Paris – Fast food doesn’t have to be a compromise, according to vegetarian hot dog vendor Le Tricycle.
The sight of Coralie Jouhier and Daqui Gomis of Le Tricycle speeding through the streets of Paris is enough to leave local foodies salivating. The duo’s gourmet vegetarian hot dogs, such as The Snoop Dogg – a mix of relish, carrots, pickled cabbage, caramelised and fried onions, and a mustard or honey dressing – mark a growing trend for fast casual dining.
Despite having no formal training, the duo’s imaginative range of lunchtime pick-me-ups has been piquing Parisians’ attentions enough to grant the pair their first bricks-and-mortar store. The menu has since been expanded to include veggie bowls, fresh juices and home-made desserts.
‘We get the inspiration for the recipes from what we like and who we are,’ says Jouhier. ‘We mix our memories and culture into the food. For example, we make a hot dog topped with Senegalese peanut and okra sauce, and make plantain sides.’
The Big Picture: As more people take on Flexitarian lifestyles, food purveyors are making their vegetarian options more enticing. For more on how fast food is going high-brow, see our High-low Dining microtrend.