I started feeding the city 12 years ago and when I decided that it would be a
and when I decided that it would be a
and when I decided that it would be a really good idea to start my own
really good idea to start my own
really good idea to start my own chocolate van and I was going to buy an
chocolate van and I was going to buy an
chocolate van and I was going to buy an old ice cream van on eBay and do it up
old ice cream van on eBay and do it up
old ice cream van on eBay and do it up and fill it with all kinds of chocolate
and fill it with all kinds of chocolate
and fill it with all kinds of chocolate treats from brownies to sundaes to
treats from brownies to sundaes to
treats from brownies to sundaes to chocolate milkshakes to chocolate ice
chocolate milkshakes to chocolate ice
chocolate milkshakes to chocolate ice creams – hot chocolate truffles frozen
creams – hot chocolate truffles frozen
creams – hot chocolate truffles frozen chocolate dipped bananas and iced
chocolate dipped bananas and iced
chocolate dipped bananas and iced chocolate martini shots under the
chocolate martini shots under the
chocolate martini shots under the counter and I was so taken with this
counter and I was so taken with this
counter and I was so taken with this idea that I decided to buy the van
idea that I decided to buy the van
idea that I decided to buy the van unseen it was up in Inverness and I
unseen it was up in Inverness and I
unseen it was up in Inverness and I didn’t have time to go and look at it
didn’t have time to go and look at it
didn’t have time to go and look at it before the sale was ending so I bought
before the sale was ending so I bought
before the sale was ending so I bought the idiots guide to starting my own
the idiots guide to starting my own
the idiots guide to starting my own business had a quick flip through flew
business had a quick flip through flew
business had a quick flip through flew up to Inverness of a friend of mine I
up to Inverness of a friend of mine I
up to Inverness of a friend of mine I did afford a road trip back to London
did afford a road trip back to London
did afford a road trip back to London with this fan which I’ve never driven a
with this fan which I’ve never driven a
with this fan which I’ve never driven a van before so it was a bit hairy coming
van before so it was a bit hairy coming
van before so it was a bit hairy coming home and suddenly I’ve got this fan and
home and suddenly I’ve got this fan and
home and suddenly I’ve got this fan and it’s terrifying and I started to fly
it’s terrifying and I started to fly
it’s terrifying and I started to fly pitching around London which wasn’t very
pitching around London which wasn’t very
pitching around London which wasn’t very successful because I got threatened to
successful because I got threatened to
successful because I got threatened to cut off my nice cat quite a few times by
cut off my nice cat quite a few times by
cut off my nice cat quite a few times by mr. whippy and I then went to Portobello
mr. whippy and I then went to Portobello
mr. whippy and I then went to Portobello the wrong end under the Westway where
the wrong end under the Westway where
the wrong end under the Westway where everybody just wanted hot dogs and cups
everybody just wanted hot dogs and cups
everybody just wanted hot dogs and cups of tea all day and I could help them
of tea all day and I could help them
of tea all day and I could help them with their cups of tea but not with the
with their cups of tea but not with the
with their cups of tea but not with the hot dogs and then I went to Brick Lane
hot dogs and then I went to Brick Lane
hot dogs and then I went to Brick Lane where I found my people
where I found my people
where I found my people loads of happy hungover hungry for
loads of happy hungover hungry for
loads of happy hungover hungry for chocolate people just coming in their
chocolate people just coming in their
chocolate people just coming in their droves to sample all the delights from
droves to sample all the delights from
droves to sample all the delights from my van I then branched out to festivals
my van I then branched out to festivals
my van I then branched out to festivals to weddings to parties to bar mitzvahs
to weddings to parties to bar mitzvahs
to weddings to parties to bar mitzvahs all sorts of things and I realized after
all sorts of things and I realized after
all sorts of things and I realized after doing this for a while that I was doing
doing this for a while that I was doing
doing this for a while that I was doing more than just flogging a few brownies
more than just flogging a few brownies
more than just flogging a few brownies out of the back of my van I was creating
out of the back of my van I was creating
out of the back of my van I was creating a connector for people I would have
a connector for people I would have
a connector for people I would have people come up to the van and ask me all
people come up to the van and ask me all
people come up to the van and ask me all sorts of questions they want to tell me
sorts of questions they want to tell me
sorts of questions they want to tell me their life story they want to talk about
their life story they want to talk about
their life story they want to talk about their favorite chocolate bars
their favorite chocolate bars
their favorite chocolate bars some people just wanted to sit on the
