Here’s a fun fact (that I made up): Edinburgh’s answer to the food truck is an old police box (the latter recognizable to Dr. Who fans around the world). If you are a long-time reader of AsianCajuns you’ve heard me wax lyrical about my friend’s Indian food police box: the Bollywood Coffee Box. But it doesn’t stop with mouth-watering curries and spicy chili pakoras. All around Edinburgh (and probably other British cities too), entrepreneurial souls are selling hot drinks, ooey gooey chocolate-filled crepes and aromatic soups from a space no larger than a small American walk-in closet.
Take this guy, for instance:
Awesome, obviously. (He posed like this for the photo — I didn’t just mistakenly catch a fleeting smirk). This guy makes incredible brazilian food from his police box called Tipiniquim. Most days he whips up gluten-free crepes that he fills with your choosing of sweet or savory delights, but on Saturday, oh boy, you are in for a treat. If you haven’t been introduced already, let me tell you about Brazilian bean stew, or feijoada (pronounce fay-jah-dah):
It’s like this: black beans cooked down with sausage and ribs for hours with delicious spices. Serve over a bed of fluffy white rice, ground cassava root (adds a lovely texture and a very light nutty flavor), perfectly tender steamed greens, and a squeeze of orange. Shovel into mouth. Fall into blissed-out food coma.
Apparently feijoada is usually made on Saturdays in Brazil, kind of like red beans and rice Mondays in Louisiana. Have you guys ever had feijoada before? I seriously think Matt and I will be haunting Tipiniquim every Saturday afternoon (stew’s usually ready after 12:30 pm). Apart from the delicious food, standing by the vividly painted police box with tropical fruit hanging in baskets temporary transports me to some place that gets sun more than two days a year. Some people take vitamin D, we’ll just take our weekly dose of Brazilian bean stew.
I love small, independent food movements like these and really am curious what the different manifestations are around the world. Any food trucks or police-box-turned-cafes in your cities?
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Dear Cath,
Definitely on the list for when you next visit. And we’ll get gluten-free nutella crepes for dessert. Have you guys been food trucking lately? Not living in the States anymore I was wondering if that was just a trend or if they are still going strong. Matt and I will have to scope out the other police boxes in the center of town. I think most of them are sort of coffee and soup places — I feel completely spoiled by the Bollywood Box and Tupiniquim.
Miss you so very, very much!
Brazilian Bean Stewly Yours,
Lar
Lar, I remember discovering this police box with you when we were walking back to your house one night. That nutella gluten-free crepe was the best! I also love, love, love Brazilian comfort food (aka Feijoada). We will have to go there when I come back for a visit.
I haven’t been food trucking lately. The trend isn’t dying, but I do think it’s that – a trend. Maybe not a trend in city centers, but I don’t know if you’ll a lot more food truck parks popping up. Just my two cents.
Red beans and ricely yours,
xoxo Cath
oh my word. I’ve never had Brazilian food before, but this looks like I would have any problem scarfing it down. Also, how are the “food trucks” over there so much cooler than the ones here?
The food looks delicious and hearty. And his face! Hahaha! Love it.
How come I’ve never tried food police boxes when I was in Edinburgh! I must go back there and try Tipiniquim and Bollywood Coffee Box!
There are a few food trucks here in Paris. I think one of the most famous food trucks here is run by an American and sells hamburgers!
Haha! Céline, next time you are in Edinburgh you definitely have to try some of these police boxes. You will love them! What I’m surprised about is that there isn’t one that offers desserty things — I would think a cake/biscuit/tea box would be a hit, but maybe that’s just me ever-powerful sweet tooth talking.
xoxox,
Lar
I actually don’t like feijoada all that much lol (such blasphemy!). Never was a big fan of beans. Oh and it’s pronounced more like fey-ZHWA-duh btw The j is soft like ‘jour’ in French or the g in ‘rouge’ and the o is still in there somewhere 🙂
Thanks so much, Iris, for the correction! My portugese definitely needs some practice 🙂 And I can’t believe you don’t like feijoada! What is one of your favorite Brazilian dish?
This is a lunch hot spot for me! The vegetarian crepes are wonderful! Butternut squash, sun blushed tomato, fresh spinach and pecans! Yum!!!
So, it goes without saying, you have to come by the shop one day, and we’ll go stuff ourselves with Brazilian goodness.
Oh, and I met a woman the other day that just purchased a police box in Leith and is wondering what to do with it. so many possibilities in one tiny box (and I assume they all have time traveling capabilities. yes?)