Blimey. Recently there’s been a whole heap of national media coverage about the so called ‘street food phenomenon’ in the UK.

First was the food truck episode of ‘The Apprentice’, which successfully hyped how easy it is to trade in Edinburgh. Lord Sugar and his production team put all the pieces of the puzzle neatly in place. Within days, the novices were making and selling gourmet cuisine, with not so much as a hygiene certificate or a street trading license between them. It certainly wasn’t a true representation of the back-breaking work, coupled with long days, which running a food business demands.

More recently, was ‘The One Show’ which featured the recent street food festival at Cabot Circus in Bristol. This event, which took place in May, featured a number of fabulous looking street food traders, including London based veterans of the festival scene Byron Hamburgers.

Watch the clip here while you can (June 2012).

It’s good the team at Cabot Circus welcomed these vendors with open arms. It’s helped to show the good people of Bristol and beyond what’s going on in other parts of the country. But I’ve gotta say it, the festival only showcased one Bristol vendor, the recently established CUPP Tea. Not even American Kitchen who has traded at Quakers Friars in the past was there.

There are loads of amazing small teams hard at work in Bristol. Katie and Kim sell the tastiest chorizo flatbread with sweet onion, leaves and aioli. These girls were trading out of their cute and fully equipped horse box on Stokes Croft all through the winter. They also dole out freshly brewed coffee, cheese scones and cinnamon buns. These Scottish gals have got guts, enthusiasm and plenty of smiles and are bloody good bakers and cooks. I wonder why they weren’t trading at Cabot Circus.

And how about Chilli Daddy? They recently celebrated their first anniversary and knuckle down selling hot and spicy Szechuan noodles, hot pots and salads. They trade at the wonderfully local Wine Street market on Friday and at the Tobacco Factory farmers market on Sundays.

They’re part of our exemplary food scene in Bristol. Lots are owner operated restaurants and cafes, but this movement is slowly but surely moving to our pavements, car parks and community spaces. The Bear Pit, (otherwise known as St. James Barton roundabout and just next to Cabot Circus), is one such example. The regular traders include Bear Pit Coffee - a cute little van/tent combo, there’s a fruit and veg stall and even a hot sausage vendor.

The ‘Bear Pit Improvement Group’ who manages the space is working hard to set up a regular food market on Saturdays. They want everyone to embrace the neglected 60’s walkways and sunken space. Streetfood will animate the area and people can use it as a space to socialise. I think these ambitious plans are well overdue and I want to urge local businesses to donate financially to help to make this happen. If you know a business that’s up for getting involved, let me know.

And you, street food lover...support the underdogs. Get out there and buy some morsels from these hard working people.