Food & Lifestyle

Food trucks have become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years, and for good reason. They offer a unique and convenient way to cater events of all kinds, from weddings to corporate events to festivals and more. Not only do they offer delicious food options, but they also add a fun and unique element to any event. One of the biggest benefits of using a food truck for your event is the flexibility they offer. Unlike traditional catering options, food trucks can be parked and set up almost anywhere, making them a great option for events in parks, on beaches, or even in private backyards. This also means that they can easily be moved to different locations throughout the event, ensuring that everyone has access to the delicious food. Food trucks also offer a wide variety of food options. From classic street food like burgers and hot dogs, to more gourmet options like wood-fired pizzas, tacos, and even sushi, there is something for everyone. Additionally, many food trucks now offer ...

Outdoor weddings in the UK can be a beautiful and unique experience for both the couple and their guests. However, one aspect that can make or break the occasion is the catering. Outdoor wedding catering in the UK presents its own set of challenges and considerations, but with proper planning and execution, it can be a success. First and foremost, it's important to consider the weather. The UK is known for its unpredictable weather, so it's crucial to have a plan in place for both sunny and rainy conditions. For example, having a tent or other form of shelter for guests to take cover in during a rain shower is a must. Additionally, having heaters or fire pits can keep guests warm on cooler days. Next, it's important to choose the right type of food and drinks for an outdoor wedding. Finger foods and canapés are a great option as they are easy to eat while standing or sitting in a relaxed setting. Barbecues are also a popular choice for outdoor weddings and can provide a ca...

Food trucks with online ordering systems are doing more than simply processing payments—they're offering a richer guest experience. Connecting hungry people with delicious food is a tried-and-tested business model, but the transaction is pretty much limited to the time and place where it's made. That is a missed opportunity. Savvy food truck operators who are able to harness new technology to enable deeper, richer relationships—which extend far beyond simply satiating immediate hunger—will be the most successful. One tech solution that continues to increase in popularity is the use of QR codes. While they've been used in Asia for quite a while, they've started to become commonplace across the U.S. Research from Statista has found that the U.S. and U.K. have seen more and more QR codes as businesses and restaurants across the world are starting to use them more regularly. In some cases, they've even taken the place of registers, with transactions now largely taking p...

Hog Roasts are the new sensation sweeping the nation. Yes, they have been going for a fair few years- the medieval world was a huge fan of the spit roast after all. When one pictures a succulent hog glistening that lovely, rich mahogany colour, with an apple in its mouth, images of women with flowing locks and frocks, and cone-like head pieces, and men with jugs of ale and pink blushed cheeks, come leaping into view. Yes, Henry the Eighth may have been all too enamored with the hog roast, but so, it seems, are we. The hog roast is back. One of the best things about a hog roast is that it’s relatively low maintenance, yet feeds an army of hungry people. A whole hog roast can feed up to 120. Now that’s a party! Ideally, for a full sized pig roast, you would want at least 50 guests at your event. For parties smaller than 50 people it would be best to opt for a smaller beast, a lamb would be the perfect choice. A whole lamb roast will feed up to 45 people. So, once you’ve decided how many...

Well maybe not when you have added all the home made apple sauce, chilli sauce and BBQ sauce. Then topped this with a sage and onion stuffing, after squashing as much pork as you can onto one of our freshly baked bread rolls and lets not forget about the crispy crackling that’s a favourite with our customers and their guests. However let us have a look at the benefits of roast pork alone. Pork is high in vitamins and minerals which include the likes of phosphorus, selenium, and thiamine.  We associate Beef or perhaps Lamb when we think of a meat rich in vitamin B and thiamine. However the hog roast is actually richer in both! Also found in a rich form when we look at pork are the vitamins B6 & B12. Essential vitamins should you be considering going on the Chase any time soon, as these are essential vitamins for the brain to get working correctly ! Another important requirement of the human body is Iron, you guessed it, the hog roast supplies the human body with a high amount o...

If you’ve ever dreamt about opening a food truck , you know it takes a lot of work. You have a vision, an idea and you want to see it grow to fruition. We have some great news for entrepreneurs like you! Over 80% of food truck diners choose to eat there because of the exciting, new, and unique experience. People want to try your fresh menu and enjoy your one-of-a-kind restaurant experience. However, there are many costs and logistics to figure out in your business plan before getting to the fun part. After perfecting the recipes, nailing your food presentation, and choosing the right food truck name, you have to find the actual truck, outfit it with the right food truck equipment and hire a team to run it. All of this takes time.  Once your food truck is ready for business, you need to develop a strategy for attracting guests and generating repeat orders. But how do you find — and keep —  customers? Marketing and branding. When it comes to food trucks, branding is essential, ...

Are you looking for the very best catering van for hire ? If the answer to that question is yes, you should check out the Chop & Chip website today. We are a dedicated establishment that was founded back in 2013, by two individuals called Marcus and Fergus who bonded over their passion for good food. As a business, we are incredibly committed to providing the very best service to all the clients that we work with, so you know we are the very best company to go to. Here at Chop & Chip, we have a truly outstanding reputation for our customer advocacy and reliability. We hold huge amounts of pride upholding this with all the clients we work with, especially because one of our main priorities as a business is ensuring our customers are 100% happy with the services we provide. Our team are very dedicated to the work they do and are incredibly friendly and professional, ready to take stress away your event. No matter whether we are creating boutique or large scale experiences for pri...

