Seabiscuit is Champion Food Truck

A food truck born out of the Covid pandemic has won a major award at the Good Food Ireland Awards 2023.

The “Food Truck of the Year” title went to Patrick and Aileen Hanley for their Seabiscuit outlet on Cahore Strand, Co. Wexford. They were presented with their award by Micheline Corr, Director of category sponsors The Firm.

“It all began with Covid,” says Patrick, “Our pub in Cahore had to close, so we looked for an alternative outlet for our food and located a food truck just above the famous Cahore Beach, selling coffees, confectionery and snacks.”

Seabiscuit, named after the legendary American racehorse of the 1930s and with reference to the seaside at Cahore, was an immediate success, attracting day trippers from a wide radius who grew in numbers once restrictions were eased.

Once cleared to open the pub, Patrick and Aileen decided to place a strong emphasis on food featuring local produce, and the bar is now a popular dining spot. “We have a wonderful location which is ideal for al fresco dining,” says Patrick.

Seabiscuit was initially housed in a horse box, but as business grew, they decided to create a bespoke food truck, and they have now re-purposed the horse box as a cocktail bar. Painted a bright shade of red, it is called Red Rum.

From a family of hoteliers, Kenmare-born Patrick says that location is most important for a successful food truck. “Many trucks opened during Covid, but most of these have since disappeared. The successful trucks which remain are in prime locations.”

Patrick says that Cahore, with its 20km beach, is such a location. “We have a catchment of two million people within an hour’s drive.”

Customers are of course also attracted by the food which includes specialities like wood-fired pizza and Wexford buffalo meat, lemon sole, hake and other seafoods.

Seabiscuit is open for eight months of the year, and Patrick reports that business has been booming this year.