A STREET food truck selling top-notch Mexican dishes has been making its way around North Devon.
Harry Harvey and his mum Debbie Munro set up Calaca Loca,
meaning day of the dead in Mexican, around a year ago once Harry
returned from an 11-year stint as a chef in California.
Having moved away at 16 to train as a chef and after
working in fine dining restaurants abroad, Harry decided it was time to
become his own boss as well as move closer to his family.
“I wanted to set up my own business and the food truck was quite a cost effective way of doing it,” said Harry.
“A lot of the cooks in California were Mexican or Latino so I learnt from them.”
Harry, 34, is bringing an authentic taste of Mexico with his own personal twist to the streets of North Devon.
But he said he soon realised it was not as easy as just setting up a van and parking anywhere he liked.
“Although you can go anywhere it is not that simple,” said
Harry. “And at first we were a bit sceptical. We thought ‘oh my God have
we made a mistake’, but now we have a good following and a lot of
customers come twice a week.
“Now I would like to go further afield.”
Harry said he serves up two or three specials every week,
but has a core group of dishes including nachos, burritos and chilli
which he makes with a whole piece of braised beef.
“We are finding people have been to Mexico, tasted the food out there and then want that when they come home,” said Debbie, 57.
She said Harry had always been interested in cooking and
there are various Mexican cookbooks lying around the house for when
inspiration is lacking.
Harry and Debbie have already taken Calaca Loca to various
festivals around North Devon and are booked in for a lot more this year.
The pair currently sell food at Newport Terrace, Newport,
Barnstaple, on a Wednesday evening between 6.30pm and 8.30pm and in
Wrafton Road, Braunton, on a Friday night between 5.30pm and 8.30pm.
But they could soon be coming to a town near you.
“We want to hit the more touristy areas in the summer,” said Debbie. “That is our next action plan.”
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