The Class of 2024
Here we are – the best street food traders in Europe, competing in the grand final of the 2024 European Street Food Awards. The Icelandic team sent their truck ahead – it left on the Tuesday ferry. The Brits are busy trying to work out how to get their gas bottles across the Channel (things haven’t been easy since Brexit) and the Finns are working on a Plan B in case their 50-year-old Mercedes Benz fire truck breaks down at the Swedish border. But they wouldn’t miss THIS for the world…
Fumetto – Italy 2024 Champions
Born from a love of comics and smoked meats, Fumetto started out as a food truck before it evolved into a sandwich shop plus workshop in the Brescia region of Italy.
“What sets our meat apart” says Emanuele “is that it comes from local farms and undergoes two distinct processes: smoking and spit-cooking. We adapted ancient recipes from Brescia’s tradition.”
Toni Tänzer – Germany 2024 Champions
Chef Toni Tänzer is a next level street food chef in Germany. The owner and chef of Toni’s EATERY & International Streetfood, he’s used to critical acclaim for bringing Michelin-star food to the street.
Tänzer grew up in a butcher family and soon discovered a passion for cooking. After winning the German Street Food Awards earlier this summer, he set about becoming European champion as well.
“We’ll win that thing,” says Tänzer. And who’s going to stop him? He is in the best mental condition of his life and preparing himself like an athlete. Like Toni says, “Just little bit better to dust off the title”.
Choni & Co – Bulgaria 2024 Champions
This is a story of one man’s OBSESSION with dough. “In short” says Tsvetan “I have no other option than success. I have to prove myself. I have been making dough, pizza and focaccia for eight years – and working on long fermentation for six years. There’s no way you will ever have tried a product like this because no one has ever delved into it like me….” Well, you’ve got to give his handiwork a try haven’t you?
Awa – Germany 2022 People’s Choice
Awa Kandji-Bachtig is excited to compete at European Street Food Awards again for ONE reason – “I want to show that our food in Senegal is the best food in the world”. She is showcasing the West African cuisine, which has strong North African, French, and Portuguese influences – a fusion of the nation’s many ethnic groups. Awa’s signature dish is her curry with peanut sauce and fresh vegetables. And the Patacon sandwich, filled with goat’s cheese, chicken, curry, mango sauce, pesto and plantain. “We make cultural, traditional food from Senegal” says Awa. “And the people on the street love it.”
Matologi – Norway 2023 Best Looking
Grilled sandwiches with an Asian fusion twist. It’s a simple concept. Everything from roasted duck to pastrami and chicken. And plate up the resulting sandwich so that it looks as pretty as a picture. Job done. The Matologi signature is the Japanese wagyu beef, grade A-5 and one of the best cuts of quality beef in the world. Grilled – crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside – and combined with grilled French toast, truffle mayonnaise, ruccola and home-made kimchi , it’s an unbelievable food experience.
Papelon – Britain 2024 Best Sandwich
Papelon are confident. As Giovan says, “I believe we have the best Venezuelan food in the UK. And we sell something that not many people have tried before – the cachapas.”
“The biggest difference between cachapas and arepas” says Giovan, “is that arepas are made from corn flour while cachapas are made from only fresh corn – that’s why they’re so sweet.” But he’s bringing BOTH to the European finals. Just to be sure.
Best Sandwich – 2024 British Street Food Awards
Back-A-Yard – Britain 2024 People’s Choice
Shereen Thompson-Spurgeon wants to bring Jamaican cuisine to a new audience. “I especially want to showcase my grab-and-go jerk chicken stuffed dumpling. People say it’s filling and surprising, to bite into the dumpling and then to be hit with the bursting flavours of the jerk chicken. And it’s unique – it’s a complete meal in one batter case.”
Kikeriki – Germany 2023 Best Snack
The Kikeriki concept is based on family recipes. “Diverse and multicultural – like our family” says Kei. “My mother is from Vietnam, my father is from Hong Kong and my wife is from Tokyo. We decided to combine the best of all and conceived the concept of Kikeriki – Asian Fried Chicken, caramelized on a hot grill.