some people just wanted to sit on the
some people just wanted to sit on the stoop and leave through my chocolate
stoop and leave through my chocolate
stoop and leave through my chocolate recipe books and just hang out and I
recipe books and just hang out and I
recipe books and just hang out and I don’t think that’s something that people
don’t think that’s something that people
don’t think that’s something that people would have just felt as comfortable
would have just felt as comfortable
would have just felt as comfortable doing if there hadn’t been that food
doing if there hadn’t been that food
doing if there hadn’t been that food to connect them so they were coming and
to connect them so they were coming and
to connect them so they were coming and they were buying the hot chocolate and
they were buying the hot chocolate and
they were buying the hot chocolate and then they were chatting and they were
then they were chatting and they were
then they were chatting and they were hanging out and I really loved that
hanging out and I really loved that
hanging out and I really loved that connection that it gave me it was
connection that it gave me it was
connection that it gave me it was something that I never had in an office
something that I never had in an office
something that I never had in an office job it made me feel connected to London
job it made me feel connected to London
job it made me feel connected to London in a way that was really really
in a way that was really really
in a way that was really really meaningful and addictive I also clipped
meaningful and addictive I also clipped
meaningful and addictive I also clipped onto the informal trader community
onto the informal trader community
onto the informal trader community actually done any of my slides that’s my
actually done any of my slides that’s my
actually done any of my slides that’s my fan that’s how old it is because what
fan that’s how old it is because what
fan that’s how old it is because what fresh and world doesn’t exist anymore I
fresh and world doesn’t exist anymore I
fresh and world doesn’t exist anymore I think my generator blew up that day as
think my generator blew up that day as
think my generator blew up that day as well so I clocked on to the informal
well so I clocked on to the informal
well so I clocked on to the informal trader community and I met all these
trader community and I met all these
trader community and I met all these amazing characters with heart and soul
amazing characters with heart and soul
amazing characters with heart and soul and swashbuckling go-getting ways about
and swashbuckling go-getting ways about
and swashbuckling go-getting ways about them the guy with the trolley it’s Angus
them the guy with the trolley it’s Angus
them the guy with the trolley it’s Angus who is just like the magic man of the
who is just like the magic man of the
who is just like the magic man of the kerb frankly if any one of you have had
kerb frankly if any one of you have had
kerb frankly if any one of you have had the pleasure of meeting him and trying
the pleasure of meeting him and trying
the pleasure of meeting him and trying his food it’s really special he does
his food it’s really special he does
his food it’s really special he does stuff with a knife and a tiny tiny
stuff with a knife and a tiny tiny
stuff with a knife and a tiny tiny little chopping board that you would
little chopping board that you would
little chopping board that you would just blow your mind and he produces this
just blow your mind and he produces this
just blow your mind and he produces this coke cutters treat the street snack that
coke cutters treat the street snack that
coke cutters treat the street snack that tastes so wonderful and fills you up in
tastes so wonderful and fills you up in
tastes so wonderful and fills you up in a way that goes so much beyond the food
a way that goes so much beyond the food
a way that goes so much beyond the food that you’re eating and this is Nicky
that you’re eating and this is Nicky
that you’re eating and this is Nicky from healthy yummy she’s one of the
from healthy yummy she’s one of the
from healthy yummy she’s one of the founders of fabric and she decided she
founders of fabric and she decided she
founders of fabric and she decided she was going to turn her her pizzazz and
was going to turn her her pizzazz and
was going to turn her her pizzazz and love of life to food and she serves the
love of life to food and she serves the
love of life to food and she serves the most incredible seasonal British food
most incredible seasonal British food
most incredible seasonal British food she thought she’s making scallops there
she thought she’s making scallops there
she thought she’s making scallops there that she serves in a show with celeriac
that she serves in a show with celeriac
that she serves in a show with celeriac puree and bacon bits
puree and bacon bits
puree and bacon bits and C sea vegetables and it’s just
and C sea vegetables and it’s just
and C sea vegetables and it’s just wonderful and I met so many other
wonderful and I met so many other
wonderful and I met so many other characters like this and I thought why
characters like this and I thought why
characters like this and I thought why don’t we just get together and get
don’t we just get together and get
