Food Trucks Cook up Dreams of Prosperity My Parents Were Canadian, I
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FREE Bilingual and intercultural Version française au verso Celebrating Caribbean culture Page 5 Since 1999 Vol 13 No 3 | July 10–August 7, 2012 www.thelasource.com Cultural Belonging. What is it? by maRc hEwitt W here do I belong and do I belong anywhere?” That is the question. It’s a question that I have asked myself since my arrival in- Vancouver nine years ago and has preoccupied me sig nificantly at times. Probably because it is very difficult and complicated to answer. I was born in Levallois- Perret, a suburb of Paris, and spent my first eleven years in Boulogne-Billancourt, another suburb of Paris. However, I never obtained a French passport for the good and simple reason that France does not give French Illustration by Esther Yuen Esther by Illustration citizenship automatically to- those born on its territory. According to the political au wasthorities also. of this world, since Food trucks cook up dreams of prosperity my parents were Canadian, I by bREndan munRo along Vancouver's downtown - Although it’s true that, streets. thanks to my parents, I spoke- found a new customer. Within - well as sustainability, as key cri fluent English and was daily moments, a dozen more were teria in their selection process. - immersed in a family envi t started slowly, with a lone standing alongside her window. Over 50 applications were sub “Since the city expanded the ronment that wasn’t French, man strolling casually down The womanWe have inside this the great truck opportunitymitted when the with city opened our food the programtruck. Weto provide are very more nutri it would have nevertheless Hamilton Street. Catching been much more logical to - his attention was a brightly proud. If we get a chance, we will do more to let people in Vancouver consider me as French. - Ipainted truck parked curbside, In everything, I consid which was wafting spicy, exotic know about Thai food. For us, this truck is already changing our lives. ered myself as such. The His “Vorrayut Jiranuntiporn, co-owner, Rimfoodbaht tory of France that I learnt at aromas towards him. A woman poked her head school was not the History through the truck's window and of a people amongst whom asked the man if he would like to - I was a guest. Indeed, it was try a new drink – Thai iced tea. is Wasinee Tantiveerabut. She, process. A panel of judges was tious and ethnically diverse food the History of my country,- This released a flood a memories along with her business part then tasked with selecting the 12 in 2010, the program has become my homeland. of his long ago trip to Thailand. ner, Vorrayut Jiranuntiporn, are businesses that were ultimately increasingly popular with local- The culture that surround She smiled as the man walked the proprietors of Rimfoodbaht, awarded the coveted business residents andSee “Food visitors,” Trucks” pagenoted 2 ed me permeated my way of away, iced tea in hand. She had one of several vendors who have licenses. The judges considered Mayor Robertson in a recent me thinking and living. I lived made the day's first sale and had opened new food cart operations cultural and menu diversity, as and anticipated a French life. Also in this issue I saw extending before me a path going through collège- and lycée, leading to an adult- Banging out a festival life of which I knew very lit along Powell Street. tle, save that it would prefer Page 7 ably take place in my native country. But, my parents desiring to return to Vancouver, the city Images from of their own childhood, to be closer to their ageing parents, Carnaval del Sol I had to leaveSee “Verbatim” France in page 2003. 5 Page 10 This move completely turned 2 The Source Vol 13 No 3 | July 10–August 7, 2012 - Spencie's View - My Turn have of politicians. Her extrava gant tastes while on official vis sERGE coRbEil its have been widely publicized. We all remember her $16 glass of orange juice. That’s the kind of- thing that irks people. Loss of condence in The poll’s results should re ally worry us since they show- politicians: whose fault is it? that such a breach of confidence- is fodder for our growing cyni- cism in politics matters. Unfortu O - nately, it paves the way to a gen pinion polls often speak out For example: Ipsos Reid tells eralized disinterest on the part loud what we think in secret.- us that the quasi totality of sur of most people, as shown by the Ipsos Reid’s latest incursion veyed people, around 95%, think tragically poor participation rate into theThe mindset poll’s of results the popula shouldthat reallyfederal worry politicians us since have they during show general that elections. such breach of confidence is fodder for our growing cynicism in matters of politics. - “ - tion for the media conglomerate, little to nothing in common with We must admit that the po Postmedia, reveals – or should the average Canadian. That find- litical class has the bad habit of I say confirms – that Canadians eraling floored me. After all, before doing nothing to help its cause.