Say Cheese – Norway 2024 Champions
The raclette food truck Say Cheese is the brainchild of two brothers – Damian and Łukasz – who moved from Poland to found “Street Food Norway”. After five years of business, the company now runs 15 of its own food trucks, six fast food restaurants and over 70 festivals a year in over 60 cities throughout Norway.
Smokey Street Food – Slovakia 2024 People’s Choice
Smokey Street Food come from Kosice, Slovakia’s second largest city. “We focus on smoking high-quality meats like USDA prime brisket from the USA and pork butt from Slovakia, using the low-and-slow technique to achieve tender, flavorful results.”
MIKI – Slovakia 2024 Champions
In the beginning, the MIKI boyfriend/girlfriend team were known for their smiles – and their “lokša s kačkou” (potato pancake with duck and cabbage). “This meal was our main dish when we started the business and it’s very typical for Slovakia. It consists of potato pancake, pulled duck that we prepare in the kitchen, red cabbage, and apple-cinnamon dip prepared on caramel. We add crackers from duck skin and fried onion on the top.” But now – four years later – Mikulas and Majka are married. They have expanded the menu, and managed to build two new much bigger foodtrucks. All that’s missing is another trophy for the cabinet?
Papa Piada – Sweden 2024 People’s Choice
The Papa Piada team live for piadina (also called piada) – a flatbread originating from 15th century Italy. “Our roots are in Emilia-Romagna where the bread is traditionally baked” says Emma. The fillings are innovative, championing local and seasonal ingredients where they can, and the homemade mayonnaises and sauces keep the piadina fresh, light and surprising. They will be making the journey from Sweden in Big Blue. “We love our food truck. A retired old mail van from the USA. It’s a nice way to think about recycling – now he makes people happy with food instead of mail!”
BULI – Finland 2023 Champions
Buli is the best food truck in Finland – and the People’s Choice from last year’s European finals in Saarbrucken. “Our heart is a small charcoal grill in our old Mercedes-Benz” says Joonas. The truck served as a fire engine in Lapland from 1970. But it didn’t see much real action – it only drove 35,000 kilometers.” Will it make the journey to Saarbrucken again? With confidence like theirs, you can bet your bottom dollar it will! “We’ve developed a completely new menu this year and of course we’ll have last year’s winning dishes. See you at our hatch!”
Serenada Food Truck – Poland 2024 Champions
Serenada Food Truck specialize in crafting premium Zapiekanki, traditional Polish baguettes baked with mushrooms and cheese.
KOMO – Iceland 2024 Best Snack and Best Vegetarian
KOMO is an Icelandic food truck run by Atli, a professional chef. And it’s no accident that he recruited his wife, his son, his daughter – and even his brother – into the business. “Our mantra is that food is one of the strongest unifying symbols imaginable” says Atli. “When we share good food we share old memories and along the way we create new memories together.”
Meaet Daddy – Latvia 2024 2nd Runner-Up
“We’re Meaet Daddy from Latvia, and we’re all about that satisfied “mmm” from customers as they take their first bite of our food” says Edgars. “I spent 10 years in the military, but the real adventure started three years ago when I swapped my uniform for a food truck and a dream. Our name is a cheeky combination of “meat” and “meet,” reflecting the two essential ingredients for celebrating life—great food and great company. We did well at the Latvian Street Food Awards, and now we’re ready to bring our Tex-Mex and BBQ flavours to the European stage in Saarbrücken.”
Adobo – Germany 2024 Runner-Up
“The best recipe to make people happy is to cook with love” says Jan-Philipp Biermann from Adobo. And that’s exactly what he and the team plan to do in Saarbrucken. With synergy on a plate, combining the sweet, salty, sour and spicy of Filipino food into one gorgeous whole.
Freaky Fries – Bulgaria 2024 People’s Choice
“We have been selling signature fries and sandwiches for the last two years” says Anthony. “The same signature freakiness won us People’s Choice in Bulgaria 2024. We intend to share freaky fries and even freakier sandwiches in Germany, and we are on our path to become the freakiest street food truck out there.” Can’t argue with that….