don’t we just get together and get organized and make something bigger than
organized and make something bigger than
organized and make something bigger than that’s just the sum of our parts let’s
that’s just the sum of our parts let’s
that’s just the sum of our parts let’s amplify all of this magic let’s create
amplify all of this magic let’s create
amplify all of this magic let’s create strength in numbers let’s make ourselves
strength in numbers let’s make ourselves
strength in numbers let’s make ourselves more visible let’s create more
more visible let’s create more
more visible let’s create more opportunities and let’s make the food on
opportunities and let’s make the food on
opportunities and let’s make the food on the streets better by putting all of
the streets better by putting all of
the streets better by putting all of this talent together and really
this talent together and really
this talent together and really agglomerating it all so I launched eat
agglomerating it all so I launched eat
agglomerating it all so I launched eat Street which was a street food
Street which was a street food
Street which was a street food collective it was kind of a hobby that I
collective it was kind of a hobby that I
collective it was kind of a hobby that I did in my kitchen really and in the
did in my kitchen really and in the
did in my kitchen really and in the in-between scooping ice cream
in-between scooping ice cream
in-between scooping ice cream when I was at markets I go scouting
when I was at markets I go scouting
when I was at markets I go scouting around for talent and it was just
around for talent and it was just
around for talent and it was just something kind of pretty informal we I
something kind of pretty informal we I
something kind of pretty informal we I mean I can’t really even remember what
mean I can’t really even remember what
mean I can’t really even remember what we were doing like we would we would get
we were doing like we would we would get
we were doing like we would we would get together with people at Yanni from the
together with people at Yanni from the
together with people at Yanni from the meat wagon and Nikki and Angus and Nick
meat wagon and Nikki and Angus and Nick
meat wagon and Nikki and Angus and Nick from hamana hamana and all these
from hamana hamana and all these
from hamana hamana and all these different characters and we’d do things
different characters and we’d do things
different characters and we’d do things like go down by the towpath in Hackney
like go down by the towpath in Hackney
like go down by the towpath in Hackney which is now a space that there’s a
which is now a space that there’s a
which is now a space that there’s a development on you can’t go there
development on you can’t go there
development on you can’t go there anymore we’d go to the south bank we go
anymore we’d go to the south bank we go
anymore we’d go to the south bank we go down to Peckham we were all over the
down to Peckham we were all over the
down to Peckham we were all over the place but it was all pretty kind of
place but it was all pretty kind of
place but it was all pretty kind of fly-by-night it was in 2011 there argent
fly-by-night it was in 2011 there argent
fly-by-night it was in 2011 there argent the developers at Kings Cross I don’t
the developers at Kings Cross I don’t
the developers at Kings Cross I don’t know what way it is because I’m
know what way it is because I’m
know what way it is because I’m completely disorientated but like very
completely disorientated but like very
completely disorientated but like very near to here got in touch and they said
near to here got in touch and they said
near to here got in touch and they said they’d like each Street to come to Kings
they’d like each Street to come to Kings
they’d like each Street to come to Kings Boulevard which was a completely new
Boulevard which was a completely new
Boulevard which was a completely new Street at the time and in live in the
Street at the time and in live in the
Street at the time and in live in the space and create a new narrative for it
space and create a new narrative for it
space and create a new narrative for it whilst the whole place was a complete
whilst the whole place was a complete
whilst the whole place was a complete building site so that was brilliant that
building site so that was brilliant that
building site so that was brilliant that was really a really great move for us
was really a really great move for us
was really a really great move for us and it made me realise that this could
and it made me realise that this could
and it made me realise that this could be more than just a hobby that I did in
be more than just a hobby that I did in
be more than just a hobby that I did in my kitchen it could be a business so
my kitchen it could be a business so
my kitchen it could be a business so kerb was what was launched as a result
kerb was what was launched as a result
kerb was what was launched as a result of this in 2012 and it was it was
of this in 2012 and it was it was
of this in 2012 and it was it was probably 20 traders something like that
probably 20 traders something like that
probably 20 traders something like that and we rolled along we did a few
and we rolled along we did a few
and we rolled along we did a few pictures here and there and I think we
pictures here and there and I think we