- have little confidence in their becoming politicians, many fed- The mechanism that animates politicians. MPs were themselves what political dynamics has an in Canadians' views of their own- Participation rates alone tell The perception we have of them we would consider regular Cana creasingly American flavour. politicians. just how much of a beating it has doesn’t surprise me,How yet it much saddens do politicians dians. However, have in I am theHow first much to Thatdo you is trust to saythe federalthat it relies on The increasing use of nega taken these past few years. common with the average Canadian? government to do the right thing? tive political messages with an aim to first and foremost paint a lot very much a poor picture of the opponent rather than promote innovative not at all ideas is certainly not converse little somewhat to our own situation. That is nothing one of several obvious reasons, not really which, for me, has caused this loss of confidence, as confirmed- Megan Mallen, Flickr by Photo Orange juice drinking Bev Oda POLL RESULTS Statistics courtesy of Ipsos Reid of Ipsos courtesy Statistics by the survey. Canadians are indeed con- departs cabinet. - stantly bombarded by political- ads subtly slamming their adver me. Far be it for me to try to con believe that they brought their division, inspired by ideology. saries. It is therefore not surpris A sharp change of tactics is vince you that they really don’t sad fate upon themselves. And when we look at what’s ing that voters are confused and- court.needed in politics to rectify the merit that kind of attitude. Quite Take, for example, the case of going on south of the border, slightly disgusted by all things situation. The ball is in their to the contrary. But, although I departing cabinet minister Bev nothing comes up to give us political. Unfortunately, too of Translation Monique Kroeger do understand the feeling, I don’t Oda. By herself, she certainly hope that a wind of change is ten, democracy becomes the necessarily share it. embodies the image that people about to stimulate, positively, main victim of this confusion. “Food Trucks” from page 1 - “The first thing we had to worry It is clear, however, that the an-born Noemi Canales and but harder than my old job,” says dia release. about was if customers were going business has a long way to go to her brother Jose Manzano, the Canales. “Our family has a res Rimfoodbaht opened their to think our food was healthy for build the size and scope of repeat co-owners of Guanaco, a food- taurant back in El Salvador, so we doors, or rather their window, for them, compared to a restaurant, clientele that will sustain them- truck thatpupusas serves traditional have great family recipes that we business in May 2012. because it comes from a truck on in the long run. Salvadoran food. Guanaco spe knew people here in Vancouver “In Thailand, street food is very, the street,” says Jiranuntiporn, “We have this great opportu cializes in , a cheese and would love.” very popular,” says Jiranuntiporn. “but we have the same rules and- nity with our food truck,” says “You can see it on every block in food safety as any restaurant.” - Jiranuntiporn. Bangkok, so we thought why not Polling some of their custom “We are very proud, [and] if we bring Thai street food here to- ers, Rimfoodbaht is gaining posi get a chance, we will do more to Vancouver?” tive reviews for their “unique,- let people in Vancouver know Both Jiranuntiporn and Tan home-cooked flavour.” As it- about Thai food. For us, this truck tiveerabut arrived in Vancouver stands, many customers are see is already changing our lives.” - just over a year ago. During that ing the offering both as a conve The food cart business is also time, Jiranuntiporn applied his- nience and a novelty. changing the lives of Salvador rant.passion for food into working in the kitchen of an Asian restau- Wasinee Tantiveerabut, mean while, spent much of her time in school. Now the two of them are hoping to apply their knowledge, but like many entrepreneurs,- face a steep learning curve. - “We have a lot of responsibili Brendan Munro by Photos ties,” says Jiranuntiporn as he de Noemi Canales (right) can found in her food truck, Guanaco, along Seymour Street. scribes the countless hours spent preparing ingredients, cooking, - cleaning, ordering supplies and pork filled tortilla that serves Canales adds that she hopes everything else that goes along as a quick lunch for busy work the business will allow them an with running a small business.