Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Uyghur Food Truck to Hit the Streets of Boston
Eurasianet.org ^ | April 17, 2014 | Yigal Schleifer

Posted on 04/18/2014 2:15:00 PM PDT by nickcarraway

In what will be a first for New England and perhaps even the rest of the United States, Boston is about to get its very own Uyghur food truck. Although the truck won't have an onboard noodle maker turning out plates of lagman, the truck -- which is scheduled to hit the streets in the coming days -- will be serving Uyghur style kebabs, sold on skewers or inside wraps.

The truck, Uyghur Kitchen, is the brainchild of Payzulla Polat, a professional musician currently studying music production and engineering at Boston's Berklee School of Music and who originally hails from the Uyghur city of Urumqi. I recently reached out to Polat, who is busy with the various last-minute details that need attention before his truck is ready to roll, to find out more about his groundbreaking project. Our conversation is below:

How did you get the idea for a Uyghur food truck?

When I was a student in Los Angeles back in 2008, most days I got lunch from the food truck next to my school. They served really delicious doner kebabs and they were really cheap compared to regular restaurants. After eating there several times, I became a big food truck fan, and always pictured myself opening a Uyghur food truck in the future. It's the perfect idea for Uyghur kebabs as they're easy to make and easy to eat on the go. Other big reasons for starting a food truck are the relatively low investment costs for a new business and the movable location, which will make it accessible to more people.

Besides your truck, are there any other places in Boston to get Uyghur food?

Right now there are no restaurants in the New England area where you can find Uyghur food. I constantly hear about people looking for Uyghur food in the area, especially in Boston, but they haven't found any yet.

Do you feel like Boston’s food scene is ready to support the arrival of Uyghur food?

I think it is. Kebabs are some of the most popular foods anywhere in the world, and of course in the U.S. as well. Uyghur kebabs have a unique taste, and they're always a top choice on the table when I have parties in my backyard with my American friends. I worked for almost a year in one of the more successful food trucks (Sweet Tomatoes) in Boston from the first day they hit the street and I always saw people looking for new and healthy food in the markets or on the street. I believe that Uyghur Kitchen Food Truck will bring some more good attention to Boston's food scene.

What’s your own connection to Uyghur food?

I'm a Uyghur, and I grew up in Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Living next to the most historical and beautiful street in the city (Console St.) with lots of food stands and great restaurants around, I always had a wide variety of great food to choose from. I want to bring some of that flavor to Boston and help people discover the taste of our delicious food.

Any plans beyond the truck?

Absolutely! Uyghur Kitchen Food Truck is meant to introduce Uyghur food and culture to people largely unfamiliar with them. It'll be a good start to give them a taste of what we eat and who we are. It's also a good way to advertise and introduce our brand, and to spread the name Uyghur around the region with a movable vehicle. Our goal for the future is to open a restaurant that can truly represent our people and our culture as well.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; History
KEYWORDS: boston; foodtruck; kebab; uyghur

1 posted on 04/18/2014 2:15:00 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Stop! You're making me hungry.
2 posted on 04/18/2014 2:21:58 PM PDT by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Implementing class warfare by having no class.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Had to read up on the Uyghurs. Seems they are mostly Muslim.

I don't live in Boston, but even if I did, no way would I support a Muslim business.

3 posted on 04/18/2014 2:24:20 PM PDT by fatnotlazy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway; Revolting cat!
Things are gonna get very Uyghury.


4 posted on 04/18/2014 2:24:35 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (The new witchhunt: "Do you NOW, . . . or have you EVER , . . supported traditional marriage?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Where’s the bomb dispenser?


5 posted on 04/18/2014 2:26:49 PM PDT by ken5050 ("One useless man is a shame, two are a law firm, three or more are a Congress".. John Adams)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
I love kebab. There's an authentic Turkish kebab place not far from where I live - about a 15-minute walk - run by two Turkish brothers. Once a week, I put on the shoes, and walk on down there for my weekly fix. It's very good, and they're doing brisk business from the high school conveniently located across the street, lol!
6 posted on 04/18/2014 2:27:23 PM PDT by AnAmericanAbroad (It's all bread and circuses for the future prey of the Morlocks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Way too many consonants in this story...mix in some vowels and give me call back when it’s done...


7 posted on 04/18/2014 2:39:39 PM PDT by Fedupwithit (It's far past time to make people start living with their idiotic decisions.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
I'd give Uyghur kebabs a try, they look tasty.
8 posted on 04/18/2014 2:47:59 PM PDT by JPG (Yes We Can morphs into Make It Hurt.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Uyghur kebabs, huh?

So, what makes them Uyghur kebabs? As opposed to shish?

9 posted on 04/18/2014 2:53:54 PM PDT by okie01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I can’t be the only one who had to look up “Uyghur”.


10 posted on 04/18/2014 2:54:38 PM PDT by workerbee (The President of the United States is DOMESTIC ENEMY #1!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: workerbee

In general terms, Turk, Uzbeks, & Uighurs are the same Turkic people stretching from Asia Minor to Central Asia to Western China. They are Muslim but with fanatics excepted are more merchants than warriors. I was deployed to Uzbekistan and they seemed normal enough, no sensitivity training needed.

The languages of the three groups are similar & they intermarry freely. I found that Uzbeks welcomed any association with Turkiye.

It would be interesting to know the difference if any between Uzbek & Uighur food. Both feature rice based dishes, kebabs, and flatbreads baked daily.

Urumqi is the de facto Uighur capital in China.


11 posted on 04/18/2014 3:17:34 PM PDT by elcid1970
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Mark Steyn...call your office.


12 posted on 04/18/2014 3:25:31 PM PDT by RS_Rider (I hate Illinois Nazis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I can see the trouble with misunderstandings when it’s pronounced out loud a mile away. Was always told it’s pronounced “Wigger.”


13 posted on 04/18/2014 3:29:00 PM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult (Liberals make unrealistic demands on reality and reality doesn't oblige them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
When walking in midtown Manhattan one can't help tripping over those halal kebab carts.In spite of the pleasant aromas that come from them I always resist the temptation.Somehow I suspect that that I'll have no problem resisting this Uyghur wagon.I wonder how often Mark Steyn gets to Boston?
14 posted on 04/18/2014 5:04:45 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Stalin Blamed The Kulaks,Obama Blames The Tea Party)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Excellent.


15 posted on 04/18/2014 5:06:22 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: workerbee
I can’t be the only one who had to look up “Uyghur”.

Pronounced like "We-girs." Been hearing about them for years. The Han Chinese are moving into their territory and dispersing the Uyghurs. If Uyghurs want to retain their tribe, they will uproot and take over somewhere else. This has been the history of conquest in Eurasia. Nothing but nasty tribes and plagues came to Europe from Asia.

16 posted on 04/18/2014 6:11:17 PM PDT by LoneRangerMassachusetts (The meek shall not inherit the Earth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson