Food and culture

URBAN STREET DINING

TAPAK FOOD|CULTURE

Are food trucks the main solution to consumption preferences of people in the urban setting?

F O O D & C U L T U R E Prepared by Cryslyn Tan, 0324249

WHAT IS TAPAK? Tapak is the brainchild of 3 good high school friends from different study backgrounds, sharing the same love for street food.

Established in 2016, Tapak became Malaysia's 1st food truck park that brings together local food truck operators and food lovers towards urban street dining culture.

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.�

-James Beard

URBAN STREET DINING Urban street dining can be explained as a new dining concept where it is almost similar to the casual as well as fast casual dining concept. However, people dine in an open area of a urban setting (city centres) with sometimes just the necessary furniture of tables and chairs on the streets, ordering food from the many food trucks/stalls surrounding them. Food is fast and relatively cheap, and served in disposable plates, bowls and cutlery.

URBAN STREET DINING

Food trucks?

Food trucks are licensed, motorized vehicles or mobile food units that are used for selling food or drink items to the general public usually situated in a large space such as empty parking lots.

TAPAK

Time & Place Address: 2A, Persiaran Hampshire, Hampshire Park, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur It is open everyday from 6pm-12am.

1LAYOUT

The food trucks are placed in a way that surrounds the seating, centralizing the dining area. It is easy for people to circulate the whole area and allows a visual connection of people around while sitting or walking.

2FURNITURE

Furniture at Tapak embodies a simple but small, lightweight table and chairs that can be easily carried. This allows for a customizable space that would fit people of all group sizes whether a pair or a large group by joining the tables.

3COMFORT

At Tapak, there are no standing fans so ventilation is based solely on natural wind. Note that Malaysia is a hot and humid country; thus, it may be hot and uncomfortable during some days when wind is not strong. However, large umbrellas are provided for coverage from rain.

4SOCIAL

Hi, is this seat taken?

At Tapak, it is common for people to buy food and be seated at the centre, where tables and chairs are provided for dining.

This atmosphere encourages interaction between people. A simple conversation such as, ‘Hello, is this seat taken?’ could inspire a start of a friendship between visitors. As a result, the community can potentially embrace the harmonic and friendly ‘loving’ culture.

5PEOPLE

At Tapak, one can find a large array of people of different cultures and background with a common interest, the love of food. People here dress and act casually, are friendly and usually come in groups. It is great dining space for friends and family alike.

6PROPORTION

The food trucks are large so people need to look up while ordering food. In this proportion, food preparation cannot be seen by people of a shorter height.

7AMBIENCE

♏

At the food truck park, live music can be heard from buskers either standing in one position or walking around, providing a relaxing and fun ambience. The food trucks are all open as well so the air is filled with the smell of good food.

8 V I S U A LS

At Tapak, it is not very well lit with street lamps. It is quite dim, making dining more intimate. However, the food trucks come in various colours which portrays a more vibrant feeling. Some modern neon lights give a modern and youthful vibe to the area.

9PREPARATION

Food at the food trucks are pre-prepped at home but cooked on site. This allows for the food to be served fresh and hot but fast at the same time. The large space in the truck allows for many functions such as frying, grilling and etc of different dishes. This forces people to wait for their food, allowing more chances of interaction between consumers. Taller people can also watch their food being cooked.

10 F O O D

At Tapak, there is a large variety of food ranging from western to Asian cuisines. This array of food caters to many people and also allows people to try new cuisines or have their favourite comfort food. Presentation wise, it is mostly served in a rustic way where it is messy and the sauces are overflowing, appealing to the appetite to some.

11 U T E N S I L S

Food here are usually served with disposable plates and/or bowls with plastics cutlery which would mostly require people to sit and eat slowly.

Some food can also be eaten with hands which makes it a more fun experience.

CONCLUSION

Overall, Tapak is a great place to have get together with friends to have a meal and relax.

It has a nice urban setting with a glimpse of KLCC in the background, good ambience, ample seating and with over 30 food trucks every night, visitors are spoilt for choice. The energy at Tapak feels fun and vibrant where the visitors as well as the food truck staff are friendly and can be seen enjoying themselves.

However, if there was one negative note, it would be there it is more expensive than local standards with a smaller portion of food so be prepared to spend a little more during your visit!

REFERENCES

1. #FoodTruckFan: What Makes Food Trucks So Special? (2014, January 24).

Retrieved June 8, 2018, from https://foodtruckr.com/2014/01/whatmakes-food-trucks-special/ 2. F., A. (2017, September 24). The path of the food truck. Retrieved June 10, 2018, from https://themalaysianreserve.com/2017/0 9/25/path-food-truck/ 3. TAPAK – Urban Street Dining. (2016).

Retrieved June 10, 2018, from https://www.ilovetapak.com/