Before you can start brainstorming color schemes and marketing campaigns, you first have to develop a clear understanding of your restaurant brand. Ultimately, this will influence how your customers perceive and interact with your business. Your food truck brand dictates how your business lives on in the minds of your customers. This means that from the first time anyone sees your logo on their Instagram feed (or on the side of your food truck as it drives down the street), your brand should be memorable. Be sure to remain cohesive and consistent with your imagery, logo, menu, brand voice, font choices, and social media presence. How to Create a One-of-a-Kind Food Truck Brand Creating a memorable brand is all about leaning into what makes your food truck unique. A food truck brand should not only be enticing, but true to your spirit as an owner and restaurateur. Your brand should answer the question, “Why should customers choose your food truck over the opposing truck down the street...

Summer is the time of the year when many special occasions, social events and celebrations move from the indoors to the outdoors. If you are interested in putting together an outdoor event that will be remembered for a long time, you need to think outside the box a little. Especially when it comes to your options for outdoor catering. Finger buffets are all well and good, but they’ve been done a hundred times before. Formal sit down dinners are not suitable for an outdoor environment. So, what do you do? In the following post, we are going to offer up 5 great tups for unique outdoor catering that will hopefully help you with your plans for your event or celebration to stand out from the many others. As well as discussing menu and food ideas, we also offer some practical tips to keep in mind too. HIRE FOOD TRUCKS Rather than serving traditional food up in a traditional manner, you could follow the popular trend of hiring some food trucks as the outdoor catering for your event. Not only ...

With the good weather finally on the horizon and many of the restrictions we have had to put up with in the UK being lifted, you will be able to enjoy a traditional British summer BBQ. If you tend to find yourself heading to your favourite supermarket for your BBQ food and are looking to up your game a little this year, you should check out some of the great markets dotted around London. Not sure where to start your search? Below we’ve highlighted the 5 London markets we think offer the best of the best in BBQ food . BROADWAY MARKET Found in the London borough of Hackney, Broadway Market is the smallest of the markets on our list. Don’t let that fool you, though, as it commands an enviable reputation and is continuing to expand and grow. This is in part because it offers a wide range of organically sourced food, including venison, veal, freshly caught fish and rare breed pork for your own BBQ. If you try the tantalising BBQ stands they have there, though, you won’t be disappointed. STR...

Summer is the perfect time to get together with friends and family. Even in Britain, if you are careful to choose those days when the sun is shining and there is not a raincloud in sight, you can have a great outdoor event. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday party, anniversary, engagement, or a party just for the hell of it, surely that’s what summer is for? However, one of the problems many people have when organising summer events is the food and catering. It can be hard to gauge what your guests are going to like, especially if a lot of them have different tastes, preferences, or even dietary requirements. If you find yourself stuck trying to decide on the type of catering you should have for your next summer event, why not consider BBQ catering ? In the following post, we are going to highlight 5 great reasons why you should. THE SMELL IS INTOXICATING We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Walking or driving along the road when we catch a whiff of the scent of charcoal burning and meats (...

Street Food is the new way to eat gourmet dishes without paying the earth. It’s a bunch of passionate, motivated owner-operators who have a product they love and create it right there in front of you using local, high quality ingredients. The people you are buying the food from are the chefs, the owners, the drivers, the marketers, the buyers and the servers of the meal you’re eating. It’s artisan cooking at it’s most direct. This distinguishes it from more established cousins festival caterers (larger units, often many units owned by one company, mainly large festivals) and mobile caterers (think markets and car boot sales, selling straight forward food) although there is a lot of crossover, and you will find us all hanging out together when it’s raining. Set up as a sole trader or a limited company. Then you need to register a food business with your local authority. They will get the Environmental Health on your case and ultimately get you a Food Hygiene rating. That’s the only l...

A catering van business is a low-cost, low-risk venture for those looking to set up a food business. Rather than simply being a convenient way of eating, catering vans have become a gastronomical experience in themselves. Festival catering van offers a unique eating experience and can be found at a variety of events and locations. Customers have come to expect restaurant-quality food at a more affordable price – but don’t be fooled into thinking the lower price will harm your profits. A catering van has significantly lower overhead and running costs than traditional food establishments, increasing your profits. Catering vans have no culinary limits. You can serve any type of cuisine you choose, focusing on your culinary strengths and the type of food that is most likely to make a profit. Catering vans offer culinary diversity to their customers. When setting up your catering van business, it may be recommended to focus on a specific type of cuisine. You can then fine-tune your menu. T...

