14\10\2012
Written by Jurriaan
The Food Line-Up: free street food!
Food trucks. In other big cities like London, Berlin, New York and Shanghai they are immensely popular. And there is no mystery to their popularity: they offer a wide range of different foods to the workers, students and businessmen on their lunch break. Some grab a quick burger at their local stand, while others track down their favourite chef’s truck online because it often changes location.
Kjosk, Berlin
On a recent trip to Berlin we visited Kjosk, the infamous vintage bus turned convenient store/cafe. Although technically it’s not really a street food truck, it is a slightly different take on the concept that does some fresh food but is more of a fun take on the ‘Spätis’ (Spätkauf=corner shop) and has a small seating area upstairs.
Squatted Dutch fried food stall, Amsterdam
But whenever we go abroad, on return to Amsterdam we are always hugely disappointed by the very select offer: aside from the eternal hotdog carts and oliebollen stands (amazing yet greasy sweet fried dough balls, a Dutch new year’s tradition) and some fish stalls there is not much diversity. Funny detail: the oliebollen stand above in Amsterdam was ‘squatted’ by a few ladies who wanted people to have a healthy start of the year.
The problem is that fast food can be found on each corner: chips, hamburgers and so on. Maoz is as healthy as it gets. So if you’re a hungry Amsterdammer looking for a quick yet healthy bite your only options are to queue up for a sandwich or take another ready-made salad from the supermarket, which probably has less nutrients and vitamins than you expected since it is prepackaged and not fresh.
Sweetery, NYC
However, what about healthy, wholesome food that is still quick and prepared while you wait? This is not a new concept, the street food trucks that offer this are incredibly successful all over the world in the big cities; they do not only offer more culinary enrichment, but also cultural diversity. So why is it so hard for Amsterdam to come up with a decent selection of food trucks instead of the junk food?
It’s all about regulations. There are several culinairy entrepeneurs who can’t wait to serve us some good and healthy streetfood. Yet the city council is not granting them any permits. In fact: a permit that allows you to move around a few different spots several times a week is scarce (only six are admitted!) and takes a waiting time of 14 to 50 years!!! Other permits that would allow you to stay in one place are not being admitted by the city council at all for consumer-heavy areas like the center and the south (business area) of Amsterdam.
Food Truck Eats, food truck festival in Stratford
In order to demonstrate what street food trucks could do for the city, and not only the other way around, The Food Line-Up is providing free healthy meals on World Food Day next Tuesday October 16 from 12:30 to tourists, locals, but also members of the council, journalists and entrepeneurs on Dam square in the city center. Feel free to drop by and show your support, or just to get a free lunch!