pictures here and there and I think we did like two days a week sort of six
did like two days a week sort of six
did like two days a week sort of six traders and it was really exciting times
traders and it was really exciting times
traders and it was really exciting times it was a time when Twitter was hot as
it was a time when Twitter was hot as
it was a time when Twitter was hot as hell so this is you know 2011 2012
hell so this is you know 2011 2012
hell so this is you know 2011 2012 everyone’s crazy about Twitter Street
everyone’s crazy about Twitter Street
everyone’s crazy about Twitter Street food is kind of becoming a thing there’s
food is kind of becoming a thing there’s
food is kind of becoming a thing there’s a frisson of excitement people are
a frisson of excitement people are
a frisson of excitement people are talking about it and the whole London
talking about it and the whole London
talking about it and the whole London dining scene was starting to informal
dining scene was starting to informal
dining scene was starting to informal eyes in really exciting ways and we kind
eyes in really exciting ways and we kind
eyes in really exciting ways and we kind of were part of that wave today we have
of were part of that wave today we have
of were part of that wave today we have got about 70 traders that we work with
got about 70 traders that we work with
got about 70 traders that we work with we have gone from the few pictures a
we have gone from the few pictures a
we have gone from the few pictures a couple of times a week at Kings Cross to
couple of times a week at Kings Cross to
couple of times a week at Kings Cross to over seven and a half thousand pictures
over seven and a half thousand pictures
over seven and a half thousand pictures all year across our sites which is five
all year across our sites which is five
all year across our sites which is five sites across London
sites across London
sites across London we’ve got an expanding private events
we’ve got an expanding private events
we’ve got an expanding private events section and we’ve got an expanding
section and we’ve got an expanding
section and we’ve got an expanding public events section and we are looking
public events section and we are looking
public events section and we are looking at this year feeding 1.5 million dishes
at this year feeding 1.5 million dishes
at this year feeding 1.5 million dishes to Londoners across our markets that’s
to Londoners across our markets that’s
to Londoners across our markets that’s over four thousand dishes served by kerb
over four thousand dishes served by kerb
over four thousand dishes served by kerb traders every single day of the year in
traders every single day of the year in
traders every single day of the year in London so it’s really grown what what at
London so it’s really grown what what at
London so it’s really grown what what at the same time has happened is that
the same time has happened is that
the same time has happened is that people it’s like street food has become
people it’s like street food has become
people it’s like street food has become almost a parody and it’s talked about is
almost a parody and it’s talked about is
almost a parody and it’s talked about is as if it’s this really cool thing this
as if it’s this really cool thing this
as if it’s this really cool thing this hot thing and you get you get street
hot thing and you get you get street
hot thing and you get you get street food concept restaurants which I always
food concept restaurants which I always
food concept restaurants which I always find a bit with you get a street food
find a bit with you get a street food
find a bit with you get a street food recipe Street food style recipes and
recipe Street food style recipes and
recipe Street food style recipes and magazines you get street food dishes in
magazines you get street food dishes in
magazines you get street food dishes in supermarket shelves and you’ve got a
supermarket shelves and you’ve got a
supermarket shelves and you’ve got a load of investors just clamouring to
load of investors just clamouring to
load of investors just clamouring to find the hot new street food trader
find the hot new street food trader
find the hot new street food trader who’s going to be the next Bao who’s
who’s going to be the next Bao who’s
who’s going to be the next Bao who’s gonna be the next Bleecker burger who’s
gonna be the next Bleecker burger who’s
gonna be the next Bleecker burger who’s going to be the next piece of pilgrims
going to be the next piece of pilgrims
going to be the next piece of pilgrims everyone’s really really excited about
everyone’s really really excited about
everyone’s really really excited about it but I think the thing that I’m the
it but I think the thing that I’m the
it but I think the thing that I’m the most excited about with Street food and
most excited about with Street food and
most excited about with Street food and which continues to intrigue me and what
which continues to intrigue me and what
which continues to intrigue me and what make me want to be part of this scene is
make me want to be part of this scene is
make me want to be part of this scene is something that’s a bit less intangible
something that’s a bit less intangible
something that’s a bit less intangible something that you can’t see and you
something that you can’t see and you
