
5. La Real Paella

Now it’s on to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth for the Southern heats on June 8-9….