Love of food inspires Dark Horse Pizza - a van with a difference
TAKING TASTY VEGAN FOOD ON THE ROAD IN A CONVERTED HORSEBOX
A love of food, a little too much wine and a search on Done Deal has lead to an innovative mobile food company which is turning heads at festivals around the country as well as outside the Spirit Store on Dundalk’s quays.
Dark Horse Pizza is the brainchild of Oisin Coyle from Bellurgan Point and Zoe Worden from Sportsmanshall, Armagh Road.
‘Both of us are really passionate about food,’ explains Zoe. ‘Oisin has been a chef for the past 15 years, living and working in Singapore, London and Ireland and I had just come back from Portugal, where I was traveling and working on an organic farm.’
The had both moved back to Dundalk and ended up working in the same restaurant, when their common love of food led to a conversation which sparked the inspiration for Dark Horse Pizza.
‘Shortly after meeting we were talking about ways we could work for ourselves, without having to open up our own place,’ continues Zoe. ‘We wanted to do something a little bit different and more flexible. So after one too many glasses of wine and a lot of searching through Done Deal we bought a horsebox! From there everything went at full speed, names, logos, designs all slotted into place and here we are.’
As they are both vegans, all their food is meat free but that doesn’t stop it being delicious.
They make sourdough pizza in their wood burning oven and are starting to try out some new ideas, making falafel wraps and home grown salad boxes!
And already they have received a nomination for the Irish Street Food awards which is a great achievement for such a new venture.
‘We’re both so excited about this new journey, not sure where it’s going to take us but looking forward to some new experiences,’ says Zoe.
They are earning legions of fans from setting up stall at festivals such as Vantastival, The Flavours of Fingal, Louth Agricultural Show, Leopards- town Farmers’ Market, Bloom in the Park, as well as their regular appearances outside The Spirit Store,
‘ We have a few things on the pipeline for the end of summer, like The Beatyard festival in Dun Laoighaird on August 5 and 6,’ adds Zoe.
They are also starting to do supper clubs, which is basically a pop up restaurant. ‘ This month it’s on Saturday, July 22, at our house in Bellurgan,’ says Zoe. ‘We will be serving up a delicious three course meal; it’s a great way to meet some new people and have an alternative night out. We try to cater for everyone so we’re coeliac friendly! ‘
To book tickets for the supper club evening just message them on Facebook:@darkhorsepizzas and look out for the Dark Horse Pizza food van on the road.