[Tapioca]

I haven't seen a thread on this in the food forum, but this is some pretty exciting news. Here's a feature story from the Globe and Mail:


Vancouver seeks ‘nutritious, exciting’ street food
Pilot project will see stalls in 17 locations – and not a hot dog among them
Justine Hunter

From Monday's Globe and Mail
Published on Sunday, Jun. 20, 2010 7:15PM EDT

Last updated on Sunday, Jun. 20, 2010 10:52PM EDT


The City of Vancouver is ready to make the leap beyond popcorn and hot dogs as street food fare.

“The appetite for this is huge,” said Vancouver Councillor Heather Deal. She announced Sunday that the city is taking applications for vendors to set up stalls at 17 new locations – but purveyors of unhealthy treats won’t find room on the sidewalk.

“I don’t have anything against hot dogs,” Ms. Deal said, “but bring us something else – nutritious, exciting food.” Also on the undesirable list: Packaged ice cream, popcorn, pretzels and pre-packaged items such as soft drinks, potato chips and candy bars.

James Iranzad will be at City Hall on Monday with his application for a Korean taco stand.

The chef at the Kitsalano eatery Abigail’s Party said it’s a welcome new attitude from the city.

“It’s the first step in a major change in Vancouver’s culinary scene,” Mr. Iranzad said. “It’s going to allow a lot of people that have the vision and talent to bring food to diners” without the prohibitive cost of a full restaurant startup. For those already in the restaurant business, it’s an opportunity to reach new customers. “And it’s good for the city, to be rubbing elbows in the street, the smell of food in the air.”

The pilot project will provide locations on sidewalks and curbside in high pedestrian traffic spots downtown as well as at busy urban beaches like Kits and Spanish Banks.

Here's a map showing the locations: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106139523504867679880.00048983fc916cd35f63d&z=13

I just came back from a week in Portland and the food cart scene is pretty neat, though the prices aren't exactly cheap - a meal will set you back about 6-8 bucks. There have been some murmurs from the Downtown Business Association who think that these stands will take away business from restaurants - meh, whatever. I hope that the city will implement this program well and not let it get too bogged down in red tape like Toronto's street food program.

Btw, if you are interested in setting up a cart, the applications are 50 bucks and the licences will be granted by lottery.

[TOPEC]

nice, i wonder what kind of food will be available

[q0192837465]

wow, that's a great idea. I can use some variety when I go window shopping with the gf.

[Yc]

where is the link to how to sign up for the stand? can someone put the link here? or is it already too late?

[mpr]

I heard this about a month ago already. Although it is tough work, who ever brings out the best food product will definately do well like japadog.

[StealthFighter]

i'm all for this but...


James Iranzad will be at City Hall on Monday with his application for a Korean taco stand.

an iranian guy wants to open a korean taco stand? what the...

i rather him open up a kebab stand!!!!

[Tapioca]

where is the link to how to sign up for the stand? can someone put the link here? or is it already too late?

Here you go: http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/streets/retailUse/foodPilot.htm

Note: You have to say a few words about how your cart will reduce its waste output.

[Ch28]

Lot of stores on Granville are having a big fit over street vendors and how it'll cut down on their revenue.

[Tapioca]

Lot of stores on Granville are having a big fit over street vendors and how it'll cut down on their revenue.

Yeah, I can understand their concern, but they have a few advantages over street vendors:

- Alcohol service
- Seating and shelter
- Did I mention alcohol service?

This will force them to innovate. Besides, do we really need more Megabite Pizza places in the core?

[wesamess]

i'm all for this but...

an iranian guy wants to open a korean taco stand? what the...

i rather him open up a kebab stand!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8uixe7DMhA
http://kogibbq.com/

[wesamess]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_MtLrjwOaA&feature=fvw

[Meowjin]

i want to open a nammer sub stand.

[Culture_Vulture]

http://jp.tw.tranews.com/Show/images/Column/5469_1.jpg

we need some of this shit on the streets of Vancouver right away

[Meowjin]

what the hell is that.

[Alatar]

Khlav Khalash. Complete with Crab Juice or Mountain Dew.

[mpr]

and this

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2612/3992642639_78c6c7936e.jpg

and that

http://www.4yummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/stinky-tofu.jpg

[mpr]

And definately these!!!


http://www.fash-eccentric.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/taiwan-street-food-ah-chung-meesua.jpg


http://www.fash-eccentric.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/taiwan-street-food-bbq-sqiud.jpg

[donjalapeno]

^ewwwwwww.

however i shouldnt judge by picture i remember saying crazy boy rolls were gross the thought of deep fried sushi made me wanna hurl but i tried it and it was bomb

[$_$]

and this

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2612/3992642639_78c6c7936e.jpg

and that

http://www.4yummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/stinky-tofu.jpg


omg yes ...

we need some real oyster pancake in richmond.... everywhere sucks ...

