Coffee Training with Union Hand-Roasted

This is of course a blog dedicated to street food, but I love food and drink generally, so occasionally I will post something not strictly about street food.  Today’s post is one of those.

I don’t know about anyone else but when I think about great coffee my first thought isn’t an industrial estate in East London. But that’s where I found myself this past weekend when I was invited to take part in a Roastery tour and mini barista training session with Union Roasted Coffee.  But i’m also on a bit of a coffee kick at the moment (I was a late convert having only really started drinking it in the last year) so I figured a trip out East would be worth it

Street Food on the Southbank this weekend

So the weather is looking like it might actually be nice this weekend which is great timing for the Harvest Festival down on the South Bank.  Organised by the people behind the Real Food Festival (and this summers Street Food Festival) the Thames between the London Eye and the National Theatre will be lined with loads of food stalls and retailers.

Thames Festival Feast

This year the Thames Festival went all out on the food; from the London Eye all the way down to Tower Bridge, the river was lined with so many food stalls, carts and trucks, the choice was incredible.  The best of the food was (for the most part) nestled in front of the Tate Modern where the Eat.St collective was representing the best of London’s street food.  And it was here that I started my day of street food indulgence.  I was so tempted to just head straight to a few of the tried and tested vendors (Big Apple Hot Dogs was calling to me), but I decided to stick with places that I hadn’t tried before.

Street Food Alert

This weekend there’s a great opportunity to try out some of London’s best street food without having to travel all over the place.  As part of the Mayor of London’s end of summer Thames Festival there will be more than fifteen members of Eat Street (a group of London Street Food traders) represented, including some of my favourites like Big Apple Hot Dogs and Bhangra Burgers.

The traders will be spread over three locations on the South bank of the river – outside the Tate Modern, by the London Assembly building (More London) and at the Southbank.  You can get the full list of traders and the locations over on the Eat St website.

Even though the weather is looking a little dodgy over both days of the festival (Sunday especially) I will be braving the rain to try out a few new places including Anna Mae’s pulled pork and Yum Bun’s steamed pork buns.

Thames Festival

11am-11pm on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September

 

Big Apple Hot Dogs

I can’t think of a better way to kick off this new blog than with the best hot dog i’ve ever eaten.  Located at the top of Old Street, Big Apple Hot Dogs are serving up delicious uncomplicated food.  Nothing fancy here, just perfect street food.  We’re not talking the bland, pretty pathetic excuses that Supermarkets sell as hot dogs, but proper meaty hot dogs that taste fantastic.