Joe Tong (left) & James Coleridge (r) at Bella Gelateria
I was invited to join a group of Fraser Heights Secondary School Grade 11 students as they explored some of downtown Vancouver’s Food Trucks on an educational eating tour in late October. Joe Tong who teaches the Food Art class at the school had been following me on twitter for quite some-time and contacted me about an idea he had to take his students on a food truck tour. Without any hesitation I offered up some assistance and brought James Coleridge on board to spend some time with the students educating them on gelato and how he makes his winning gelato at Bella Gelateria.
James Coleridge talking to the students
James spent about an hour telling the students all about gelato and then provided them with a tour in his gelato lab “the kitchen” where they could taste his salted caramel and pumpkin puree. He then gave everyone a scoop of gelato to start off their tasting tour in Vancouver.
Visiting Vij’s Railway
What’s on the menu at Vij’s Railway?
Mushroom Curry and rice
Joe had set-up a tour visiting 3 food trucks all within blocks of each other, the 1st stop was to Vij’s Railway Express to try Chef Vikram Vij’s curries, the students had a choice between a spicy beef or the vegetarian mushroom curry. For most of the students this was their first visit to this food truck and for some the first time eating Indian street food.
Teacher Tong at the Kaboom Box
Smoked Salmon Sandwich and Poutine
Students eating at The Kaboom Box
The 2nd stop was to The Kaboom Box Food Truck on Granville where we all enjoyed a Smoked Salmon Sandwich and poutine, additionally had the opportunity to meet Andrew Fielding owner of the food truck.
Chef Jimmy Stewart (left) at Roaming Dragon
Chinese Fried Rice Balls
The 3rd and last stop was to Roaming Dragon Food Truck for their Chinese Fried Rice Balls and to meet Chef Jimmy Stewart (he had competed on Top Chef Canada this past season) and ask him questions about their menu.
I enjoyed taking part in this food tour, chatting with the students about their foods class and had the opportunity to see the community that their teacher Joe Tong had created. This is the 1st year this Food Art Class has been offered to the students at Fraser Heights Secondary School in Surrey and it’s the only one of its kind that I know of in the lower mainland.
If you would like to learn more about this food arts class and see the delicious food they make in class, follow their teacher Joe Tong on Twitter @teachertong and on Instagram
By: Richard Wolak