something that you can’t see and you can’t quantify you can’t put it in a
can’t quantify you can’t put it in a
can’t quantify you can’t put it in a spreadsheet
spreadsheet
spreadsheet it’s got no rateable value and you can’t
it’s got no rateable value and you can’t
it’s got no rateable value and you can’t download it and I think the best way of
download it and I think the best way of
download it and I think the best way of explaining why what what all of this
explaining why what what all of this
explaining why what what all of this intangible stuff is is the reason that I
intangible stuff is is the reason that I
intangible stuff is is the reason that I called kirb kirb in the first place
called kirb kirb in the first place
called kirb kirb in the first place so I see the kerb as a really really
so I see the kerb as a really really
so I see the kerb as a really really flat vital part of city life and all of
flat vital part of city life and all of
flat vital part of city life and all of the stuff that it can produce I see the
the stuff that it can produce I see the
the stuff that it can produce I see the curve as a platform as a platform for
curve as a platform as a platform for
curve as a platform as a platform for businesses with very little to make a go
businesses with very little to make a go
businesses with very little to make a go of it it’s the lowest barrier to entry
of it it’s the lowest barrier to entry
of it it’s the lowest barrier to entry profession that there is anywhere in the
profession that there is anywhere in the
profession that there is anywhere in the world anyone can have a go at it as long
world anyone can have a go at it as long
world anyone can have a go at it as long as you’ve got a gas burner and and maybe
as you’ve got a gas burner and and maybe
as you’ve got a gas burner and and maybe a bit of food and a bit of way about you
a bit of food and a bit of way about you
a bit of food and a bit of way about you to kind of make something happen and I
to kind of make something happen and I
to kind of make something happen and I think it’s really really important that
think it’s really really important that
think it’s really really important that London continues to provide this stable
London continues to provide this stable
London continues to provide this stable platform as stable as it possibly can be
platform as stable as it possibly can be
platform as stable as it possibly can be because this is a really uncertain
because this is a really uncertain
because this is a really uncertain business I mean anyone that wants to
business I mean anyone that wants to
business I mean anyone that wants to have a go at making a business work from
have a go at making a business work from
have a go at making a business work from a 10
a 10
a 10 in the London weather is needs all the
in the London weather is needs all the
in the London weather is needs all the help that they can get so it’s really
help that they can get so it’s really
help that they can get so it’s really about creating this platform and we
about creating this platform and we
about creating this platform and we really believe and a lot of markets in
really believe and a lot of markets in
really believe and a lot of markets in London as well believe in this whole
London as well believe in this whole
London as well believe in this whole need to bring in raw talent constantly
need to bring in raw talent constantly
need to bring in raw talent constantly whether we’re always looking for new
whether we’re always looking for new
whether we’re always looking for new ideas and new people who are innovating
ideas and new people who are innovating
ideas and new people who are innovating and it’s kind of feeding the city in
and it’s kind of feeding the city in
and it’s kind of feeding the city in ways that’s untrammeled that people can
ways that’s untrammeled that people can
ways that’s untrammeled that people can experiment and try ideas without feeling
experiment and try ideas without feeling
experiment and try ideas without feeling like they’ve got to answer to their
like they’ve got to answer to their
like they’ve got to answer to their financial backers or they’ve got to fill
financial backers or they’ve got to fill
financial backers or they’ve got to fill it in on a spreadsheet or anything and
it in on a spreadsheet or anything and
it in on a spreadsheet or anything and that’s really exciting and as long as
that’s really exciting and as long as
that’s really exciting and as long as we’re allowing spaces and creating these
we’re allowing spaces and creating these
we’re allowing spaces and creating these platforms for these fresh ideas to come
platforms for these fresh ideas to come
platforms for these fresh ideas to come through then London’s going to continue
through then London’s going to continue
through then London’s going to continue to have a little bit of something about
to have a little bit of something about
to have a little bit of something about it that’s interesting and it’s really
it that’s interesting and it’s really
it that’s interesting and it’s really really important so the other thing that
really important so the other thing that
really important so the other thing that I think the kerb brings is a stage I see
I think the kerb brings is a stage I see
I think the kerb brings is a stage I see it as a stage I see the trader as the
