Winners Take It All

Thousands of applicants turned into hundreds of competitors. And – at Hackney Bridge – the 2024 British Street Food Awards came down to The Final Twelve. The judging panel – made up of the UK’s finest Michelin-star chefs, food campaigners and street food legends – had the unenviable task of choosing the 2024 Champions. From their AMAZING menus. The winners – going on to represent the UK at the finals of the European Street Food Awards finals in Germany – are Pasta A Mano from Cardigan.

The pop-up pastaria from Cardigan have a cult following for offering authentic Italian street food in West Wales. A business born out of a work trip to Osteria Fratelli Pavesi in Piacenza, it’s run by boss Derw and his colleague Jack – a duo who know a lot about good food. PAM is all about provenance. A die hard Italian philosophy, applied to the rugged and bountiful area of North Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion where they live. Total handmade deliciousness with every mouthful.

The People’s Choice – chosen by everyone who attended the three-day event – were Back-A-Yard from Nottingham. Who were invited on to the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen. Their Jamaican fried dumplings with a twist – filled with jerk jackfruit, and served with pineapple, mango and cucumber salsa – were the talk of Hackney Bridge. With Papelon from London in second place thanks to their Venezuelan cachapas, and Flats from Worcestershire in third place thanks to their vegan doughnuts, competition was INTENSE. Pasta A Mano and Back-A-Yard will now lead the British team at the ESFA grand finals in Germany on October 4-6.

But the British Street Food Awards are about championing all aspects of the street food revolution. From Best Food Hall to the Sustainability Award and the Best Looking van, truck or trailer, sponsored by Adam, Liam and the team at Majisign. So here are the winners of all the other categories – in full:

Champion:
Pasta A Mano

Runners Up:
Burgervore and Papelon

People’s Choice:
Back-A-Yard

2. Papelon
3. Flats

Best Burger:
Burgervore AND Hills

Best Snack:
Chicken George

Best Main Dish:
Pasta A Mano

Best Sandwich:
Papelon

Best Vegetarian:
Baldy’s

Spice Award:
Planet G

Best Dessert:
Flats

Future Food Legend for a trader who promises to really CHANGE the industry:
Degchi

Extra Mile Award for a trader giving something extra in their pursuit of excellence:
Loluli’s

Entrepreneur of the Year for a genius concept and execution:
Mr Pigstuff

Best Looking sponsored by Majisign:
Bisty’s

Runners Up:
Hottodoggu, Yuzu, Killa Waffles, Bisty’s and Taigaburger

Best Food Hall:
Cambridge Street in Sheffield

Runners Up:
Kargo in Salford, Feast At The Mills in Wigan, Cutlery Works in Sheffield, Spark in York.

The Sustainability Award supported by the Sustainable Restaurant Association:
Loki Poki

Runners Up:
Saving Nemo, Cheeky Burger, Loluli’s and Planet G

Best Digital Creator:
Curly Gaz

Runners Up:
The Fat Foodie, Tales of Beth and Chef Who Travels

“We feel so fortunate to have found a platform to share our love for the place we call home” says Derw from Pasta A Mano. “The community of small scale producers and independent farmers is unique to the area and allows us to adopt the Italian cookery philosophy of using what’s on your doorstep. From pasture fed PGI Pembrokeshire Dexter beef to raw milk Caerphilly cheese from Ceredigion. Organically grown basil from the Preseli mountains to laver from a regenerative seaweed and shellfish farm in St David’s. It’s a tight knit community where we look after each other, so the chance to show it off to Europe is very exciting.”

It was an amazing list of finalists. With an extraordinary menu of dishes. And the best team of judges we’ve ever assembled. But no time to relax. With the finals of the European Street Food Awards on the horizon, and the USA Street Food Awards beckoning, it’s onwards and upwards. The drive for the Street Food Revolution never rests….