[winson604]

Waited so long for them to finally approve this.

[q0192837465]

I wish we have this

http://www.engr.uiuc.edu/international-StudentExperience/AsiaExperience/ChinaExperience/Dang_HongKong_FA02/streetfood.jpg

[mpr]

my mouth is so watery.... :drool

http://myweekendpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/IMG_1875-Custom.jpg

[PavelGTR]

A little bit of...

http://www.pierogipalace.com/images/pierogi.jpg

[tegz]

i'm all for this but...




an iranian guy wants to open a korean taco stand? what the...

i rather him open up a kebab stand!!!!

What the hell is a kimchi taco?

[Presto]

Khlav Khalash. Complete with Crab Juice or Mountain Dew.

Ewwwwwwww..... I'll take the Crab Juice!

[Culture_Vulture]

this would be a good experience for all of those that have said "eww" in this thread,
I don't see how Vancouver can pride itself in being one of the most multicultural cities in the world without having any of these foods present outside of a pathetic excuse for a nightmarket.

[donjalapeno]

This is the real ass shit!....... persian kabobs, only if they had this with street vendors. Just with hot bread, herbs and a grilled tomato...omg

[Obsideon]

When I was in Asia I was advised that the best food would be the street vendor food and DAMN were they right!... all the street carts in Hong Kong and China were DELICIOUS and cheap!... and believe it or not I never got the runs :haha:

[Ch28]

When I was in Asia I was advised that the best food would be the street vendor food and DAMN were they right!... all the street carts in Hong Kong and China were DELICIOUS and cheap!... and believe it or not I never got the runs :haha:
We're asian. It's built into our genes :rofl:

[Phil@rise]

i'm all for this but...




an iranian guy wants to open a korean taco stand? what the...

i rather him open up a kebab stand!!!!

No different then all the Korean and Chinese operated sushi restaurants. Or even Taco Luis in Lansdown mall.
Its all part of multiculturalism and what food the chef/owner is passionate for or feels they can profit from.

[tofu1413]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skurheg3P6I


hmm... maybe i should start this.

[ak6]

I would love to see a Kogi stand open here in Vancouver. That'd be awesome.

[turb0fr3ak]

me hungry now

[Milhouse]

We need more CHEAP food stands here.

[turb0fr3ak]

We need more CHEAP food stands here.

x2

but it will not happen

[Sgt_Koopa]

Kabobs/Kebabs for sure!

[Tapioca]

I've been following the story with some degree of interest and since the lottery draw for these food carts is happening tomorrow, I thought I would post a news snippet from the Metro:



City sees food stall frenzy

JEFF HODSON
METRO VANCOUVER
July 08, 2010 5:16 a.m.

A lottery tomorrow morning will decide which of the more than 815 proposals will win one of 17 new food stall sites in Vancouver, a councillor said yesterday.

“There is a huge pent up desire for more exciting food on the street,” said Heather Deal.

City and health authority staff waded through the cornucopia of applications yesterday to ensure they complied with city and health requirements.

The city, she added, had only expected about 50 applications. One alternate will be drawn for each spot in case winning proposals are unable to operate before the end of July.

There has been some concern raised about competition from carts by restaurant owners and business improvement associations, Deal said.

Two things:
- 815 applications is a lot, considering the potential start-up costs and permit requirements
- (not included on the web version, but in today's print edition) Applications submitted by restaurant-owners. The point of this program is to offer the public cheaper and convenient food - not necessarily food that is "restaurant grade". I don't think I'm alone in not wanting gourmet food on the street.

There's been a lot of press about the "Roaming Dragon" street food cart that's appeared at the Night Market and on Granville St. I haven't tried the food, or even looked at the menu, but based on reading various articles, my impression is that it's overpriced "Asian-style" food which caters to non-Asian yuppies who don't know any better. Having experienced the food carts in Portland myself recently (and yes, Portland's street food scene is worthy of the hype), I sure hope that the "Roaming Dragon" type of cart does not win too many spots.

[MR_BIGGS]

Damn, 800 plus applicants for 17 spots.

Tapioca, so there is a huge startup cost? I can imagine the permit may be expensive, is this a annual fee they have to pay?

So many applications, I wonder what kind of profits these vendors make?
In an area with decent foot traffic, I can imagine it being not bad. I have no clue though.

[Tapioca]

Damn, 800 plus applicants for 17 spots.

Tapioca, so there is a huge startup cost? I can imagine the permit may be expensive, is this a annual fee they have to pay?