Over the past few years, street food catering have exploded in popularity. From local parks, city centres, and even Food Channel shows, one thing is for sure; everybody loves a food truck business. They’re fast, creative, and usually a lot cheaper than going to a fancy sit-down restaurant. As wonderful as all of this sounds, however, many aspiring chefs fail to realize the costs associated with opening their first food truck. When you’re looking at how much to start a food truck business , you need to consider costs of the truck, cooking equipment, renting locations, and even advertising. If you want to be successful, then you need to treat your truck like a business. There are plenty of opportunities for small business owners in the food truck industry. Instead of investing in a full brick-and-mortar location, you can start your own food service business with just a vehicle, cooking equipment, and ingredients. If you’re interested in starting a food truck business , the first step is...

If you’ve got the budget, a van makes life easier,  – but the right ones can come at a cost. ‘The vans people want are the vintage ones; Citroen H Van is the king of UK Street food , but you’re looking at around £45,000 (plus fit-out of kit) to get something that gives you some space and is mechanically sound,’ With one of these, the ‘ street food elite ’ will consider you for their events and you’ll get plenty of wedding work if that’s what you want, ‘Even then consider how far you want to travel; they are notoriously unreliable and slow.’ One other option is to explore second-hand vehicles. On E-bay for example, there are fitted out Citroen H Vans and VW Camper vans going in the region of £15,000 to £20,000. Of course, you’ll need to factor in any refurbishments and possibly mechanical work into these prices before you’re ready to hit the road. If you are thinking about festivals and bigger events, consider whether a van is what you need. ‘You can invest your money in pitch ...

Over the past few years, food trucks have exploded in popularity. From local parks, city centres, and even Food Channel shows, one thing is for sure; everybody loves a food truck business in uk . They’re fast, creative, and usually a lot cheaper than going to a fancy sit-down restaurant. For chefs and cooks, food trucks open up a whole new realm of creativity. You can have full control of the menu, without having to report to the usual restaurant hierarchy. The only thing that you have to worry about is keeping your customers loyal, satisfied, and interested. As wonderful as all of this sounds, however, many aspiring chefs fail to realise the costs associated with opening their first food truck. When you’re looking at how much to start a food truck business , you need to consider costs of the truck, cooking equipment, renting locations, and even advertising. If you want to be successful, then you need to treat your truck like a business. ‘I had a passion for food and the main drive fo...

Starting a food truck catering in the UK requires great cooking skills, passion, and creativity. You're also likely to be self-employed, so you'll need a range of business and marketing skills, as well as the ability to plan and create menus to keep your customers happy. 1. Define your big idea As noted above, the street food trade is a competitive market. Then what about your idea that will attract customers? Is it unique? Are you bringing special experiences from a culture to your kitchen? Think about your expertise and what types of food will appeal to potential customers. It's always a good idea to put the time and effort into writing a business plan and doing a SWOT analysis so you have a clear idea of ​​how you're going to start and grow your business. Your business plan will cover important areas such as: summary of your business idea how to finance your business marketing plan Details of your menu and how much you charge your customers potential places and even...

Whether you already have a food truck caterin g business or are currently in the process of setting one up, you need to make sure that your target customers know about your business. It doesn’t matter how good your chili dogs, vegan burgers, tacos, or smoothies are, if no one knows about your business, you will not get as many sales as you may want. The thought of working on marketing for a business can make many people nervous, however, it doesn’t need to be as difficult as you may think. In the following post, we are going to highlight 20 great and easy-to-implement marketing ideas. Optimize your food truck business website for smartphones and tablets Add a blog to your site and regularly update it Make sure you have an active social media presence Use relevant and appropriate # hashtags effectively Make full use of Instagram Stories Don’t dismiss press releases, as these are still effective Book a spot in local and national trade shows as these are an excellent way to reach a gr...

Food trucks are commonplace nowadays and there is more variety available at these mobile eateries than ever before. Beyond burgers and hot dogs, you can get almost the same variety as you would in a restaurant. However, whether you are looking to set up your own or are interested in renting a food truck for an event, it’s worth noting that some food trucks are more popular than others So, what are the foods that sell best in food trucks? We are going to highlight a number of these below. BURGERS It should come as no surprise that straight off the bat we are discussing one of the foods that many people would associate with food trucks burgers . Why are these so popular? They are easy to eat, affordable and delicious. From a production point of view, they are also simple and affordable to produce and can be endlessly customized to provide customers with a lot of choices without requiring a huge larder. STONE BAKED PIZZAS Have you ever been at a fair, festival or even just a local market ...

There is a lot you need to plan if have set the date and are getting married. In addition to the venue, the dress, the suit, and the honeymoon, one important thing that will be near the top of your list is the catering. Although the classic way to cater for a wedding is with either a sit-down dinner or a self-service buffet, there is nothing to stop you from doing something completely different. Remember, it’s your big day – you don’t need to stick to the status quo. That is why so many people are turning to alternative forms of wedding catering . If you are planning to have your wedding outdoors, a sit-down dinner may not be the best option anyway. One form of outdoor wedding catering that is becoming more popular is street food trucks. Before you roll your eyes and think we’re insane, consider some of the benefits of choosing wedding food trucks. HUGE VARIETY OF CUISINES TO CHOOSE FROM If you were to type into Google “ wedding food trucks London ”, you will be rewarded with a plethor...