it as a stage I see the trader as the
it as a stage I see the trader as the main character in their own personal
main character in their own personal
main character in their own personal play their van or their gazebo as their
play their van or their gazebo as their
play their van or their gazebo as their set and their signage and their
set and their signage and their
set and their signage and their equipment and all their different bits
equipment and all their different bits
equipment and all their different bits and bobs as their props I also see it as
and bobs as their props I also see it as
and bobs as their props I also see it as an opportunity for people to bring their
an opportunity for people to bring their
an opportunity for people to bring their stories to that stage and so you’re
stories to that stage and so you’re
stories to that stage and so you’re eating the food but where the food comes
eating the food but where the food comes
eating the food but where the food comes from is really exciting to me it’s all
from is really exciting to me it’s all
from is really exciting to me it’s all the journeys that the food is taken
the journeys that the food is taken
the journeys that the food is taken across continents and across years so
across continents and across years so
across continents and across years so this is barbecue dreams it’s Lee and
this is barbecue dreams it’s Lee and
this is barbecue dreams it’s Lee and Sinead Sinead from go away and Lee is
Sinead Sinead from go away and Lee is
Sinead Sinead from go away and Lee is half Filipino he grew up in the
half Filipino he grew up in the
half Filipino he grew up in the Philippines and they’re making this
Philippines and they’re making this
Philippines and they’re making this Filipino deliciousness that if you
Filipino deliciousness that if you
Filipino deliciousness that if you haven’t tried it you’ve got a you’ve got
haven’t tried it you’ve got a you’ve got
haven’t tried it you’ve got a you’ve got to go and get involved but his parents
to go and get involved but his parents
to go and get involved but his parents met in Hong Kong years ago and then they
met in Hong Kong years ago and then they
met in Hong Kong years ago and then they moved to the Philippines and he grew up
moved to the Philippines and he grew up
moved to the Philippines and he grew up learning how to make chicken adobo and
learning how to make chicken adobo and
learning how to make chicken adobo and all of these delicious Filipino dishes
all of these delicious Filipino dishes
all of these delicious Filipino dishes and what you get when you come to one of
and what you get when you come to one of
and what you get when you come to one of these traders is you don’t know it you
these traders is you don’t know it you
these traders is you don’t know it you can’t see it but you’re tasting the
can’t see it but you’re tasting the
can’t see it but you’re tasting the journeys of what they’re bringing to the
journeys of what they’re bringing to the
journeys of what they’re bringing to the table and that’s really exciting and
table and that’s really exciting and
table and that’s really exciting and when you put all of that together on the
when you put all of that together on the
when you put all of that together on the curve and especially when you look at
curve and especially when you look at
curve and especially when you look at all the steel and glass that’s kind of
all the steel and glass that’s kind of
all the steel and glass that’s kind of building up around you all the time
building up around you all the time
building up around you all the time it’s cool it’s a moveable it’s it’s
it’s cool it’s a moveable it’s it’s
it’s cool it’s a moveable it’s it’s rigid and then you’ve got all this
rigid and then you’ve got all this
rigid and then you’ve got all this theater going on it’s really exciting it
theater going on it’s really exciting it
theater going on it’s really exciting it makes makes London just that a little
makes makes London just that a little
makes makes London just that a little bit more kind of of a meaningful human
bit more kind of of a meaningful human
bit more kind of of a meaningful human place and don’t forget it’s not just
place and don’t forget it’s not just
place and don’t forget it’s not just about the traders selling to you the
about the traders selling to you the
about the traders selling to you the customers are just as important in this
customers are just as important in this
customers are just as important in this production I think if it is a
production I think if it is a
production I think if it is a co-production of space where everyone
co-production of space where everyone
co-production of space where everyone belongs there you’re looking in the eyes
belongs there you’re looking in the eyes
belongs there you’re looking in the eyes of the people that have served you the
of the people that have served you the
of the people that have served you the food and you’re seeing who’s making you
food and you’re seeing who’s making you
food and you’re seeing who’s making you your lunch I never get that when I get a
your lunch I never get that when I get a
your lunch I never get that when I get a laminated sandwich from a chain sandwich
laminated sandwich from a chain sandwich
laminated sandwich from a chain sandwich shop and I think it’s really it’s