So many applications, I wonder what kind of profits these vendors make?
In an area with decent foot traffic, I can imagine it being not bad. I have no clue though.

The vending permit is about $1000 for a regular cart which is for the duration of the pilot project (until next spring, I believe). However, if you are interested in a curbside location (there are only 3 at this time), the rates start at $2400 per metre.

In addition to liability insurance, you need to comply with Coastal Health requirements. For example, you need a "base of operations" to store your food. Also, your food cart must have two sinks and refrigeration - all of which are difficult considering the maximum width of 2.6 metres for many of the locations. After reading the requirements, I can see why restaurant-owners have applied as they already have a base of operations.

[jackmeister]

^^two sinks?

holy shit thats pretty hard for something even like a japadog stand?

they should make street food at the risk of consumers... if its hot, its good to go

[twitchyzero]

those are some pretty strict qualifications...i'm surprised there are still 800+ applicants

[Ch28]

Wouldn't surprise me if 600 of those applications are for some variation of a japadog stand.

[Tapioca]

^^two sinks?

holy shit thats pretty hard for something even like a japadog stand?

they should make street food at the risk of consumers... if its hot, its good to go

You would think that the requirement for liability insurance of $2 million should cover the city if anything bad were to happen, but I can also see the other side; can imagine the negative press courtesy of bloggers and the media if someone were to report getting food poisoning from poorly cooked/stored food?

Wouldn't surprise me if 600 of those applications are for some variation of a japadog stand.

The city has explicitly stated that it is looking for food options other than hotdogs. If anyone was silly enough to submit a Japadog-like application, I hope the bureaucrats were wise enough to toss these applications through the paper shredder.

I think we all have to keep in mind that this is a pilot project. Despite the strict requirements, it still looks like we're miles ahead of where Toronto is with their "A La Cart" program which required vendors to pony up $30K for a cart from the city - at least with our program, vendors have some degree of flexibility when it comes to purchasing/renting a cart. My hopes are that the cost of the food is decent (<$8 for a meal), there is decent variety, and that most of the vendors make a profit so that the program can be expanded next year. Eventually, the city should install permanent water and power facilities on high-traffic corners so that start-up costs will be lower for vendors.

[q0192837465]

Great. But since it's a lottery, I just hope we get different types of food. It'll be stupid if somehow 5/8 turn out to the same type of food.

[Tapioca]

The local media hasn't picked up on the results of the lottery, but here are the winners straight from the City of Vancouver's website:

East Side of 200 Howe St – 100 metres North of W Cordova St
- Chinese Dim Sum

South Side of 400 W Georgia St – 12 metres East of Richards St
– Korean food with meat and vegetarian options

East Side of 700 Homer St – 20 metres South of W Georgia St
- chicken salad with lettuce, tomato. Fruit cup with melon, kiwi and mixed fruit.

North Side of 700 W Cordova St – 14 metres East of Howe St
– Burritos, whole wheat, rice, beans, sauces, fillings

East Side of 700 Hornby St – 22 metres South of W Georgia St
– Southern BBQ, Rice, Veggies

South Side of 700 W Georgia St – 20 metres West of Granville St
– Traditional Chinese and Japanese Cuisine

South Side of 900 W Hastings St – 24 metres East of Burrard St
– Skewers of beef and pork

West Side of 1100 Burrard St – 28 metres South of Helmcken St
- Greek Donair

West Side of 1100 Burrard St – 25 metres North of Davie St
- Modern Satay Barbeque

South Side of 2000 Beach Av – 30 metres West of Chilco St
– Fresh squeezed Lemonade

East Side of 600 Granville St – 50 metres North of W Georgia St
– Fresh Bakery

West Side of 600 Granville St – 95 metres North of W Georgia St
– Healthy meals & snacks, roll ups, sandwiches

East Side of 6400 Cambie St – 20 metres North of W 49th Ave
– speciality noodles

East Side of 1300 Main St – 12 metres North of Terminal Ave
- Falafel

West Side of 1100 Station St, or West Side of 400 Burrard St
- Authentic Italian stone ground pizza

West Side of 1200-1300 Arbutus St, or North Side of 1000 W Georgia St
- Fresh & frozen fruits, chocolate dipped fruits

West Side of 1400 NW Marine Dr, or East Side of 800 Hornby St
- Central European foods from Poland, Russia, using local organic products, borscht, schnitzel, kosher

There are alternates for each site, so if the winners can't set up shop by the end of the month, the alternates get the permits instead.

[Ch28]

That's a pretty good mix of food.

Looking forward to trying out the central euro food stand

[PavelGTR]

Great variety. I'm definitely checking some of these out.

