Cabbages and condoms, as restaurants go, this one not only has an unusual name, it had an unusual beginning. Originally a small vegetable stall in Bangkok on some office premises of the PDA, a community development association concerned with family planning.
The outfit used to sell vegetables, lace panties, t-shirts, condoms and oral contraceptives! Somehow I doubt we will ever see a similar portfolio in Burger King or McDonalds.
The chairman of the PDA Mechai Viravaidya called the shop cabbages and condoms. The catchy sobriquet it seemed tended to amuse passers by, and drew people into the shop. In the seventies, a small restaurant was added serving Thai dishes.
The cuisine gained a following due to its quality, and eventually it developed into a full restaurant.
The chain now has restaurants in Japan and England. More precisely Bicester in Oxfordshire, though I don’t think the decor etc is quite the same, being more of a vanilla style Thai eatery.
We offer a range of noodles and such like, though sadly without the condoms, for that you need to stick with cabbages and condoms.
We are always looking for new lines to add to our comprehensive line up of catering options. A German sausage cart is one that has been suggested regularly. We have always done hot dogs, or Frankfurters, as they are commonly known, so technically we already do German sausage. But we have never added a full line up with Bratwurst etc.
So, that is going to change. We were recently contracted by a major corporate client to provide lunch for five days at the opening of a new warehouse. The stipulation was something different everyday. We finished on the last day with Bratwurst and fries. This went down a storm, so we decided to add a full German sausage experience to our menu.
The initial offering is gonna look something like this;
Bratwurst
The famous German sausage, whose name translates as pretty much ‘Fried Sausage.’ This is probably the most popular of the offerings, and what many consider as the typical fare.
Frankfurter
Although fans of the frank might argue the point. Equally well known, and also hailing from Germany, this one tends more often in this country to go by its alternative name of hot dog.
Currywurst
Basically the aforementioned bratwurst, chopped into bite sized portions, then slathered in curried ketchup.
Kasekrainer
Basically a sausage with chunks of cheese inside, a fabulous combination, well it is if you happen to like cheese and sausages.
These will all come with a selection of typical condiments such as mustard, German ketchup etc, oh and the traditional sauerkraut, which happens to be finely chopped cabbage fermented by various lactic acid bacteria which gives it a distinctive sour taste.
If you want to book a German sausage cart for your event, check our service out!
In recent years, the culinary world has witnessed a delightful revolution, one that has transformed the way we think about dining out. It’s the rise of the humble food truck, an innovative and exciting concept that has taken the food industry by storm. These mobile eateries have become a quintessential part of urban culture, offering a diverse range of culinary experiences that cater to every palate.
The Appeal of Food Trucks
So, what is it about these four-wheeled kitchens that has captured the hearts and taste buds of food enthusiasts worldwide? The answer lies in the perfect blend of convenience, affordability, and gourmet delights. Food trucks effortlessly fuse the need for a quick, on-the-go meal with the desire for a unique dining experience. Whether it’s a freshly grilled gourmet burger or a fusion of international flavors in a handheld form, food trucks offer a culinary adventure that is both accessible and exciting.
Culinary Creativity on Wheels
One of the most intriguing aspects of the festival food truck phenomenon is the sheer creativity displayed by these mobile chefs. They are not bound by the constraints of a traditional kitchen, allowing them to experiment freely and introduce innovative culinary concoctions that challenge the status quo. From artisanal ice creams infused with exotic flavors to tantalizing twists on classic street food, these culinary mavericks are constantly pushing the boundaries of taste and presentation.
Community and Culture
Beyond the delectable dishes they serve, festival food trucks have become a symbol of community and culture. They often act as vibrant hubs where people from different walks of life converge, forming a unique social space that fosters connections and conversations. These gatherings provide an opportunity for people to savor mouthwatering delicacies while celebrating diversity and the rich tapestry of flavors that define a community.
Embracing Change and Adaptation
The resilience of food trucks is also evident in their adaptability. During challenging times, such as the recent global pandemic, many food trucks swiftly pivoted their operations to offer delivery services or set up in strategic locations to serve essential workers. Their ability to adjust and cater to evolving consumer needs has solidified their position as an integral part of the culinary landscape, showcasing the indomitable spirit of the food industry.
A Taste of the Future
As the food industry continues to evolve, food trucks remain at the forefront of innovation, promising to surprise and delight with their ever-evolving menus and bold flavors. They serve as a testament to the fact that great food doesn’t always come from a conventional setting; sometimes, it arrives in a humble, but passionately crafted, meal served through a truck window.
Next time you come across a food truck festival or spot one parked in your neighborhood, be sure to indulge your taste buds in the flavors of this modern culinary movement. You might just discover your new favorite dish or even a newfound appreciation for the art of mobile gastronomy.
Next up in our new range of food trucks is our converted horse box. We looked at a wide range of converted horse trailers, but were never 100% happy with the design. We happened by chance upon a maker called Sinclair, long defunct, but their trailers were different as they had a curved front panel rather than the usual triangular style.
