Macaroni cheese has never tasted so good. At least not until street food vendors Mac Love came along to serve up their delicious delights with a view over the Tay.
If you are travelling between Tayport and Newport-on-Tay anytime soon then you’re likely to pass by one of Scotland’s newest street food offerings – Mac Love.
When they aren’t taking part in a festival or event, the business is set up in the viewpoint on the B946 between the two coastal towns, where partners Jo Doherty and Peter Dougal have been serving up their popular macaroni cheese dishes for a few months and gaining much interest from local foodies.
How Mac Love started
Starting at the beginning of 2021, Jo says Mac Love was born out of a passion for food and a dream of owning her own business.
She says: “Mac Love has been in the pipeline for a while now. It technically only got off the ground in January this year but the dream of owning and operating a food truck has been there for years.
“Having worked in so many different areas in hospitality and catering over the years, from a hot dog stand back in Ireland to a fondue cafe in San Francisco (and everything in between), when the guys at Salt and Pine were selling one of their catering trailers, I jumped at the chance to get going.
“The timing was impeccable, originally being due to trade at our first event last April, Mac Love had to be put on hold until a Plan B was formed due to the pandemic.
“My partner Peter came onboard in January 2021 and we started trading from the viewpoint in between Newport and Tayport. We were met by such a warm response, we haven’t looked back since.”
Street food scran
Building up a reputation for their freshly-made macaroni cheese pots, Mac Love’s food has increased in popularity ever since opening.
Jo continued: “We serve gourmet macaroni cheese pots, made from scratch with a three cheese blend and optional toppings that customers can tailor to suit them.
“Our most popular macaroni at the moment is definitely the Mexican Mac, served with tortilla chips, sour cream, jalapenos and hot sauce.
“Ever since we launched officially in January, we’ve already racked up some highlights, including coming second place in the People’s Choice Vote at the Scottish Street Food Awards in Edinburgh.
“Knowing that so many people enjoyed our food and voted for us meant a lot to us. It has also been a pleasure to be able to work alongside my partner Peter. Mac Love definitely wouldn’t have made it this far without him, that’s for sure.”
As Scotland’s street food scene has surged over recent months in terms of people setting up new trailers and vans as a result of businesses closing down during lockdown months, Jo and Peter feel thrilled to be a part of the offering.
Jo adds: “There has definitely been more interest in street food over the last year. With all events being cancelled, many street food traders would have had to refocus their efforts in order to carry on.
“With takeaways being some of the only businesses still being able to operate within the guidelines, people were definitely glad of being able to get out and grab a bite to eat. I know that we were glad to serve them.”
You can find Mac Love situated at the viewpoint between Tayport and Newport-on-Tay most days from 11am to 5pm.
Check their Facebook page for more information on timings and location. They also offer vegan macaroni options.
Map of street food vendors in Tayside and Fife