[q0192837465]

East Side of 6400 Cambie St – 20 metres North of W 49th Ave
– speciality noodles

hmmmmm, that sounds interesting

[Supa.Azn]

cool, i installed the computer systems for the roaming dragon guys, and they are the ones that started this thing. looks like its going to be a busy summer for me.!

[Meowjin]

It'll probably fail because it won't be cheap
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[skyxx]

^ Doubt it, hotdogs in downtown are already 5 bucks or so. People are always intrigued by "new stuff". I want my damn "satay" swekers!

[2damaxmr2]

‘nutritious, exciting’ = Expensive and small in portion.

[skyxx]

^ hahah True.

[Senna4ever]

I sure hope it's not like the street food in Toronto....cheap but tastes like cardboard.

[Ch28]

Food cart alert: Re-Up offering first 50 guests free samples of Southern BBQ. Seawall, near 2065 Beach, 7:30 pm http://ow.ly/2b1Ti

[Tapioca]

Here's an update on the preparedness of the food carts:


Some newly approved street food vendors lack kitchens required by health authority

By Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier July 20, 2010

Street food vending lottery winner David Duprey isn’t worried about getting a permit from Vancouver Coastal Health to sling chocolate-smothered bananas at Kits Beach. Duprey, owner of the Rickshaw Theatre, has a Vancouver Coastal Health-approved kitchen at his Narrow Lounge and a loading dock off another property he subleases where he expects to clean and store his future food cart.

Vancouver Coastal Health requires street food vendors to have a FoodSafe certificate, a food safety plan and a base of operations where they can clean, store and restock their food cart, trailer or truck. In most cases, a trailer with water, cooking facilities and refrigeration can’t be considered a base of operations, said Richard Taki, regional director of health protection for Vancouver Coastal Health.

“We’re going to look at all the menus on an individual basis,” Taki said. “The more complex the food in terms of preparation, it results in greater food handling and also the risk of food-borne illness… In a lot of places, they do not have that equipment needed to basically produce the food in a safe manner.”

Jenn Willoughby of the fledgling Off the Truck taco trailer told the Courier last week that she and her partner haven’t been able to secure a permit from Vancouver Coastal Health.

Hot dog hawkers in Vancouver haven’t faced the same requirements because their product requires less preparation.

In Portland, most buses and trailers selling food prepare their fare ahead of time in a permitted kitchen and reheat it where it’s sold, Taki said.

He said local food vendors aren’t permitted to prepare items in their homes because the city doesn’t license home businesses. Inspectors need to be able to check kitchens at all times and home kitchens pose an increased risk of contamination.

“It sounds bureaucratic until someone gets food poisoning or you get a rash outbreak,” Taki said. “And then it’s like, ‘Why didn’t someone put something in place?’”

Vendors can use kitchens in restaurants and community centres. Some companies that sell food carts also have kitchens available.

Taki said last week he was surprised at the dearth of calls health protection received from potential and winning vendors in the city’s lottery for 17 spots on July 9. But Vancouver Coastal Health received calls from entrepreneurs considering establishing kitchens where street vendors could cook and store their food and vehicles.

The PHS Community Services Society has asked Duprey if he’d be interested in using its kitchen while providing prep skills or sales jobs to PHS clients. The clients help prepare meals that are delivered to needy residents of low-income hotels. They work under the guidance of professional chefs, have FoodSafe certificates and wear gloves when handling food.

Duprey isn’t sure whether he’ll accept the offer.

Claudia Kurzac, acting manager for health protection, doesn’t expect all 17 new food vendors to be operational by July 31, as per the city’s goal.

“It sounds like some went into the lottery without even a business plan and don’t even have an actual trailer or cart and would have to manufacture that first, never mind even find a base of operation,” Kurzac said. “Some are ready to go with everything, some are in the middle of the process and some have a lot of work to do.”


crossi@vancourier.com

© Copyright (c) Vancouver Courier


While food safety is important, the need for a "base of operations" (essentially a euphemism for a commercial kitchen) is a little onerous and limits the profitability of a food cart operation to current restaurant owners (which will typically translate into higher prices which defeats the purpsoe of having street food.)

I'm not familiar with how the Richmond Night Market and the local Health Authority's inspection process works, but surely it's less onerous than Vancouver's because to me, it seems that regular folks can open a food stand and hope to turn a profit. In Asia, where street food is common and sanitation practices are more dubious, I haven't heard of cases of mass food poisoning. Perhaps a little risk-management is in order here?

[Ch28]

I'm not familiar with how the Richmond Night Market and the local Health Authority's inspection process works, but surely it's less onerous than Vancouver's because to me, it seems that regular folks can open a food stand and hope to turn a profit. In Asia, where street food is common and sanitation practices are more dubious, I haven't heard of cases of mass food poisoning. Perhaps a little risk-management is in order here?

