Restaurateur Harry Kambolis has landed the Holy Grail of Vancouver city licences: one of the coveted street food permits.  “It was very competitive,” admits Kambolis, “The application required very detailed information, with points being awarded for succinct and, I’m assuming, promising answers. We really sharpened our pencils.”

Some of the criteria required included a plan for reducing waste and including green packaging, applicant qualifications, nutrition information, an explanation of the proposed cart’s diversity, and information on the cart’s contribution to the “street food landscape” in Vancouver.

Although the Kambolis family has operated a hamburger and hot dog kiosk at Northlands Golf Course, and a fish and chip take-out window at their iconic Raincity Grill window, this will be their first official foray into the world of “street food.” What’s on the menu? Following Kambolis’ Nu Restaurant’s rebranding lead, it’ll be chicken and lamb souvlaki, with housemade pita, local onions and tomatoes (there will also be a vegetarian option). The cart with serve organic meat and vegetables from farms Kambolis’ three restaurants have worked with in the past.

“Of course, we enjoy relationships with wild harvesters, nursery growers, ranchers, dairy farmers, as well as organic and conventional produce growers, and the pedestrian traffic will enjoy the fruits of those relationships,” Kambolis says, “This will not be mere street food, it’s ‘avenue food.’”

From 1984 to 2005, the Kambolis family owned and operated the Souvlaki Place on Denman Street. The casual eatery served souvlaki and other traditional Greek fare and was a fixture at English Bay.