Meals on wheels take off
The food truck phenomenon is slowly getting the recognition it deserves, writes Clinton Moodley
DURBAN, like the US, has come to love the food truck scene. More people are opting to grab a bite to eat at one of these trucks rather than to sit down at a restaurant.
Bradley Naidoo, the owner of AmeriCanteen Food Truck in Warner Beach, eManzimtoti, stumbled on the food truck industry by chance.
Six years ago, his children asked him to prepare corn dogs that they had seen on television. They loved them and pressured him into making them for his friends a few weeks later.
“My friends said they would even fork out money for me to make it for them again. That is how the idea grew. Soon after, I started to sell the corn dogs at the Litchi Orchard market in Ballito and expanded my menu to include other American-style diner and street food like chicken wings and pulled pork,” he said.
Naidoo invested in a food truck in 2016.
“Food trucks prove that good food does not have to be extensive and helps to promote local small businesses. It also offers quality and gourmet food at affordable prices. Oh, it is much healthier,” said Naidoo.
Mark Brunskill, who owns two food trucks – the Roast Co and Wok Shack – said food trucks allowed owners to move around and showcase their offerings across the city.
“Having no fixed location helps one to showcase one’s product to more people,” said Brunskill.
Here are five food trucks to visit: Love Coffee
Why: They serve coffees that cost between R20 to R30.
Love Coffee is one of Durban’s favourite hangouts on Lillian Ngoyi Road. The mobile coffee shop travels to various Durban markets and festivals like Smoking Dragon and White Mountain Festivals where they serve some of their famous brews.
Expect to indulge in their cappuccinos, Africanos, hot chocolate, chai and iced coffee.
“The requests for us to do more events outside of our store increased, so we decided that a food truck would be a welcome addition. Besides food trucks are fun,” said Love Coffee founder Jennie McCall.
Call 084 493 2802 or www.lovecoffee. durban/
Ameri-Canteen Food Truck Why: They serve corn dogs.
From corn dogs to chicken wings and a chocolate dessert made with corn dog batter, the Ameri-Canteen Food Truck in Warner Beach is showcasing American diner and street food perfectly. The food truck is situated on 1 Somerset Place in Warner Beach in eManzimtoti on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Make sure you get their famous corn dog batter; owner Bradley Naidoo swears by it. Call 082 400 6087 or visit www.facebook.com/amer1.canteen/
TurnUp Food Truck
Why: Deep-fried Oreos are on the menu.
When Joshua Gopaul opened his food truck business in Durban to earn an income while he was studying a few years ago, he did not realise how popular TurnUp Food Truck would become.
There are two trucks based in Durban and Joburg respectively. A burger bar will open in Parkhurst in Gauteng soon. Beef, chicken and veggie burgers start from R60. Other items on the menu include Cuban sandwiches, wraps and deep-fried Oreos. The food truck operates during major annual events including the Good Food and Wine Show and the Durban Street Food Festival.
Call 076 790 9831.
Incendio Pizza and Coffee Why: They serve authentic Italian pizza and pasta.
Despite the limited menu (there are five pizza and three pasta options) Incendio has built its brand on selling good Italian cuisine. Founded by friends, Bilal Salot and Thahir Seedat in December 2017, Incendio is a food truck with a clay oven.
Indulge in their traditional margarita (R45), pollo chicken (R65) or prawn pizza (R120), or sip on a Vietnamese iced coffee (R40).
The friends also have another food truck called Po’Boys, which serves up New Orleans inspired food, ranging from Texan steak with homemade BBQ sauce (R75) to Louisana battered prawns (R80).
Both food trucks are at Smarket at Cowey Park every second Saturday of the month.
Call 076 480 2507.
Roast Co
Why: Famous for their roasted meat dishes.
Roast Co prides itself on serving roasted meats on the move. Pork, chicken and beef in blended sauces are served on a roll with fresh lettuce, coleslaw and sriracha mayo.
Roast Co is at many Durban events, including Decorex, the G&T festival and Splashy Fen. Prices from R65. Owner Mark Brunskill also owns the Wok Shack that serves Thai inspired meals from R65.
Call 083 444 4041.