After much searching we located one at the other end of the country, a brief conversation and we were told that it is perfect, ready for the road.
Cue and early morning trip to Bournemouth. On arrival, the rather vacant sounding young man informed us that actually the lights don’t work. Hmm, so not quite road worthy then. Luckily I had the foresight to throw a lighboard in.
However upon examining the trailer we discovered that it had four different sized wheels.
“Tell you what mate, I’ll ring the boss and tell her about the trailer and let you know”
Luckily I had a back up plan, I had found another trailer at Knutsford, only about 100 miles out of our way on the return trip lol, and this one was described as ‘mint’.
We duly arrived at Knutsford. The trailer was far from mint, but it was suitable for what we wanted. We struck a deal, coupled up and discovered that a short on the trailer lights had blew the lights on the van. That turned into a whole other saga as changing the fuse necessitated a full strip down of the dash to reach the bloody thing.
But I digress, we set off home sans lights. On the way we did receive a text message from the first seller asking when we would be returning for the first trailer. FFS, we left there 7 hours ago.
Not Quite Mint, But Useable or What We Wanted
The Initial Strip Down
After careful consideration we decided that rather than doing what most people seem to do, a quick coat of brush paint and throw some counters in, we decided to make it something nice.
So we started with a complete strip down to the bare frames, leaving my other half to retort, all you have actually bought is a bloody frame!
Taking it back to bare metal we primed everything with rustcoat, then coated the entire frame with black Raptor, one of our favourite products. This gives a hard wearing textured finish that protects everything and covers amazingly well.
One of the concerns the health inspector had was that the original floor would contain years of horse urine soaked into the wood. No probs, as we stripped and burned the original wood flooring and binned the rubber coating.
A new wood floor was fitted, two coats of stain to seal it, then a new rubber coating.
Fitting A New Floor
Big Decision, Wooden Cladding
One of the major decisions was how we were going to finish the exterior. The original wood was a high grade hardwood, but because all the screws and bolts were seized in, we pretty much destroyed it taking it off. A trip to our local wood guys yard and a look through his collection of woods saw us settling on Sapele. A tropical hardwood that is related to mahogany, and is a fabulous colour, ranging from red to golden brown.
We used a soak in wood treatment on all the panels, then a number of coats of satin varnish, as we didn’t want an overly glossy look to the trailer.
Adding Our Sapele Panels
We also settled on a satin black for the fibreglass roof and aluminium corner panels. Again, we wanted a less shiny look, though I admit the satin clearcoat was a nightmare to spray without it looking patchy. In the end after numerous attempts I gave up. But curiously, after a couple of weeks the patches disappeared and a uniform coating appeared????
Front Panels
New CornersRestored The Jocky Door
The front corner panels were steel, they were overly heavy and badly rusted, so we replaced them with three mm aluminium. In retrospect two mm might have been sufficient as the three really took some bending.
Making It Different
We wanted a different look to the usual horse trailers, and I freely admit that we had seen an American horse trailer that we loved, so we used that for inspiration. One of the things we added to achieve this different look was a number of windows, both to let light into the trailer, and to add some visual appeal.
End Windows
On To The Interior
Finally we got started with the interior. A number of steel frames were built in situ, with sapele front panels added and temporary countertops in MDF. A water tank, water heater and waste system, single and three phase electrics and a cooking fume extraction system. Also in common with our other food trucks we added a 42 inch display for menus and such.
The interior corners we added alternating sapele and idigbo strips to add some visual effect.
Another Of Our Food Trucks Almost Finished
Our programmable light panel.
We added decorative copper panels to the exterior and additional windows to the front. Just waiting on the production of our top sign at this point.
We have had the same range of carts for quite a period now for everything from street food carts to weddings. Heck, we average over 500 events a year, so obviously they are popular. Why change when it works?
Thing is during the lockdown, we have had that rare luxury, time. We began looking at many of our competitors, and realised that they are doing things we are not. What is more galling is the knowledge that at one time, we would have been doing them first.
Because of this we have designed and produced a range of removable panels that totally alter the styling of many of our ranges of carts and bar sections.
To this end we eventually did just that, it was for a series of outdoor events, where we were serving 450 jacket potatoes a day, and we felt that the extra room this design allowed us would make it easier to operate.
Street Food Cart Small
Basic Street Food Option
Our first design is a bare bones, patterned plywood unit, meant to look slightly third worldy for a quirky feel.
It was used successfully for a number of the aforementioned jacket potato jobs, as well as doughnuts and hot dogs.
Sticking with the theme, the menu boards and clip art was all held on with mini cloths pegs, and the top sign stencilled with our favourite Sex Pistols font.
Red Ribbed Streetfood Stalls
Red Ribbed Stall
Our next version was made using deep red corrugated panels, this gave a more industrial feel and was used for a number of Hot Chocolate/Hot Dog days at local schools.
Either unit can be used for any of our range of catering options. Indeed it is plenty roomy to add two or three offerings in the same stall.
Over the coming year we intend adding a number of additional options to our street food carts. So keep checking back. Or keep checking our website for more details of street food units.