M:I Gelato – Latvia 2024 Champions
M:I Gelato make hand crafted ice cream using Italian gelato production methods and recipes. ”We select the best possible ingredients in order to make the highest quality product” says Ilze. They are locally famous for their Pistachio gelato and fresh fruit gelatos which are made without milk, so they’re also great for vegans!
KUKU – Denmark 2023 Champions
KUKU is the first Iranian street food truck in Europe and has had massive success across the continent after winning the ESFA. It’s no surprise that the charming and talented chef and owner Sean Pakbaz has been cooking on Danish TV’s morning show for the last two years.
Jaybees Food Truck – Switzerland 2024 Champions
A 100% plant-based food truck with a menu celebrated for its versatility. The name ‘Jaybees’ is a play on the initials of Jeanette Burton – co-founder of the company. ‘J’ and ‘B’ in English come out as ‘Jaybees’.
Don Curry – Switzerland 2024 People’s Choice
The Don Curry currywurst is produced – under strict instructions – according to Alex and Annett’s original family recipe. It’s made by Metzgerei Rolf Häring, a small butcher’s shop in the neighbouring village. The sauce for the currywurst? Well, that’s a secret. “But we can at least say this” says Alexander. “It’s a sauce with ingredients that were also available in Berlin in 1949, because we wanted it to be as close as possible to the original. The base is tomatoes, onions, garlic and spices such as star anise, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Traditionally, the sauce was always seasoned with Worcester sauce and, of course, a little curry powder. For an extra kick, our guests can have their currywurst with crispy fried onions and fresh spring onions. We then cut Swiss potatoes fresh, deep-fry them twice in beef fat, and serve them with our Wagyu aioli.” Worthy of the Spice Award?
Rock Burger – Italy 2024 People’s Choice
People’s Choice – Rock Burger
Ronnie Pizzo always loved hamburgers. But the rock drummer wanted to create something different – to give his burgers a rebel soul. “I played all over the world with my band and, for years, I got people dancing with distorted guitars and maximum volume! I wanted people to feel the same way when they tasted one of my burgers. I also wanted to combine the American burger tradition with the quality of Italian food.” Finally, in 2014, the idea took shape. And Rock Burger was born! “This is our 3rd European Street Food Awards final after Sweden in 2019 and Germany in 2023” says Ronnie. “This year Rock Buger turns ten and we can’t wait to blow out the candles with you all in Saarbrücken!”
Zlote Paluchy – Poland 2023 People’s Choice
It’s a street food success story. From one trailer, seven years ago, to the biggest street food company in Poland. It all started when, after 11 years overseas, Krzysztof came home to Poland to find churros were still unknown. “I bought a trailer, made a dough and for six months I tested it on my friends” he says. “We still make our churros with just the one type of flour, eggs, sugar, spices – and a drop of sweat as our magic ingredient.” The churros maniacs are always developing new ideas. Savoury dumplings, stuffed with cheese, ham and plums, with a tangy dipping sauce. Get ready Saarbrucken!
11er Genussbuss – Austria 2023 Champions
Yes, the 11er genussbuss serves light, crisp potato rostis, stuffed with generous and imaginative fillings. But it’s about SO much more. When the Austrians won the Best Vegetarian category at the European Street Food Awards in 2019, their production value was off the charts, with branded keyrings, drones, TV menus, and probably the best kitted-out trailer we’ve ever seen. Which is why they went on to win the 2023 European Street Food Awards – and now they return to Saarbrucken as defending Champions. Goodness knows what they’ve got in mind for 2024!
Bao Buns Latvia – Latvia 2024 Best New Concept
Everyone loves bao! So, thankfully, we’ve shipped in some of the best in the business to make them for you – by hand. With LEGENDARY customer service, the crew are also busy developing clever new business concepts. Check out their burger bao in this year’s Best Burger category.
Big Buns Theory – Norway 2024 People’s Choice
The Big Buns Theory is a food truck specialising in bao buns, and the brainchild of two brothers – Damian and Łukasz – who moved from Poland to found “Street Food Norway”. After five years of business, the company now runs 15 of its own food trucks, six fast food restaurants and over 70 festivals a year in over 60 cities throughout Norway.