You Judging Me?
Nearly time for the final of the 2024 British Street Food Awards at Hackney Bridge. Time for you – and our judges – to find a winner. It takes a particular type of person to judge the Awards, and choose a Champion fit to represent the UK at the 2024 European Street Food Awards. For a start, it helps to be hungry. With 24 signature dishes to taste at the finals, our judges require a certain dedication.
But the job also requires a critical distance – an ability to judge a juicy, two-fisted burger as even-handedly as a pav. Or a plate of creole chicken. With our 2024 line-up of Michelin giants – and street food legends – we think we’ve got the dream team. Register for your free ticket here.
Let’s start with Ed Cooke, executive chef of the Fat Duck – the most important restaurant in Britain. It’s won three Michelin stars, restaurant of the year, Best Restaurant in the World and Best Restaurant in the UK. Ed also just happens to really GET the excitement of street food.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in street food vendors, popping up all over the country” says Ed. “With the rising costs restaurants face, it’s becoming a popular route for chefs to showcase their talent. Street food is fun, fast and super tasty. I’m really looking forward to seeing what is being served up this year.”
He’ll get on well with The Ribman – street food OG, ace face and BSFA finalist who still turns out every Sunday morning to sell his rib meat and hot sauces in east London’s Brick Lane. “Next year will be my 20th year in streetfood” he says, “and it has been amazing to watch it grow into something so special.”
Mursal Saiq knows what he means. The award-winning Pitmaster is another street food OG and BSFA finalist. The co-founder and chef owner of Cue Point, the British Afghan barbecue specialist, was born in Kabul, raised in Mumbai and settled in Hackney. She can probably walk home from Hackney Bridge.
Mary-Ellen McTague is a chef from Manchester who has worked for many years on sustainable kitchen practices and zero-waste cooking. She’s gluten-free, and judging with Gemma Saunders, an event professional, curator and creative in the North of England.
In a bid to avoid huge food waste in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary-Ellen and Gemma founded the non-profit Eat Well MCR, a hospitality collective that delivers nourishing meals made by chefs to people facing hardship in Manchester. To date, it has provided almost 100,000 meals.
They’ll be judging with Hackney’s own Michelin star, Andy Beynon. Andy – formerly Jason Atherton’s development chef – won his star for Behind, where a “behind-the-scenes experience” gives guests a ringside view of the action. A bit like street food.
It’s Andy’s third year in the Big Chair. “I can’t wait to judge the best in the business again at this weekend’s British Street Food Awards. The vibes are always immaculate and this year’s finalists are some of the best yet”. Come and see for yourself.