Summer Night Market has the same requirements.

If you want to open a food stall then you're required to have a base of operations in a community kitchen or restaurant kitchen and have documentation of that.

[Tapioca]

^ Ah, okay.

Well, it'll be interesting to see what will happen on July 31st. We might have two or three stands running and then the media will be ripping the city for failing to deliver the program. Should be lots of fun.

[Domani]

this thread is making me so hungry

[Culverin]

Summer Night Market has the same requirements.

If you want to open a food stall then you're required to have a base of operations in a community kitchen or restaurant kitchen and have documentation of that.

Huh, I did not know that.
I was considering doing a berry slush stand.
But now I know.

thanks!

[Tapioca]

Surprise, surprise - none of the actual lottery winners will be ready tomorrow.

Enter the Dragon: A street-food revolution begins with a whimper

Robert Matas

Vancouver — From Friday's Globe and Mail
Published on Friday, Jul. 30, 2010 3:00AM EDT

Last updated on Friday, Jul. 30, 2010 11:26AM EDT


Roaming Dragon opened for business this week, offering a tantalizing choice of Asian duck confit salad, Japanese chicken karaage, Korean short rib tacos and Chinese pork belly sliders.

The sleek new food-vending truck, parked a stone’s throw from popular Kitsilano Beach, is the first street vendor in Vancouver to offer more than hot dogs under a much-anticipated pilot project intended to inject a bit of sophistication and fun into the city’s street culture.

But the project has hit a rough spot. None of the 17 winners in city hall’s lottery for locations is expected to meet Saturday’s much-anticipated deadline for opening. Roaming Dragon, which was not one of the winners, managed to open only by finding a winner to pay for use of the site.

The project has degenerated into a money grab by some businessmen trying to sell their prized locations for exorbitant prices: One asked for a cheque of $18,000 upfront to cover the first five months of business; another wanted a 50-per-cent interest in the vending operation.

Also, the lottery for spaces may not have drawn as much interest as the city has said. Some businessmen had family and friends put in applications on their behalf in an effort to improve their chances of winning spaces. Winners who were placeholders had no intentions of ever opening a business at the locations.

And the city may not have the variety of food it anticipated: The lottery winners are free to change their menus to whatever they wish.

Jennifer Willoughby, an unsuccessful bidder with a taco cart called Off the Wagon, said the process of selecting food carts was a sham. “[City hall] did not think this thing through,” Ms. Willoughby said. “It was very Mickey Mouse. They had a grand idea, but the process, well, it was pretty sad.”

The expansion of street food had been announced with considerable fanfare. “We’ve got a world-class city and people want a world-class street food scene to match,” Mayor Gregor Robertson has said. The councillors decided to update a city bylaw that restricted street food mostly to hot dogs, popcorn and chestnuts.

The city’s plan required vendors to be prepared to begin operations by July 31. The city said around 800 applications had been received. The winners and alternates, announced July 9, offered a variety of food from dim sum to borscht. They were then required to obtain a health permit before a city licence would be issued.

By Wednesday, health officials had approved only two vendors: an Italian stone-ground pizza cart which is planning to open on Tuesday, and a fresh, frozen and chocolate-covered fruit stand in Kitsilano that will eventually share the spot with Roaming Dragon.

Jason Apple and Jory Simkin, the operators of Roaming Dragon, had been working on their business plan for months. Their specially designed $150,000 truck is fitted with wireless to expedite ordering, point-of-sale technology connected to the Internet and up-to-date appliances. Mr. Apple said he made an arrangement to share the Kitsilano spot – Roaming Dragon will take evenings – after speaking to city officials about “this black market” in locations.

City officials did not discourage it, he said. “The city is handing over a licence and enabling people to become landlords,” Mr. Apple said. “It’s pretty crazy, isn’t it. They just rent it out. They do not do anything except collect a cheque.”

City Councillor Heather Deal, who has championed the expansion of street-food fare for the past two years, was optimistic that the new food options would soon be on the street.

She was not concerned about the secondary market. The city’s goal was to provide a wide variety of safe, healthy and interesting food, she said. “It’s going to be market driven, it is going to be entrepreneurial,” she said, shrugging off concerns about the black market.

She anticipated as many as six spots may be open within the next week. The vendors could not meet the deadline because they all ordered their carts at the same time, she said. “That was one of the unintended consequences of this great success, with so may people excited and doing this,” she said.

The lottery was meant to be a process for having something on the street for this summer, and the city did not have time for a more complicated approval process, she said. “This was meant to get the system jump-started, to get people out there with exciting food and show that we could do this by this summer,” she said. By next summer, she anticipated a different process and several more locations.

