Chicken tikka naan wraps, triple-cooked chips, chocolate churros, beef brisket…did someone say there’s music too? Apparently this summer’s hottest festivals have musicians attending them for ‘gigs’ or something, but we’ll just be there for the food. Here’s our hitlist of the best traders this year at Glasto (below), Bestival, Secret Garden Party, Wilderness and more.
Anna Mae’s (below)
What: Authentic southern-style mac ‘n’ cheese dished out from the shiniest gold van, which will no doubt dazzle you from across the field. Tongue-in-cheek plates like the Kanye Western (beef hot dog, homemade BBQ sauce, chives) and Don Macaroni (pesto, bacon, basil) will no doubt raise a smile while you queue.
Where: Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Wilderness
Asian Grub Foundation
What: Curry is officially the nation’s favourite food so it’s no surprise that our festivals are spicing things up too. A pun on the English electronica band Asian Dub Foundation, this flamboyant Indian offers meaty or vegetarian thali, curries with rice and naan, chicken tikka naan wraps, kebabs and samosas, all to the soundtrack of funky techno tunes. Probably less pleasant is its contribution to the state of the festival loos, however…
Where: Bestival, Glastonbury, WOMAD
Chip Off the Block
What: Sometimes, a hefty plate of salty chips covered in cheese, ketchup, or mayo is just what the doctor ordered. Fortunately, this colourful tater truck roams the country, dishing out hand-cut, triple-cooked beauties topped with mountains of mature cheddar cheese to hungry festival-goers.
Where: Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party
Churros Bros (below)
What: Need a sugar rush to gear you up for the night of shape-cutting ahead? Get down to this churros van for some of the best chocolatey churros we’ve found outside Madrid. They also do excellent coffee from Allpress in Shoreditch, for the mornings when you’ve feel like you’ve been smacked in the face with a spade.
Where: Glastonbury, Green Man, Wilderness
The Cooking Cooks Italian Kitchen
What: Handmade pasta, gnocchi and cucina Italiana from a chef duo who met in the kitchens of Soho’s highly acclaimed Italian, Bocca di Lupo. With choices such as cuttlefish ink ravioli with prawn and parmesan or rocket ragu porchetta with pappardelle and borlotti beans, you won’t believe they made food this good in a field.
Where: Wilderness, British Summertime at Hyde Park
Fat Salad
What: After all the indulgence and debauchery, a box of healthy stuff is never a bad thing. Serving organic, vegetarian or vegan hot and cold food (gluten free also available), we particularly recommend The Fat Works brekkie bap: avocado, free-range fried egg, melting organic cheese, tomato and mushrooms.
Where: British Summer Time at Hyde Park, Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party
Paellaria
What: Serving paella (but you guessed that, didn’t you?) which is, quite frankly, banging. Huge wrought-iron pans full of either chicken or vegetarian goodness send irresistible fumes wafting across the site. With carbs, protein and veg all in one pot, it also counts as a ‘balanced’ meal…
Where: Bestival, Camp Bestival, Glastonbury
Peckish Peacock (above)
What: There will, of course, be a plethora of peacocking going on this festival season and it’s frightfully hungry work. Recharge here with chickpea, spinach and mango curry, roti wraps and pakoras with homemade chutney, all dispensed in ecological, biodegradable packaging. Wash it down with masala chai or a mango lassi and recommence ‘cocking.
Where: Bestival, Glastonbury, Latitude
Smokestak
What: Smokey, meaty marvelousness, this has the same effect as a fry-up the morning after the night before, but way better. Choose from buns packed with pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken or Portobello mushroom, or dive into a sharing plate of ribs and chipotle rings. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
Where: Bestival, Boomtown, Glastonbury, Wilderness
If this has made you realise that food in a field is all you need this summer, check out our selection of the best foodie festivals taking place across the UK.
This article was published 26 June 2015