shop and I think it’s really it’s
shop and I think it’s really it’s powerful it makes you feel something and
powerful it makes you feel something and
powerful it makes you feel something and you exchange stories and you I mean when
you exchange stories and you I mean when
you exchange stories and you I mean when the wind picks up you might have to grab
the wind picks up you might have to grab
the wind picks up you might have to grab the legs of the gazebo and stop it from
the legs of the gazebo and stop it from
the legs of the gazebo and stop it from flowing away or something but you’re
flowing away or something but you’re
flowing away or something but you’re involved it’s participatory and I think
involved it’s participatory and I think
involved it’s participatory and I think as long as London is providing ways for
as long as London is providing ways for
as long as London is providing ways for us to participate in ways that we
us to participate in ways that we
us to participate in ways that we weren’t expecting which in ways that are
weren’t expecting which in ways that are
weren’t expecting which in ways that are unmediated and then choreographed it
unmediated and then choreographed it
unmediated and then choreographed it makes you feel a little bit more human
makes you feel a little bit more human
makes you feel a little bit more human and I think that’s really important the
and I think that’s really important the
and I think that’s really important the curbs also a leveler so everyone belongs
curbs also a leveler so everyone belongs
curbs also a leveler so everyone belongs there and no one owns it so it creates
there and no one owns it so it creates
there and no one owns it so it creates this just balance you’re not in somebody
this just balance you’re not in somebody
this just balance you’re not in somebody else’s shot for someone else’s
else’s shot for someone else’s
else’s shot for someone else’s restaurant under someone else’s manners
restaurant under someone else’s manners
restaurant under someone else’s manners you’re all on the same level and that’s
you’re all on the same level and that’s
you’re all on the same level and that’s brilliant
brilliant
brilliant you don’t need any kind of certification
you don’t need any kind of certification
you don’t need any kind of certification to join the street food industry
to join the street food industry
to join the street food industry although you need to get it once you
although you need to get it once you
although you need to get it once you started cuz otherwise you might get in
started cuz otherwise you might get in
started cuz otherwise you might get in trouble but you and you don’t need as a
trouble but you and you don’t need as a
trouble but you and you don’t need as a customer doesn’t matter who you are
customer doesn’t matter who you are
customer doesn’t matter who you are aware you’re from everybody’s welcome
aware you’re from everybody’s welcome
aware you’re from everybody’s welcome like this is the public you know that
like this is the public you know that
like this is the public you know that the street is democracy’s is the is
the street is democracy’s is the is
the street is democracy’s is the is democracy’s greatest arena you know this
democracy’s greatest arena you know this
democracy’s greatest arena you know this is where we all belong and this is where
is where we all belong and this is where
is where we all belong and this is where we should all feel like we belong
we should all feel like we belong
we should all feel like we belong without having to kind of be governed by
without having to kind of be governed by
without having to kind of be governed by somebody else’s rules so it’s a great
somebody else’s rules so it’s a great
somebody else’s rules so it’s a great leveler and it’s not a spectator sport
leveler and it’s not a spectator sport
leveler and it’s not a spectator sport everyone should get involved with it
everyone should get involved with it
everyone should get involved with it June 24th last year woke up to the
June 24th last year woke up to the
June 24th last year woke up to the terrible news that Britain has voted to
terrible news that Britain has voted to
terrible news that Britain has voted to leave the EU and that night we’ve got an
leave the EU and that night we’ve got an
leave the EU and that night we’ve got an event on in Kings Cross a granary square
event on in Kings Cross a granary square
event on in Kings Cross a granary square very close to here and we’re wondering
very close to here and we’re wondering
very close to here and we’re wondering the hell is going to want to come out
the hell is going to want to come out
the hell is going to want to come out tonight this is just not a time for
tonight this is just not a time for
tonight this is just not a time for partying this is a disaster and we were
partying this is a disaster and we were
partying this is a disaster and we were all kind of kicked in the guts about the
all kind of kicked in the guts about the
all kind of kicked in the guts about the news and what happened was amazing so
news and what happened was amazing so
news and what happened was amazing so many people poured into that square no
many people poured into that square no
many people poured into that square no tickets needed nothing but just come
tickets needed nothing but just come
