Pinoy recipes are genuinely world class. This Pinoy street food vendor has proven that Filipino dishes do not only win hearts and palates, it can also earn them an investment!
The BBQ Dreamz
Filipino-born Lee Johnson, together with his Irish partner, Sinead Campbell, established ‘BBQ Dreamz’ in London way back in 2014. The food stall boasts of a menu showcasing Filipino food inspired by the recipes Lee learned from his grandmother while he was growing up. They have been trading across London in areas such as the King’s Cross and the West India Quays. Since then, customers were treated to their signature Lechon kawali and adobo glazed wings. Aside from that, the food stall also offers crispy pork belly, longganisa patty burger, and ginataang tahong, among others.
Photo Credit: Instagram account of BBQ Dreamz
Dreaming bigger
Aiming for a more significant venture, the pair joined the January 8 episode of BBC’s My Million Pound Menu, a reality show that features up-and-coming food businesses and gives them a chance to pitch their food and business plan to a group of food industry investors.
Photo Credit: Instagram account of BBQ Dreamz
Impressed with their cooking and their vision for their business, Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh, one of the judges/investors, agreed to invest in BBQ Dreamz to the tune of £350,000 or P24,000,000. They beat the London restaurant, The Duck Truck, and another street-food stall from Leeds, Jah Jyot.
Photo Credits: Instagram account of BBQ Dreamz
Also, as part of their winnings, the BBQ Dreams is now running a six-week pop-up restaurant starting last January 13 at MeatLiquor in King’s Cross
The road ahead
From their humble beginning as a street-food stall, Lee said that they have been lucky to work at some of their favorite markets and leading festivals across the UK. After winning My Million Pound Menu, they are now ready to give their diners the true Filipino treatment and Irish hospitality that inspired them from the start.
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