Pepe, the NY ham sandwich truck by José Andrés
Although the modern airs of the 'foodie' trend reach our shores from outdated North America, foodies have not invented anything following the trail of their food-trucks (of which there are continuous rankings of the best in New York ) . the food writer Benedict Beauge , a real dinosaur when it comes to studying street food, insists on remembering it because, silly as it may seem, street food (which is now so _trendy) _ simply implies the existence of streets. And “who says streets, says city”. Therefore, this recycled urban phenomenon in hipster trend , can be traced back to ancient Rome, when street stalls offered bread with olives; or until ancient times in the Middle East pulling the thread of the faláfel; or in ancient India with the pakoras, vada pav, papri chaat, etc., as explained by the food anthropologist, Jesús Contreras (member of the Food Observatory).
José Andrés Puerta in the most authentic food truck in NY
But is eating on the street a necessity now that time has become the most limited resource of homo sapiens? Or, on the contrary, is it a whim that we satisfy immediately?
Necessity or whim (or both at the same time) ** the unquestionable thing about the option of eating on the street is that puts you in touch with your chosen destination in the flesh . Although around the world street food publications have sprouted like mushrooms in recent years, the 'mother of the lamb' of this entire print movement is Troth Wells , author of the book ** 'Street Food', an inveterate traveller, one of those who the first thing she does when setting foot in a new place is to "go out on foot" as she knows, to visit her market in search of street foods that allow her to understand the world from a new perspective: the of the native.
Unknown vegetables, shouting between vendors, people coming and going, life!: the markets provide the feeling of being in the real country apart from those places of tourist interest that insist on selling us again and again the hotels and tour operators on duty.
Jemaa el Fna square
Recommended Troth Wells Street Foods and Markets:
1. Penang, in Lebuh Chulia (Malaysia) : you can find anything from the three kitchens based here: Malaysian, Chinese and Indian . Recommended to try the nasi lemak , the popular Malaysian breakfast based on coconut rice, prawns and peanuts; the char kway teow , a Chinese flat noodle dish with shrimp, vegetables, and chili sauce; and the roti canai , the Indian bread served with savory dal curry. But also the classic nasi goreng (rice dish) , mee hoon (noodles) , wan ton mee (pork wan ton with noodles) and the biryani and laksa , a spicy soup.
two. The market of Guadalajara (Mexico) : To warm up, nothing better than trying the delicious tortillas stuffed with peppers, tomatoes and chilies. Also burritos and tortillas with corn, beans, meat and tomatoes, as well as tacos stuffed with potatoes and spicy sausages. To drink, hot cocoa.
3. Jemaa el-Fnaa, in Marrakesh, if what you are looking for is pure spectacle: the advantage is that it extends outdoors within a spectacular historical setting. In addition to snake charmers and musicians you will find sheep's heads cooked and ready to eat. But better than before throwing yourself into this delicacy, go slowly and try the harira soup, avocado smoothie, couscous with chicken, aubergines, pumpkin and chickpeas.
Four. The ribollito, in Florence: a kind of local stew, it is an unbeatable option to have it on a bench at a rickety table with the local workers. The dish includes beans, celery, vegetables, carrots, bread, garlic and herbs.
5. The feijoada in the central market of Belo Horizonte, Brazil: a dish based on pork, beans and beef that can be found in almost all the markets of the mainland state. In Salvador de Bahia, the acarajé (a bun stuffed with white beans and onion, fried and prepared with prawns) is eaten in every corner. At five in the afternoon, the Bahianas compete in their street stalls to offer the tastiest.
6. At the Nairobi market (or roadside stalls), in Kenya: can be taken cold , based on beans, sweet corn and mashed potatoes and also nyama Choma, Barbecue meat.
Guadalajara market in Mexico
Tips to not fail in choosing the position:
1.Choose a stall where there are many people (which indicates that it is a safe place and the food is good) .
2.Observe what are the most popular foods among the locals and try these first.
3.Decide on a simple dish, such as rice with vegetables (and no meat, until you feel more comfortable) or something fried.
4. Dare to try new things to become survivors of an overpopulated world.
5.Beware of “tourist trap markets”.
Bangkok is a great street restaurant
You cannot leave without trying: tacos in Mexico, hot dogs in New York, salchipapas in Quito, anticuchos in Lima, acarajés in Salvador de Bahía, arepas in Caracas, choripanes in Buenos Aires, Fish & Chips in London, pintxos in Donosti, crêpes in Paris, currywurst in Berlin , maatjes haring in Amsterdam, gyros in Athens, kebap in Istanbul, bunny chow in Durban, koshary in Cairo, maandazi in Nairobi, dabo kolo in Addis Ababa, chaat in Mumbai, pakora in New Delhi, som tam in Bangkok, char kway teow in singapore
Don't stay hungry! Expand information with these links:
With ketchup and mustard: the best fast food in New York
Jemaa el-Fnaa table for two!
Our favorite pintxos in San Sebastián
Guide to street food (and luxury) in Bangkok
Crêpes in Paris