Coun. Heather Deal has defended this pretty poorly - the least she could have done was to admit some mistakes and say that they're rectifying things.

Regarding the pizza truck winner (not mentioned here), the guy runs Ragazzi Pizza on Renfrew and 22nd. They truly make great authentic pizza, but I don't know how he's going to sell pizza on the street for $3/slice when we're used to paying Uncle Fatih's/Megabite for $1.75-$2/slice.

The southern BBQ cart which will be up at the Art Gallery, ReUpBBQ, is opening on August 9. I've been following their Twitter feed a bit, and they're offering pulled pork sandwiches initially.

[Meowjin]

id support a taco stand.

[Tapioca]

An update:

Ragazzi Pizza has started selling their pizza out of a truck on Burrard between Pender and Hastings. Slices are $3 plus HST. They have 4 varieties - Hawaiian, Pepperoni, Prosciutto and Mushroom and a Primavera/Vegetarian. There was a line-up of about 5 deep during lunch hour today.

A coworker of mine tried the Roaming Dragon fare the other day. He mentioned that the korean bbq short-rib tacos were good, but rather smallish at $6 for 2.

[q0192837465]

^ i think these stand r only good for a snack. If u want a full meal, I doubt the portion will be enough.

[Vansterdam]

raggazi pizza is that the place thats across from renfrew community center? sounds familiar

[Expresso]

Do other provinces have such strict policies regarding having off-site facilities for cleanliness and storage?

I wonder if we'll see a Chip wagon soon like in OTT.

[Amuse]

An update:

Ragazzi Pizza has started selling their pizza out of a truck on Burrard between Pender and Hastings. Slices are $3 plus HST. They have 4 varieties - Hawaiian, Pepperoni, Prosciutto and Mushroom and a Primavera/Vegetarian. There was a line-up of about 5 deep during lunch hour today.

A coworker of mine tried the Roaming Dragon fare the other day. He mentioned that the korean bbq short-rib tacos were good, but rather smallish at $6 for 2.
$3 for one slice? They better be big.

[Tapioca]

$3 for one slice? They better be big.

No, they're about average size. I had 2 the other day and I was full for about 4 hours.

You could say that they're competing in the mid-range pizza market against a shop like Flying Wedge.

[raygunpk]

prosciutto mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Tapioca]

A couple more carts should be coming online next week.

Panda Fresh Bakery - located at Pacific and Drake. There's a feature in the Richmond Review: http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/100042419.html

ReUpBBQ - located at Georgia and Howe.

Both carts still need to pass inspections.

[Tapioca]

During my lunch hour stroll, I walked by the Art Gallery to check out if reupbbq had opened. As I walked by, they just opened for business with about 10 people waiting in line. Since I had already eaten lunch, I talked to one of the owners instead about the menu and operating hours:

- Just pulled pork sandwiches for now at $6 (roughly the size of a large hamburger)
- Operating hours will be from 11 AM to 9ish, Monday through Friday, with some limited weekend openings depending on demand

The trailer, a plain stainless steel box, sits on the Hornby side of the Art Gallery property.

[Graeme S]

During my lunch hour stroll, I walked by the Art Gallery to check out if reupbbq had opened. As I walked by, they just opened for business with about 10 people waiting in line. Since I had already eaten lunch, I talked to one of the owners instead about the menu and operating hours:

- Just pulled pork sandwiches for now at $6 (roughly the size of a large hamburger)
- Operating hours will be from 11 AM to 9ish, Monday through Friday, with some limited weekend openings depending on demand

The trailer, a plain stainless steel box, sits on the Hornby side of the Art Gallery property.
Dinner tonight :D

[Tapioca]

What re-up is serving. I'm looking forward to trying this sometime this week:

http://web12.twitpic.com/img/143124297-ad24a5e672706f8f6dbb6da73e5a663c.4c60eae0-scaled.jpg

[murmur]

i hope the satay is malaysian-authentic :D
there isn't too much authentic malaysian food in this city :(

[Vansterdam]

What re-up is serving. I'm looking forward to trying this sometime this week:

http://web12.twitpic.com/img/143124297-ad24a5e672706f8f6dbb6da73e5a663c.4c60eae0-scaled.jpg

link fail

[Tapioca]

link fail

Ha, yeah, it was working on the day I posted it. Oh well.

