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Abra-kebabra
10:00pm Thursday 4th September 2008
A new late-night fast food outlet has hit the streets of Oxford - and it is believed to be Britain's first organic kebab van.
The new venture, which currently trades three nights a week in St Giles, is the brainchild of food entrepreneur Will Pouget, who also owns the Alpha Bar in the city's Covered Market and the Vaults and Garden in Radcliffe Square.
Mr Pouget, 33, said his ambitious project to serve fresh, healthy and homemade food to customers spilling out of the city's pubs and clubs could only really be viable in a place like Oxford.
He said: "Oxford has made it possible. It has a unique demographic.
"So far we have only tried it out of term time, but I think it will be really popular with students."
His Alpha Bar van is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until 1.30am, but Mr Pouget said he hoped to go full-time when Oxford University students returned next month.
An application to trade until 3.30am has also been lodged with Oxford City Council.
He said: "We opened three weeks ago and the opening night was very successful. We had lots of really positive feedback.
"The idea has evolved from the original Alpha Bar, where the customers are quite young and lively - they like clubbing and dancing.
"From my conversations with them they told me they would really like that kind of product - something that's tasty which they know is going to be good for them.
"It has been really popular so far. The way we have brought a bit of fun to kebab vans has really helped.
"It has a different level of service from normal kebab vans, which, sadly, do have a certain stereotype."
The menu features meat from the Oxford University farm at Wytham and vegetables from Worton Farm near Cassington, west Oxfordshire.
Mr Pouget said: "The product range is quite simple at the moment, but we are evolving all the time.
"We are not selling cans of Coke, but are selling chips - though they're handmade with the skin still on.
"All of the food is homemade and the ketchup is organic.
"The burgers are made from really good-quality mince.
"At a normal kebab van they might cost £1.50.
"They are £3.50 here, which is getting into gourmet-burger territory, but it is still much cheaper than in a restaurant."
The van is located next door to a more traditional kebab van, but Mr Pouget said there was no rivalry.
He said: "We've got on quite well.
"We are not stepping on their toes.
Your Say YourOxford
anon, oxford says...
9:15am Fri 5 Sep 08
I think it's a great idea. Many people these days, meat eaters especially, like to know it's "happy" meat and whether it's for a sunday roast or the late night post beer munchies, it's good that there's now a choice from the usual "fat ladies leg" kebab.
And being unique, no one can complain he's stealing business, it's down to the individuals choice. Good man.
Niko Bellic, Liberty City says...
10:02am Fri 5 Sep 08
The mark up on "organic" or "fresh" produce is astounding in relation to the charges for the mystery meat in your regular kebab van.
Read the article closely and he points out this could only happen in Oxford, this is because Oxford is full of middle class twits who have nothing better to complain about than fair trade equal rights organic bull poop... If this bloke mark ups were the same as a regular kebab van he'd charge half the price... he's just been smart enough to tap into Oxford's so called socially concious (or more appropriately, inept) populous.
Remember... food was cheap way back when, then pesticides were introduced for "our benefit" and the price went up. Now the organic concept has come along and lo and behold, prices have once again risen.
Its a mugs gimmick
Chris A, Oxford says...
10:31am Fri 5 Sep 08
Niko Bellic wrote:That may be, but you can say that about ALL take aways. Not much use being able to make something at home for a pound when you're in town shopping/out for a drink.
Ahh... nothing like spending £3.50 on something you can make at home for less than a quid... toff
You're paying for the convenience of it.
And if you don't like it, don't buy it. I bet celebrations in your hosue are rather dull "No, we're not going out for a meal, I could cook it much cheaper at home".
Brian, Oxford says...
12:43pm Fri 5 Sep 08
Niko Bellic wrote:You're right Niko - how dare someone cater to their local market and, get this, sell something people are keen on buying. It's just disgusting I say. And yeah, as you point out he also has the gall to mark-up his prices so he makes a profit. Businesses, motivated by profit. I mean where is it going to end? Remember way back then, when businesses did not make profits and would just go bust and put people out of work and not pay any taxes for our hospitals and things. It was a golden age.
Yeah... my ridiculous comment... if I was using scraps, my dear Mr/Mrs Anon, I would be able to make a kebab for 10p The mark up on "organic" or "fresh" produce is astounding in relation to the charges for the mystery meat in your regular kebab van. Read the article closely and he points out this could only happen in Oxford, this is because Oxford is full of middle class twits who have nothing better to complain about than fair trade equal rights organic bull poop... If this bloke mark ups were the same as a regular kebab van he'd charge half the price... he's just been smart enough to tap into Oxford's so called socially concious (or more appropriately, inept) populous. Remember... food was cheap way back when, then pesticides were introduced for "our benefit" and the price went up. Now the organic concept has come along and lo and behold, prices have once again risen. Its a mugs gimmick
Burgerman, Oxford says...
3:12pm Fri 5 Sep 08
anon, oxford says...
4:01pm Fri 5 Sep 08
Burgerman wrote:mm mm mmmmmmm
Takeaways have never bben the same in Oxford since Bretts burger shack near the station shut some years ago. Anyway I thought the whole idea of a kebab WAS that it is bad for you.
the after burner was to die for.
closed? dont you mean burnt down!!! 8-(
Bogota Bob, Cook Islands says...
4:16pm Fri 5 Sep 08
There is nothing bad about quality food, but when you've got the beer munchies you are more worried about yelling "give me special sauce Tarkos" than questioning the source of the cylindrical meat lump.
Only in Oxford......
Kebab monster, A kebab van in a layby says...
4:31pm Fri 5 Sep 08
Niko Bellic FAN, Liberty City says...
4:51pm Fri 5 Sep 08
Curry Bunghole, Cockford says...
6:10pm Fri 5 Sep 08
Bogota Bob wrote:Urggh - I much prefer a nice mung bean burger rather than fatty old meat!
If you get tanked up, and then stumble into a takeaway then I'm guessing your not the kind of person who gives a **** about eating meat scrapings from the back of an old van. There is nothing bad about quality food, but when you've got the beer munchies you are more worried about yelling "give me special sauce Tarkos" than questioning the source of the cylindrical meat lump. Only in Oxford......
poppy, iffley road says...
7:55pm Fri 5 Sep 08
Zimmer, Oxon says...
9:09pm Fri 5 Sep 08
roland rat &freddy the fox, Oxford says...
10:04pm Fri 5 Sep 08
David, wantage says...
12:14pm Sat 6 Sep 08
roland rat &freddy the fox wrote:An astute observation and one which frequently crosses my mind.
apart from the fights that will take place in the que.where do the servers in the van use the toilet and wash there hands? disgusting.
ricky, oxford says...
12:55pm Sat 6 Sep 08
Zimmer wrote:least joyce placed his van close to local provisions,never made my belly ache.nice hotdog .
Ah you boys and girls haven't lived, in my day all we had was 'Joyce' and his hot dogs, 'sawdust sausages in a stale bread roll' served in Gloucester Green until 2am each night, come rain or snow.
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Niko Bellic, Liberty City says...
7:36am Fri 5 Sep 08