Food festival season is in full swing with Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival just weeks away and Cardiff International Food Festival on the horizon. On top of that, in just a few days' time, Street Food Circus' colourful and tasty annual 'Block Party' at Roath Yard will return for four delicious weekends.
Taking over the former milk float depot, the event will begin on Saturday, June 10 on St Peter’s Street and will feature some of Wales’ best loved street food trucks, chefs and pop-ups, who will be rotating across all four weekends.
Bringing flavours from across the world - think Mexico, Greece, Italy, India, Jamaica, France, the USA, Argentina and Wales - Street Food Circus will get the drinks flowing with its BOBO Bar truck that'll include beers from the local Tiny Rebel brewery as well as cocktails whipped up by the SFC mixologists.
Read more: Cardiff Food and Drink Festival to return and here are the dates you need to know
Founder and ‘ringmaster’ of the Street Food Circus collective, Matt ‘the Hat’, explained: "It’s great to be rolling back into Roath, with our unique Street Food block party.
"We’ve got the music, we’ve got the drinks, but above all, we’ve got the best street food line up around. We’re bringing some of Wales' best loved trucks and traders to Roath, many with multiple awards for their food - and we’re thrilled to be welcoming some new faces to Roath Yard like Straight Outta Canton, Ya-Souvlaki, Minto’s Patisserie and Jackson’s Oyster Bar."
He added: "Roath Yard is a great site for all weathers, with loads of sunny seating as well as plenty of cover and shade. After a spring of touring the Street Food Circus around south Wales we’re looking forward to summer in the city."
There is no need to pre book tickets as entry into the site is free of charge. To find out who is making an appearance at Roath Yard on rotation across the next four weekends, read on.
Fire & Flank
Flash-fried sous-vide cooked Argentinian steaks served with homemade chimichurri and fries, potato dauphinoise or mash (among others). With its flank steak, cheesy garlic mash, chimichurri and creamed spinach, it was crowned 'Best Main Dish' at the British Street Food Awards in 2021.
Smokin’ Griddle
For burgers, fries, shakes and sides, you’ll need to make a pitstop at burger buff truck Smokin Griddle. Previously featuring at SFC’s Food Feastival with their special ‘Dunkin Cheese’, it’s a cheat day that’s well worth the calories.
Sin Nombre Taco
If you are a lover of fresh tacos with bold, authentic flavours, then you need to tickle your tastebuds with the goods from this street food trader. Slow cooked beef, marinated halloumi and more topped with fresh and zingy guacamole enveloped in a delicate corn tortilla - or dolloped over nachos - and drizzled with salsa... are you salivating yet?
Bao Selecta
With a choice of vegan 'crispy beef', juicy pork belly and more all tucked neatly into a fluffy and light bao bun - and generously loaded with deliciously colourful toppings - Bao Selecta, run by Nick Spann, has become a staple at SFC’s events. It was established in 2016 - read more on its story here - and is a tasty celebration of Taiwanese food. If you can't get down to Roath Yard, you can find Bao Selecta serving its tasty buns from Cardiff Market.
Keralan Karavan
Previous winners of the Welsh Street Food Awards for best sandwich, and Best Street Food in Cardiff at The Food Awards Wales in 2022, Keralan Karavan brings a taste of southern India to the streets of Cardiff. From dishes like the Raj Burger to Tikka Tacos and Bombay Fries, you won't be disappointed if you add this stall to your list of 'must try's.
Church of Churros
Having just finished a stint at Caldicot Castle's Big Banquet, Church of Churros is gearing up to offer its sweet treats at Roath Yard. Delicious doughy goodness rolled in cinnamon sugar and dipped in Spanish hot chocolate; be prepared for a Mexican fiesta for dessert.
Minto’s Patisserie
Brought to you by the winner of Bake Off The Professionals 2021, Andrew Minto, this gorgeous patisserie (bakery) offers desserts like Cookies 'n' Cream Pie and Lemon Meringue and chocolate treats like melting chocolate caramel domes to satiate your sweet tooth.
Pasta al Sugo
This stall celebrates the best of both Wales and Italy with its fresh, authentic Italian pasta made and enhanced with local ingredients. With dishes like linguine portofino, ciabattas and more, you'll be transported to the Amalfi coast in no time - especially if the weather's bellisimo.
Jackson’s Oyster Bar
Launched earlier this year by renowned Cardiff-based chef Lee Skeet, Jackson's Oyster Bar has gone from strength to strength, making appearances at various food festivals as well as the bar itself remaining popular since opening. Serving oysters, fresh seafood, burgers and more, you'll be taking a trip to the seaside without leaving the city centre by indulging in food from this stall.
Straight Outta Canton
Settle right in to summer with Straight Outta Canton's Punjabi Barbecue. Having previously served up food like 72-hour pressed Punjabi belly pork, lamb skewers and cauliflower chaat, you can expect some flavoursome specials, cooked up by Ajay and Lowri, when SFC arrives at Roath Yard.
The Real Ting
Albert Vale's nutritious and flavourful recipes transport hungry punters from Wales to Jamaica in one sitting. Having moved to Wales in 2020 just before the pandemic, Albert saw a gap in the market and started up The Real Ting, which not only offers a vast plant-based menu but fresh food that is "all about real experiences, authentic recipes and cooking with energy and good vibes". With mouthwatering dishes like Yardie Bowls, green plantain, fried chicken bites and dumplings being served at previous festivals and markets, you can expect some equally as epic tastes at Roath Yard.
Oasis
This amazing food truck is catered and run by refugees at the Oasis Centre in Cardiff. And it serves up some of the best falafel, wraps and mezze boxes in Wales. So much so that during lunchtime, when the van is open at the centre, there is always a queue out the gates. Read more on its story here.
Ya-Souvlaki
This street food stall has recently set up shop in Cardiff Market and has received incredible praise from anyone who tries its souvlaki - read all about it here. Run by Antonis Alexandris, the stall is vastly popular and serves up a number of dishes that can be expected at Roath Yard. These includes pita breads that are stuffed with fries, salad, sauce and locally-sourced meat of choice, calamari or halloumi, and loaded fries - otherwise known as yeeros.
The Welsh Creperie
Alongside churros from Spain, and pastries and cakes from Wales, SFC's Roath Yard event will also be bringing a taste of France with a selection of sweet and savoury crêpes from The Welsh Creperie.
The street food block party, Roath Yard, returns on Saturday, June 10 and will run on Saturdays and Sundays for four weekends. On Saturdays it will open between 11am and 9pm and on Sundays between 11am and 7pm.
For more information, see the website.
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