For the record, I tried one of these pulled pork sandwiches after work. Overall, it wasn't bad: the meat was pretty tangy, but the coleslaw didn't really add much to it (perhaps I needed more coleslaw sauce). It's a good alternative to a sandwich place like Subway or Quiznos.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

sounds like a great idea

im hungry looking at those pictures

[Tapioca]

Another update:

"Panda Fresh Bakery" has opened at Drake and Expo Blvd in Yaletown. Freshly baked croissants with a variety of fillings and toppings are being sold out of an old school bus by a 20-something Asian duo. They just opened over the weekend and I haven't tried them out yet, but they are serving an interesting product. More information and prices are here: http://vancouverstreeteats.ca/?p=463#more-463

I also checked the City's website and two more carts are schedule to open this week. There is going to be a falafel stand at the Main Street Skytrain Station area starting tomorrow, August 17. And finally, the Dim Sum stand is scheduled to open by Canada Place on Wednesday, August 18.

[Tapioca]

The dim sum cart, despite what the City has said, isn't open yet.

However, there's a new cart selling meat and vegetable skewers on Hastings and Burrard. It's called the Chinese Skewer King and the prices are very reasonable. A menu is available here: http://www.chineseskewerking.ca/

[miss_crayon]

I went to Panda Fresh Bakery and it was delish!! I had their croissant with red bean paste, green tea+black sesame ice cream. $5 and it was fairly decent sized, I couldn't even finish it. They often sell out their batch so you'll have to wait 15-20 min but worth it. Ran by 2 brothers.
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[Graeme S]

I went to the skewer king today and was highly satisfied. $10 for 6 skewers (lamb/chicken/beef/pork), choice of regular or spicy (mixing with multiple skewers is no problem), with a bottle(!) Of pop.

Split it with a coworker, we were both satisfied but not overfull. Spicy was hot on the tongue, but it didn't add that much to the experience. Beef was well marinated and done through, very tender. Definitely a good alternative to DT fast food and the like.


Also have tried the pulled pork. When I went it was one guy working in a cramped cart (felt kind of sorry for him) doing everything all at once. Good pulled pork, and he made fresh slaw for me and my coworker (same guy) when we tried it out. More filling than skewer king, but also more expensive.


I can recommend both, and would suggest the pulled pork if more hungry and the skewer king to split if just looking for a light meal, or if you need a massive amount of meat all at once for a not-unreasonable price.
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[Tapioca]

Word on the street is that there will be a Japanese crepe cart opening either this weekend, or next week on the corner of Granville and Georgia.

[HonestTea]

This sucks, I want in on this "Street Food Cart" project :(

Couldn't apply cause I was on vacation :( I wonder if they'll take more applicants next year or something?

[Graeme S]

This sucks, I want in on this "Street Food Cart" project :(

Couldn't apply cause I was on vacation :( I wonder if they'll take more applicants next year or something?
According to articles just after the cart project was launched, very few of the people who bid can actually go for it; some of the people are just looking to sell/lease their spots (for ridiculous prices of course, 'cause this is Vancouver).

You might not be out of luck.

[Tapioca]

Word on Twitter is that the Dim Sum cart has finally opened on Howe and Cordova. While I haven't seen it yet, there's a couple of photos posted on Twitter with the cart and its menu. Combos consisting of har gow, siu mai, sticky rice, spring rolls, and chow mein are $7.

According to the City, a satay stand has opened for business on Burrard Helmcken. I haven't seen this stand yet either.

[winson604]

Here's the info. 17 total vendors and as of today 12 have permits to operate.



Pizza West side of 400 Burrard Street @ Pender
Asian Cuisine West side of 1200 / 1300 Arbutus St @ Creelman Ave
Chinese Dim Sum East side of 200 Howe St @ W Cordova St
Southern BBQ East side of 700 Hornby St @ W Georgia St
Asian Cuisine South side of 700 W Georgia @ Granville St
Beef/Pork Skewers South side of 900 W Hastings St @ Burrard St
Baked Goods Pacific St @ Drake St- David Lam Park
Falafel East side of 1300 Main St @ Terminal Ave
Burritos North side of 700 W Cordova @ Howe St
Satay Bar West side of 1100 Burrard St @ Davie St
Lemonade & Crepes South side of 2000 Beach Ave @ Chilco St
Healthy Food West side of 600 Granville @ Georgia St

[dutch]

Word on Twitter is that the Dim Sum cart has finally opened on Howe and Cordova. While I haven't seen it yet, there's a couple of photos posted on Twitter with the cart and its menu. Combos consisting of har gow, siu mai, sticky rice, spring rolls, and chow mein are $7.

According to the City, a satay stand has opened for business on Burrard Helmcken. I haven't seen this stand yet either.


I went there yesterday, It wasn't very good imo.

Though I'm not chinese so I may not know what i'm talking about ;)

[Graeme S]

Word on Twitter is that the Dim Sum cart has finally opened on Howe and Cordova. While I haven't seen it yet, there's a couple of photos posted on Twitter with the cart and its menu. Combos consisting of har gow, siu mai, sticky rice, spring rolls, and chow mein are $7.

