The French may have been a little slower than the US and other parts of Europe to embrace the concept of the foodtruck, but Peugeot's latest concept, which will be heading to Milan for Design Week, shows that they're clearly making up for lost time.
Dubbed "Le Bistrot du Lion" by the team at the Peugeot Design Lab, the concept is much more than just a stripped out and refitted van. Instead, working from a brief that demanded a complete dining experience, the foodtruck literally splits in two to create a kitchen and a dining space.
"We wanted to create a complete food truck experience, not only creating a kitchen for the chef but a restaurant and cafe for the customers. A lot of attention was given to opening up the kitchen and allowing the chef and food preparation to be as close to the public as possible," Cathal Loughnane, Head of Peugeot Design Lab. "We also wanted to create a real sense of surprise as the compact Peugeot Foodtruck transforms into an amphitheatre-like dining space."
The truck is certainly theatrical, but it is also a fully functional mobile kitchen. The truck will be put into active service, first at Milan Design Week, which opens its doors to the public on April 14 and then will be taking up residence at the French pavilion for the full six months of the 2015 Milan Expo.
As such, Peugeot partnered with leading French foodtruck builder Euromag to make sure the concept is up to the task and meets all health, safety and hygiene regulations.
The food preparation area is pro-grade featuring two grill plates, four induction burners, a deep fryer, a 400-litre under-floor cold store for food and a 350-litre fridge for drinks and of course a top-of-the-range espresso machine.
As for patrons, the truck can offer standing room for 30 customers at a time, shaded by parasols and entertained by an integrated DJ booth and a widescreen display that relays a live feed of the chefs at work in the kitchen.
Peugeot also claims that the truck has been set up to "recuperate and recycle all waste" so that nothing is left behind when it hits the road again.
