Michelin-star chef hits the road in Sidmouth

A chef who has worked in Michelin-star restaurants and on superyachts has changed pace and a launched food truck business called 'Yamza' in the local area.

Ed McLachlan, 35, regularly stops off in Exmouth, Sidmouth, and Exminster in his custom-built van to sell his unique culinary creations, which are inspired by his experiences travelling around the world. 

Ed, who grew up in Sidmouth and became the youngest Certified Master Chef in the world when he was 24, said: "I like to think that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have the best flavours.

"This is chilled, I cook in my shorts. I like the excitement of moving and going to different towns."

He started Yamza after selling food from his home garage in Sidford during the pandemic in 2020.

He explained: "It went unbelievably well, we just opened two nights a week, and literally brought in an income for two years. All out of our home kitchen. 

"We stopped that, and we were like ok we've built something here, let's do a food truck. And Yamza was born."

Ed's concise menu features shawarma in pitta bread, rice bowls, fries, and more. 

He said: "It's kind of Middle Eastern, but a completely new fusion take on that. 

"You've got the idea of a fresh pitta bread stuffed with meat, smoky garlic sauce, lots of barbecue flavours, big flavours. And then I'm sort of bringing in Japanese, Chinese, Thai, different cuisines from around the world, and doing the same with the rice bowls. 

"It's basically my experience from around the world: all my favourite dishes come together, all my favourite flavours come together for the menu."

L: Examples of the shawarma pittas. R: Example rice bowl (Ed McLachlan)

Ed's food truck currently operates from 5pm to 8pm three days a week. You can find Yamza at Kennaway House in Sidmouth on Thursdays, Moore's Pasties on Dinan Way Trading Estate in Exmouth on Fridays, and the Texaco garage near Exminster on Saturdays.