Vive La Culinary Revolution at the Exeter Street Food Market
From the bustling streets of New York to the covered markets of London, there is a revolution in progress. Thankfully this is not the blood, sweat and tear gas sort of revolution, but a culinary one – a revolution in street food. This delicious uprising is being led by an ever-growing number of al-fresco gastronomes, each bringing their own brand of unique gourmet food to the masses quite literally at street level.
For us Brits the idea of street food may once have conjured up images of dubious burger vans serving suspicious looking “meat” deep fried to within an inch of its life. Luckily, in part thanks to the aforementioned worldwide trend for high-quality street food, this is no longer the case – as many independent food producers across the UK have realised that food vans and stalls are actually a great way to get their products to market with far less in the way of overheads.
Whilst in the past you may have needed to visit London to enjoy the very best street food, where street food markets such as Berwick Street and Brixton have spear-headed the UK's street food scene, thankfully for Exonians you need now only take a short journey to the Guildhall Shopping Centre where in its courtyard (Friday through to Sunday) you will find the Exeter Street Food Market.
The Exeter Street Food Market plays host to an eclectic mix of tastes and styles, utilising some of the very best locally sourced produce that Devon has to offer. From exotic tastes from far flung lands, to the good old fashioned British sausage, there is dish at the street food market to suit every taste.
Not only are you spoilt for choice when it comes to great quality food, but I am sure you will also appreciate how easy on the wallet the street food market is. For five pounds or less you can guarantee a hot, fresh and substantial meal that will be far tastier than many local chain restaurants were you could quite easily pay twice this for an equivalent dish.
One of my favourite street food market regulars are The Cauldron, a street food van run by husband and wife partnership Alistair and Hannah.
The Cauldron does street food the way it should be. They marry inventive flavour combinations and locally sourced produce to create dishes that work brilliantly as street food but are crafted with an obvious culinary talent. The Cauldron specialise in the art of ‘slow food’. From their wood-smoked baked potato used in their mashed potatoes – cooked in their own portable smoking ovens – to their slow-cooked lamb which can be found in their delicious ‘Woolly Pocket’, the ingredients that go into their dishes have been crafted with both love and time.
The’ Woolly Pocket’ is a great example of The Cauldron’s impeccable take on street food. Combining the slow-cooked lamb with their homemade zesty coleslaw, all packed into pitta bread with freshly made humus and salad. At only £4.50 you get local ingredients, a generous portion and great flavours – think your dodgy Friday night donor kebab brilliantly re-imagined by a 5-star chef.
There are a whole host of other great street food vendors for you to choose from. You can scratch your burrito itch with authentic Mexican food from Taco Macho, or indulge in the ultimate sausage sandwich from Topsham’s Good Game.
Your best bet is to make your way down to the Guildhall Shopping Centre on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday lunchtime and take some time to wander around, take in your surroundings and see what take your fancy. Suffice to say you will find something to satisfy your palate.
You can read more in-depth reviews of the vendors at the Exeter street food market every week on www.theexeterreview.co.uk – a website that aims to bring you the very best food, drink and things to do in the city of Exeter.
