New Asian Inspired Food Truck 'pao!' To Launch In Liverpool's Baltic Triangle
Asian inspired sandwiches, Japanese Ramen and South-East Asian Curries will be the order of the day as new food truck Pao launches in Liverpool’s Baltic District.
The project is the first of its kind in Liverpool and promises to give workers and food enthusiasts a convenient, healthy and affordable culinary option.
Pao’s food is a celebration of the flavours of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, Japan and China. It will offer fresh and colourful dishes with big and bold flavours, using only the best seasonal ingredients.
The exciting menu will include a host of dishes including seafood ramen, fragrant thai fish ball broth, Korean kimchi, Chinese potsticker dumplings, curries and spicy dan dan noodles. Whilst the emphasis is on nutrition, weekends will see a nod to those moments where a little comfort is needed, with ‘hangover noodles’ and ‘dirty fried rice’ on the menu.
Head Chef and Company Director, Shelly Turner said: “At the moment there are some gorgeous places to eat in the Baltic District, but it is all bread and potato based. Pao wants to bring something different.”
“Pao’s food is fresh, locally sourced and we always aim to make the most out of what is in season locally.”
Cutting her culinary teeth as a chef in kitchen’s across the UK including Jamie’s Italian on Upper Street in London, Shelly then decided to embark on a trip of a lifetime around Asia to learn more about Far Eastern cuisine.
Shelly said: “I was spellbound by the beauty and simplicity of Asian street food. It was inspiring to see how integral food is to Asian life and how food is intertwined with social, physical and emotional benefits.
“Asian food can be incredibly nutritious, is convenient and provides an exciting yet affordable lunchtime option. Much of our offer is inspired by the wonderful xiǎochī or ‘small eats’ I encountered on my travels. These almost Asian tapas are perfect as you can try a couple of dishes, making the lunchtime experience more of an adventure.”
Also collaborating on the project, which will sit on the corner of Flint Street and New Bird Street in the Baltic Triangle, is co –founder and Head of Operations and Business Development, Mia Tagg.
Having worked extensively in the hospitality trade, including a spell running FACT’s café, Mia shares Shelly’s passion for food and travel. For Mia, the two are inextricably linked: “I’ll never forget my first Ruben sandwich from a New York deli or being blown away by a bowl of seafood gumbo from a polystyrene bowl in New Orleans and we hope to be able to offer the same excitement to our customers.
“The Baltic Triangle is a great place to be, the area is thriving and there is a fantastic sense of community there. Some of the most exciting food at the moment is being served out of trailers, carts and vintage vans and it’s a great way to try something new without a hefty restaurant price tag!“
“Pao means “run” in Mandarin Chinese and we love the way it sounds like “pow” in a punch-the-air kind of a way, and hope customers will feel the same way after eating our food.“
“The way we serve our food is modular – we provide a base and you build your own meal by adding items, so there is always something for those of us who are partial to a bit of meat or fish too!”
Pao will launch on 21 May from 5.30 at District, 61 Jordan Street, L1 0BW
The truck will be open from 10.00am – 6:00pm every Monday to Friday starting Monday 25 May 2015.
