I feel like we should start this with “My Way” by Sinatra. It is with a heavy heart that we are selling Betty. Our beloved 1981 Bedford CF250. She was bought by us in 2015 and Barny lovingly converted her from a campervan to the glorious red masterpiece she is today. In her time here she has been a Thomas the Tank Engine-level reliable and useful van. Even at 41 years old we have never had a serious breakdown and she passes the MOT like it’s a much easier one for an old vehicle. Which of course it is. Of course our glorous old dame is over 40 years old and therefore exempt from MOT and ..read more

What are the British Sandwich Awards? The British Sandwich Awards, or Sammies, are an annual celebration of sandwiches and cafe food. Anyone in catering can enter, so we are regularly up against local cafes, big corporate sandwich producers, independant bakeries and well-known brands. Various food brands sponsor it, and put forward their ingredients for turning into sandwiches. Each category then has a winner, like the best actor awards at the Oscars. Our Sandwich Award History We have been entering the awards since 2015, and refining our sandwich game throughout. In our first year we r ..read more

The Beginning of Time Every story starts in all sorts of places, but the winding tale of the Jabberwocky has one undeniable beginning: when on this day, 10 years ago, we brought home the vehicle that would go on to become the Beast. It doesn’t feel that long ago, but we have done a lot since then, so it feels that our first decade should be celebrated. Just a little. The Thanks There are only a few people to thank for this. You are first on the list. You, who are here, reading this. Whether you are a die-hard supporter who has toastied since day one or a brand new reader who i ..read more

Constructing the Constrution  It’s been, I think we can all agree, a funny old year. Here we are on Friday the 13th, 2020, and on a global scale we’re all collectively wondering if it could actually get worse.  It therefore gives me enormous pleasure to introduce something that means a lot to us, given the times we are in: Toastie Construction Manual This is Barny’s cook book. He’s always been the more culinarily inclined one of us, and while I love a good toastie, there is nothing that quite compares to the deep, spiritual connection that Barny feels to melted cheese. I have neve ..read more

When you have a bit of time to spare, doing your own payroll is a great way to save some cash, add an extra skill and take more control of your business. However it does mean dabbling in dark and mysterious Tax Stuff, which can be daunting. And boring. Luckily it’s mainly boring once you get the hang of it. Phew. Fun dodged. So here are the ins and outs of running payroll for you and all your employees. For those of you here for the first time: I run a monthly payroll for 2 full time employees and five or six casual staff, working in the street food industry. Although what with Coronav ..read more

Here we are, two weeks into lockdown, and the weather for the festival season couldn’t be more promising. But that’s beside the point. This is not about a festival season lost, this is about new opportunities found and about what you as a business can do to keep trading, keep happy, keep selling street food and keep running your catering business during coronavirus. Check locally to help with the Fight against Corona For us, that’s Warwick and Leamington, with a possible stretch to Birmingham. Talk to businesses that might need your services and won’t be getting their usual canteen feed. This ..read more

A Trader Perspective Coronavirus, or CORVID-19, is causing panic worldwide. It’s causing a lot of very sensible reactions as well, but the panic is the problem here. As a food and festival trader, we rely on around 12 weeks of trade to float most of the rest of the year. There is off-season work to be had, but that is to keep the coffers topped up, not to fill them. So if the government or organisers cancel summer events it will leave a gaping hole for most traders who re ..read more

There are two good reasons for buying second hand equipment: It’s cheaper and it’s less wasteful. Waste sucks, and street food, bless it, has a tendency to produce lots and lots of waste if you’re not careful. Still, the cost is probably why you’re here, unless you’re already attaining vegan-levels of eco-friendly smugness. It all started with an article in our quarterly trade magazine, published by the good folks at NCASS, about not buying second hand equipment. The logic was that it can and will break, and that new kit comes with guarantees, safety testing and shiny, shiny newness. This is a ..read more

Making the Perfect Toastie You know those posts that waffle for 8 paragraphs before actually telling you what it says in the title? Not today. We have made 50,000+ toasties, so let’s up your toastie game right here, right now with a toasted sandwich masterclass that will make your breville sing. I won’t even make you click into a new slide for each point, because there is a special circle in hell for those people. 1.Butter the Bread Not oil, not marge, not non-dairy spread: butter. The bread is half of your sandwich, so make it worth the effort. Soften the butter and then spread evenly, right ..read more