insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 04 - June 2015 | Page 33
food+drink
their vision. Knowing London well, it came as a bit of a shock when they
realised that there was nowhere to find great quality, great tasting street
food in Brighton. They knew that if they could find the perfect location,
they would be able to populate it with exceptional street food vendors
from Brighton and the surrounding area. They did, and it has gone from
strength to strength.
and it wouldn’t be fair on the customers either, with vendors competing in
price wars which would, of course, ultimately affect the quality of the food
they served.
Sustainability is another very important aspect of the vision behind Street
Diner. There is no plastic allowed, for example, and the food should
be locally sourced wherever possible. It is this attention to what the
customers want that sets this venture apart from many others. This is not
about profits; this is about making something good for the local Brighton
community.
But why so popular?
As Christine herself says, this is diverse, global street food that is made
by local people for local people (and those who want to travel to try out
the range of wonderful food on offer!) – it is restaurant quality food, ‘sitting
down food’, that just happens to be enjoyed standing up, in the most
convivial atmosphere around, and at a fraction of the cost.
This is clearly an outdoor event, and Christina was keen to confirm that
the Street Diner goes ahead, no matter what the weather is up to. After
all, people always need to eat their lunch, and if they can be guaranteed
delicious food at great prices made in front of their eyes – and a vast array
of it too, with plenty of choice – they will return even in the dead of winter,
There is never a clash of vendors either, no doubling up – that’s a rule. It
wouldn’t be fair on the stall holders to find they had direct competition,
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