Flaming Wheels in operation. It could mark the start of a new way to serve Malaysian street food.

What is being hailed as a prototype of a modern food truck that can revolutionise Malaysian street food hit the streets last week.



The Flaming Wheels is a purpose-built kitchen-on-wheels that delivers freshly-cooked food around the Klang Valley.



Owner Dina Blazevic of Amadeus bistro at Life Centre in Kuala Lumpur said she was fascinated by the American food trucks she saw on television.



“We know that it works everywhere in the world,” she said of her test project to bring restaurant-quality food at affordable prices to the street.



Blazevic calls it the “bistronisation” of street food.



“The idea is to bring healthy, bistronised versions of selected local and international fare to the people that are prepared in our kitchen upon order,” she said, adding that the mobile kitchen can dish out 1,000 meals per session and they can cater to parties.



For now, the target is to serve 200 to 300 meals a day.



Built at a cost of RM200,000 by MSM Equipment, a subsidiary of Mann Seng Metal International Ltd, the new towering food truck makes the soya bean milk mobile look like an insipid toy car.



It is designed with the sporty pedigree of a Hot Wheels vehicle; all metal and muscle, it is an attention-grabbing mafioso that will stop not just the foodie, but the motoring fan, in its wake.

(From left) Dina Blazevic, Tan Ling Ling, Datuk Dr Jacob George and Anthony Ng at the service counter of the truck.

Inside is a professional stainless steel kitchen complete with stove, oven, grill, microwave oven, exhaust hood, refrigerator and freezer, and a sink with running water – a galley kitchen with just enough space for two or three people to move around comfortably. In anticipation of bumpy rides ahead, the equipment and build-ins are secured using an interlocking system.



The beauty of this beast lies in its guts and underbelly: it comes installed with a sophisticated grease trap and cleaning system to make the City Council and health enforcement department smile. This aspect of the food truck alone has made Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) come out in support of the project.



“Ninety-seven per cent of street food is served in unhygienic conditions,” said its president Datuk Dr Jacob George, who was at the launch of Flaming Wheels at Inti College in Subang Jaya, Selangor.



“For every incident of food poisoning reported, 10 to 15 cases go unreported,” he said. He hailed the new food truck concept as revolutionary and hoped that it would set a new benchmark for street food in the country, and set off a chain reaction in the food sector.



The “trucker” being unusually a lady, has a soft spot and a heart that goes out to the disadvantaged in society. Apart from wanting to bring hygiene and better quality to street food, Blazevic wants to bring joy into the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions and has pledged a percentage of the profits of Flaming Wheels to the Make-a-wish charity foundation that grants wishes to the children.



“It’s a simple way for me to help, in a way that I know – through food,” said the restaurateur.



“The joy of sharing has always been in the hearts of Dina’s family,” said Anthony Ng, CEO of Make-a-wish, during the launch ceremony. The Blazevics had previously collaborated with Make-a-wish. Make-a-wish grants five wishes a month and “a wish come true impacts not just the child, but the whole family,” said Ng.



Dr George lauds a food industry that works with the society in mind.



“Less than 4% of the corporate sector contributes back to society,” he said. The good doctor is interested in the holistic concept of Flaming Wheels, and how wheels can literally make an idea travel. “A mobile charity food truck will spread the idea of corporate-community initiatives.”



There is also a mentoring aspect to Flaming Wheels – it is in partnership with Inti College in a bilateral, innovative learning project. Students of its School of Business provide market research and analysis for the real-time pioneer project while learning from it.



Campus president Tan Ling Ling said the project provided the students a beyond-the-classroom learning opportunity and brought home the importance of social responsibility in the corporate world to the students. This batch of students will graduate with the practical knowledge to start their own food truck business.

Healthier, 'bistronised' street food is what one can expect from the new food truck.

Blazevic estimates that it would cost the company about RM20,000 monthly to run the truck, with 30% to 40% of that going to food cost, and with three to four people to man the truck, including a driver who would double in the kitchen. How much profit can she expect to make? This pioneer is not too sure.



From what we tasted at the launch, you are in for a treat if Flaming Wheels stops by your neighbourhood.



We tried the Chilli Beef Nachos (RM8.90), a combo of crispy corn tortilla chips, chilli beef, cheese sauce, guacamole and sour cream; the Moroccan Lamb Stew (RM12.90) and Zoran’s Beef Goulash (RM12.90). All were tasty and flavourful – food that we won’t mind ordering again, and again.



Despite cooking to order, the kitchen offers fast take-away food in bio-degradable boxes that is ready in no time at all – er, five minutes is the claim.



“We offer fast food that is not fast food!” Blazevic said. But we think food that is so pocket-friendly and tastes this fresh and good is sure to build a queue.



So when will you get to taste Kuan Yew’s Stir-fried Singapore Noodles with Chicken (RM7.90)?



When will Flaming Wheels come to your neck of the woods?



Being the big brute that it is, a wide road shoulder where it can berth is essential, and obviously, it can only do business where it is allowed to by the authorities.



For now the food truck will cruise neighbourhoods where there are not many food options, said Blazevic; we imagine the pakcik will soon get to try Madonna’s Hot & Spicy Calamari Rings (RM12.90) when the food truck stops by his kampung.



Pakcik may have to wait; the scheduled first stop was the Inti International College in Nilai.



The truck’s timetable can be accessed at its website  and is broadcast via Twitter and Facebook.