Food market operator, Kerb has announced the latest batch of talented street food traders to join its inKERBator programme for 2022.
The eight traders’ exciting food will be the centrepieces of Kerb at Cowcross Yards Market in London EC1, which launches today, 29 September.
This is the newest Kerb food market to open in central London this autumn and the first new venue to be opened by the operator in three years.
Located a short distance from Farringdon and near the historic Smithfield Market, Cowcross Yards will showcase the inKERBators’ dishes every Thursday lunchtime and become a must-visit destination for those looking for exciting food in the area.
Kerb at Cowcross Yards will open every Thursday from today, 29 September, feeding the lunchtime crowd between 11:30am and 2:30pm.
The eight new recruits will showcase diverse dishes inspired by US and East Asian street food as well as innovative takes on the cuisines of Venezuela, Nepal and more, and will all be trading at Kerb’s newly opened Cowcross Yards market in Farringdon from late September onwards
The inKERBator initiative sees chosen food traders undergo a nine-week mentorship programme that includes three weeks of face-to-face workshops followed by six weeks of trade at a dedicated Kerb lunchtime street food market.
Previous luminaries have included Pizza Pilgrims and Biff’s Jack Shack, and has consistently provided a path to further pop-ups, brick-and-mortar venues and successful restaurant groups for food entrepreneurs who have graduated from the programme in recent years.
This line-up includes Southeast Asian-inspired Rice Bandits, Nepalese street food trader Filili, modern Colombian Los Gordos, and takes on classic Spanish dishes from Tapas Bravas.
What’s more, many of the traders have built businesses influenced by their personal stories, like Papelón co-founders Johana and Giovan, who were forced to flee their home country of Venezuela and have found new purpose in bringing an underrepresented food culture to London in the form of Venezuelan cachapas and other staples.
Giovan enthused, “We love the smiles and good vibes we get from every person that tries our food, from our first day trading at a market, our lives changed forever!”
Alan and India Breslin of CraicBird (Craic Strips pictured), meanwhile, follow a longstanding theme in the street food industry of ambitious entrepreneurs quitting their day jobs to follow a passion for food and drink. Alan said, “I had always hated having to put on a suit for work in the morning and, like many, losing my job through Covid meant that I said goodbye to office life for the final time.”
Filigrillz, continues London’s love affair with the food of the Philippines, driven by founders Rey & Keziah’s cultural experience and willingness to share it with London diners. “Filigrillz started in a traditional Filipino way - with backyard parties!” said Rey.
Their 'fresh, banging Filipino barbecue' will add to the increasing excitement around this cuisine in the capital, with punchy flavours and authentic cooking techniques.
Kerb has long been renowned for giving opportunities to ambitious, up-and-coming traders and food entrepreneurs through the inKERBator programme.
