The Best Street Foodies to Find across the North East this weekend
PALOMINOS
Known as ‘The Cream of the Dene,’ Palominos made its return to Hawthorn Dene in March offering artisan Jersey ice cream, freshly-ground coffee and freshlybaked cakes. They’re perfect for an al fresco lunch before heading through the Dene and towards the Durham, coast, and on your return they have plenty of hot drinks to choose from to refuel. There are picnic benches if you’d prefer to stick around, and you might catch a glimpse of the resident alpacas, who we’ve fallen in love with (search Kinley Tower Alpacas on Insta and thank us later).
Check social media for opening times (and for a sneak peek of the fresh cakes on the counter).
instagram.com/palominos_icecream
BAIT & BEER
While locals were desperate for a pub-quality pint before beer gardens reopened, a former fire truck came to the rescue after being converted into a bar on wheels. Pub boss Chris Joyce, from The Mill House in Springwell Village, and his business partner Connor Robinson, bought a 1985 Land Rover Defender (a former fire truck) from a classic car website and adapted it to hold four kegs with pumps. The Bait & Beer truck is now helping to wet whistles by serving pints of Moretti, Guinness, Dark Fruits and Beavertown IPA. Anyone across the North East can book the mobile pub, which will serve pints to households on driveways, complete with flashing sirens.
baitandbeer.co.uk
SPUD GUN LOADED FRIES
Find Castle Eden-based Spud Gun Loaded Fries at street food events and markets across the UK, delivering fabulous flavours and good vibes via their sumptuous street food. They’re serious about the loaded fries game and like a food van (without the van), they venture all over the country serving loaded fries from pop-up gazebos.
Keep an eye on their socials to see where they’ll be heading next.
loadedfries.co.uk
TANDOORI NAAN HUT
Tandoori Naan Hut’s takeaway truck has been popping up across the region recently, from Tynedale Cricket Club to Haydon Bridge. With garlic butter naan and masala fries accompanying Punjabi chicken karahi and madras, it’s the perfect takeout for those who love spicy food. We recommend the BBQ Bombay potato bites.
Check their social media to find out where they’ll be next.
tandoorinaanhut.co.uk
DEJA FOOD TRUCK
Deja Food Truck was launched in June last year and they currently serve delicious street food (inspired by cuisine from across the world) to the people of Teesside, and offer gourmet ‘heat and eat’ meals for collection and delivery, as well as a brand new ‘Hot for Collection’ service based out of their new ‘ghost kitchen’ at Strickland and Holt, Yarm. The menus are always changing, keeping things interesting and fresh: think buffalo chicken wings, jalapeño poppers and sweet potato fries.
Pre-order for collection on their website.
dejafoodtruck.co.uk
NORTHERN PORTIONS
This new business is promising ‘proper decent sarnies’ for those strolling in Teesside. With seasoned fries and mac and cheese on the menu too, it’s the perfect treat for those in and around Middlesbrough. Oh, don’t forget the burnt basque cheesecake too – simply delicious. Kerbside collections are currently available from their garage-based kitchen in Acklam but their food truck is now pending, and we can’t wait. From the community bakery in Darlington where they source their focaccia, to the Teesside-owned fermented chilli sauce producer, they’re keeping things as local as possible.
instagram.com/northernportions_
FIRE & DOUGH
This Neapolitan wood-fired pizza van roams around Northumberland and Newcastle, and it’s also available for private hire. Their spring menu is filled with all your favourite toppings: parma ham, roast chicken and a simple margherita to name just a few.
Keep your eye on social media for locations and opening times.
facebook.com/FireandDoughUK
BIG FAT DONUT CO
Big Fat Donut Co have introduced The Donut Caddy – a pink MK1 Caddy with custom-built catering in the backend – and have set up on Ford Street in Byker (just a stone’s throw from the Tyne Bar). With Biscoff, white chocolate, Oreo and cookie dough donuts to choose from, the queues have just kept growing, and the caddy stays put until they sell out.
Open Saturday and Sunday from 11am.
bigfatdonutcompany.co.uk
FLIPNFAST CREPES
Expect vegan and gluten-free local produce with sustainability at its heart from this crepe pod, which may be small – but is filled with sweet goodness. As they care about the environment, they never use a generator and operate using a leisure battery or solar power and LPG crepe rings. Their trailer has squeezed into all sorts of spaces, from a house driveway to sitting pretty under the Tyne Bridge.
Keep up to date with their social media to find out where you can get your crepe fix next.
flipnfast.co.uk
LITTLE COFFEE CAR
In August, Zoe became the lucky new owner of the Little Coffee Car. Having worked in the hospitality industry for almost nine years, it had always been a dream of hers to have a mobile cafe and since then, Zoe has been providing those out and about in Weetslade Country Park with hot drinks to refuel. She’s also got some sweet treats (including decadent brownies) which you’ll find it hard to say no to.
Find the Little Coffee Car at Weetslade Country Park in Wideopen every Saturday and Sunday from 10am.
instagram.com/littlecoffeecar
PARM-O-RAMA
These Teessider’s are known for taking the perfect Parmo (the delicacy of Teesside) across the streets of the UK. Their original Parmo Wagon has been popping up all over across the North East recently, meaning you can enjoy the famous chicken treat on the road (as well as their delicious halloumi fries).
Keep up to date with their social media to find out where to find them next.
instagram.com/parmorama
NORTH SHORE COFFEE
After turning his events-based coffee business into a grab-and-go takeaway van in Gosforth during Lockdown 1.0, Toby’s North Shore Coffee now draws local residents in their (socially-distanced) droves thanks to their speciality coffee and locally-made pastries. While many rely on their van whilst out and about, their fixed site is now open in Grainger Market too.
Grainger Market from Wednesday to Saturday 8am to 5pm, or keep your eye on socials for timings for the van in Moorfield.
instagram.com/northshorecoffeeco/
BUNK
This is the new place for brunch on the Quayside, from avo on sourdough, to a hearty cheeseburger toastie. Durhambased Fika Coffee Roasters supply the hot drinks here, so you can always be sure your cuppa is ethically-sourced and expertlyroasted. If you’d prefer a sweet treat, the handmade plant-based donuts are to die for, trust us. They’re Australian-inspired as that’s where the owners met (in Melbourne) – and getting a food truck on Melbourne Street was the next best thing. Eventually, the owners hope to to get the artwork on the side of the van printed on to tote bags and cups, and donate a percentage of profits to a local charity; the charity and artwork will change every four months.
Open Monday–Friday 8am to 4pm and Saturday–Sunday 9am to 3pm.
instagram.com/bunkonmelbourne
