Popular Childers café Insane Caffeine is hitting the road with its new food van to offer beachgoers refreshments from Crawford Park at Kellys Beach.
Owners Kevin and Tania Chapman were the successful applicants for a Permit to Occupy tender, which has historically been offered at three year intervals by Bundaberg Regional Council.
Kevin grew up in Bargara and Tania grew up in Bundaberg and said they both had fond memories of the Kellys Beach food van which has become a fixture at the popular location.
That, alongside their passion for good coffee, motivated the long-term locals to apply for the Crawford Park food van tender.
“It was the nostalgia and where Tania and I grew up,” Kevin said.
“We met at Krystals – say no more (true locals)!
“We always went to Bargara, we always saw the van there.”
Opening their Childers café just before the Covid pandemic reached Australia, Kevin and Tania had the food van built as an “insurance policy” against the health mandates impacting the hospitality industry at the time.
But with the café in full swing attracting locals and travellers alike, the food van is now offering the Chapmans an opportunity to expand their business and share their passion.
“We love our coffee, we love the feedback and we love the excitement people get when they actually find a good coffee.
“For 20 to 25 years we’ve been doing coffee.”
The food options for the Crawford Park food van will be what Kevin described as “new school”.
“Brownies, lemon ricotta, carrot cake – our best seller!
“We’re now even baking a vegan carrot cake too, the smoothies, with fresh fruit, smoothies locally sourced and grown – and some even in-house grown.
“Look out for the ice creams on the horizon too.”
A selection of the best sourdough and croissants will be among the items featured on the menu for hungry beachgoers.
Mayor Jack Dempsey said Council had gone through a formal assessment process as part of the tender for the Permit to Occupy.
“It’s wonderful to see a local family who has strong connections to the region and to the tradition of the Crawford Park food van be awarded this tender,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing food van operators who catered to the community in this spot for many years.”
The Insane Caffeine Crawford Park food van will begin operating by early December.
Beachgoers will be able to order refreshments from the food van in person or online at insanecaffeine.com and Kevin encouraged residents to keep an eye on the Facebook page for regular updates.
It’s school holidays, the week before xmas and the new van is not there! The old van was there every day so it’s a disappointment so far