According to the City, a satay stand has opened for business on Burrard Helmcken. I haven't seen this stand yet either.
I'll try it on tuesday and see how it is; that's just down the street from work for me.

[Tapioca]

A couple of new vendors have popped up.

There's the "Satay King" on Davie and Burrard. Their menu is very basic - Indonesian satays with peanut sauce. Each satay is $5 (which I think is ridiculous), but you can get a combo with rice, 1 satay (with peanut sauce), and a small salad for $7.

There's another vendor which was at a location not listed on City's map - the corner of Robson and Hornby. The cart is called "Poke'M" and they serve a variety of skewers with your choice of 5-6 different sauces. Each skewer is $3.75 and you get to choose one sauce with each skewer.

After my initial post about the dim sum cart, I decided to walk down there and try the char siu bow and the siu mai. Overall, I would say that the food is on par with the vendors at the night market. 4 pieces of siu mai are $3 and the 2 char siu bow were $3.

[Alphamale]

PanDa fresh bakery on Drake and Pacific is DELICIOUS.

Had the croissant (fresh baked in small batches) with green tea ice cream (yums) and red bean paste (yums x 2). It was $5, which is a bit expensive but still okay considinering the large scoops of ice cream they give you and the overall quality of the ingredients. Charging anymore would be seriously pushing it.

Sorry for the upside down picture.

http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu185/Alphamale156/09052010021.jpg

[2damaxmr2]

3bucks for a slice of pizza ? LOL

[Van Street Eats]

Want to get on national TV?

The Food Network Canada will be filming PanDa Fresh tomorrow from 11-2 for a new show, 'Eat Street'!

[Tapioca]

I'm reviving this thread from the dead because the city has approved another 19 food cart vendors.

A text-based list can be found here: http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/thatslife/archive/2011/04/04/19-new-food-carts-what-they-ll-serve-and-where-they-ll-be.aspx

The city has put together a Google map here: http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=203573774750819985669.00049fe9688b265fef461&ll=49.282196,-123.12438&spn=0.028891,0.077162&z=14

The process to pick the new vendors was completely revamped this year and has been the subject of controversy. Two prominent food bloggers were asked to provide input into the selection process, but they resigned in protest and subsequently shut down their blog. Before they shut down their blog, they posted a huge rant about the politicization of street food in the city (i.e. it was biased in favour of organic, local, and fair-trade food) and some comments about Vancouver being a city full of rich snobs served by an underclass of workers from the suburbs. Typically Vancouver, right?

[HonestTea]

Interesting, do any of you know where you would apply for it? I didn't know they were looking to add 19 an additional carts..

[K-Dub]

I'm reviving this thread from the dead because the city has approved another 19 food cart vendors.

A text-based list can be found here: http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/thatslife/archive/2011/04/04/19-new-food-carts-what-they-ll-serve-and-where-they-ll-be.aspx

The city has put together a Google map here: http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=203573774750819985669.00049fe9688b265fef461&ll=49.282196,-123.12438&spn=0.028891,0.077162&z=14

The process to pick the new vendors was completely revamped this year and has been the subject of controversy. Two prominent food bloggers were asked to provide input into the selection process, but they resigned in protest and subsequently shut down their blog. Before they shut down their blog, they posted a huge rant about the politicization of street food in the city (i.e. it was biased in favour of organic, local, and fair-trade food) and some comments about Vancouver being a city full of rich snobs served by an underclass of workers from the suburbs. Typically Vancouver, right?
This was one of the blogs that shut down, or well, moved on and passed the blog to someone else.

http://vancouverstreeteats.ca

Interesting how this street vendor program has progressed so far. I'm leaning a bit towards the disappointed side for a couple reasons.

1. Price. Street food should be cheap. If I'm gonna end up paying the same price as a restaurant, then I'd rather be in the restaurant where I have seats, cover from elements, and a washroom.

2. Repetitive stuff, such as TACOS TACOS... oh and TACOS. I know they're easy to make/prep and by that nature lends itself easily to street food, but come on..

Vancouver's got a long way to go to establish a good street food rep, and I know it'll never come close to what I have grown up with and experienced in Asia and Central America, but hopefully one day it'll sort itself out.

[carisear]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/04/04/bc-video-vancouver-food-carts.html?ref=rss

cbc video about it.

[Meowjin]

and some comments about Vancouver being a city full of rich snobs served by an underclass of workers from the suburbs. Typically Vancouver, right?


No fucking shit. Couldn't agree more.

[AWDTurboLuvr]

Tacofino is coming to Vancouver? Hell yeah! I eat there all the time when I'm in Tofino.