tickets needed nothing but just come along buy some food buy something to
along buy some food buy something to
along buy some food buy something to drink
drink
drink kick off your kick off your heels to all
kick off your kick off your heels to all
kick off your kick off your heels to all that back porch music that we got from
that back porch music that we got from
that back porch music that we got from maverick festival and it was this
maverick festival and it was this
maverick festival and it was this amazing bomb that I think everyone just
amazing bomb that I think everyone just
amazing bomb that I think everyone just really really needed that night I was at
really really needed that night I was at
really really needed that night I was at the brisket store eating some brisket
the brisket store eating some brisket
the brisket store eating some brisket from Howard’s Meat Company and this
from Howard’s Meat Company and this
from Howard’s Meat Company and this woman from the Ukraine came along
woman from the Ukraine came along
woman from the Ukraine came along looking really devastated
looking really devastated
looking really devastated she’d been living in London for 20 years
she’d been living in London for 20 years
she’d been living in London for 20 years and she was just absolutely gutted about
and she was just absolutely gutted about
and she was just absolutely gutted about what was going on and she said what I’m
what was going on and she said what I’m
what was going on and she said what I’m like can I not be here anymore what am I
like can I not be here anymore what am I
like can I not be here anymore what am I going to do and I didn’t really know
going to do and I didn’t really know
going to do and I didn’t really know what to say to her rather than do you
what to say to her rather than do you
what to say to her rather than do you want half of my sandwich and she was
want half of my sandwich and she was
want half of my sandwich and she was just delighted and she felt so it was
just delighted and she felt so it was
just delighted and she felt so it was almost like this kind of symbolic
almost like this kind of symbolic
almost like this kind of symbolic Britain loves you here have half of my
Britain loves you here have half of my
Britain loves you here have half of my sandwich and we had a hug and off she
sandwich and we had a hug and off she
sandwich and we had a hug and off she went and she was she was delighted and I
went and she was she was delighted and I
went and she was she was delighted and I was delighted and I I can’t I look back
was delighted and I I can’t I look back
was delighted and I I can’t I look back on you know I’ll never see that woman
on you know I’ll never see that woman
on you know I’ll never see that woman again but I look back on that day as
again but I look back on that day as
again but I look back on that day as starting off with this awful awful
starting off with this awful awful
starting off with this awful awful feeling and then ending off with this
feeling and then ending off with this
feeling and then ending off with this amazing feeling of kind of hope that was
amazing feeling of kind of hope that was
amazing feeling of kind of hope that was really powerful and that was given to me
really powerful and that was given to me
really powerful and that was given to me by the streets under this sky that you
by the streets under this sky that you
by the streets under this sky that you know people have been dancing and eating
know people have been dancing and eating
know people have been dancing and eating and drinking under for hundreds and
and drinking under for hundreds and
and drinking under for hundreds and hundreds of years and I think it’s
hundreds of years and I think it’s
hundreds of years and I think it’s really important to remember that the
really important to remember that the
really important to remember that the kind of traditions and the roots of
kind of traditions and the roots of
kind of traditions and the roots of street food food served on the street in
street food food served on the street in
street food food served on the street in the city for so long so I think that
the city for so long so I think that
the city for so long so I think that everyone should go to markets and you
everyone should go to markets and you
everyone should go to markets and you should go and soak it up and soak up
should go and soak it up and soak up
should go and soak it up and soak up that atmosphere because there’s an
that atmosphere because there’s an
that atmosphere because there’s an energy and a lifeblood that you
energy and a lifeblood that you
energy and a lifeblood that you participate in by going to Street
participate in by going to Street
participate in by going to Street markets and you help to feed it and
markets and you help to feed it and
markets and you help to feed it and energize it and become part of something
energize it and become part of something
energize it and become part of something that is about so much more than just
that is about so much more than just
that is about so much more than just eating the food it nourishes you and by
eating the food it nourishes you and by
eating the food it nourishes you and by extension it nourishes the city thank
extension it nourishes the city thank
extension it nourishes the city thank you
you
you you
”
Be First to Comment