El Chivi - The Real Heroes in Stage 4 Lockdown

It was the middle of winter during stage 3 restrictions across Melbourne, half of our go-to eateries were closed, and working in the office suddenly became exceptionally exhausting while everyone else in the business worked from home. When the sun was setting by the time I got home, when the streets we almost empty except for me travelling to and from work, when my hands were frozen shoved deep into my pockets, I discovered El Chivi.

It was a food truck parked outside of a garden supplies depot not far from my unit that caught my attention. A solid week or so passed before I spotted an advertisement on Facebook on the community notice board with their menu, and only a day later when my partner and I walked down our street, through the nearby park and up to the busy main road where they had set up shop.

Let me make this clear, if you have El Chivi even once, there is no going back to the way things used to be. Their food is so undeniably fantastic that it automatically becomes your new standard. Your expectations of other restaurants are higher, your taste buds are now geared for their crispy, salty fries, their tangy El Chivi dipping sauce, their giant churros and dulce de leche dip which never disappoint, and their generous Chivitos packed with flavour.

It’s life changing.

I am sure it was more life-changing for them, too. The El Chivi team would usually travel across the state, hired specially for events like music festivals, weddings, birthdays . . . and here I was, blessed with them set up a five minute walk from my house! It was a stroke of luck that I absolutely took advantage of! Every week, I emailed my order through to minimize face-to-face interactions during the COVID stage-4 lockdown, then headed up with my partner in the freezing cold. Despite the temperature, it was still so worth it. We stood outside (sometimes in the rain!) while most other customers waited in the warmth of their car for their orders. The smell was to-die-for, I can’t imagine it is ever possible to get used to being surround by the smell of delicious food all day.

Their Uruguayan Chivitos (steak sandwiches) were so satisfying: salty, scotch fillet steak that melts in your mouth, saucy, delicious goodness! They put so much love, effort and expertise into what they do it is no wonder the food and service blows you away. I have to say, they scored full points on their El Vegan sandwich. There is nothing worse than going to a restaurant only to find their vegetarian options are lame. My partner is vegetarian, so it was a make-or-break moment for El Chivi.

When I first mentioned them to my partner he said, "That's quite a bit of money, what if it sucks? They only have one vegetarian option."

Well, there was no need to worry. The price matched the quality and wow they exceeded our expectations! The El Vegan was so amazing they didn't need a second vegan option. They nailed perfection on the first try. They catered for me, a meat-eater extraordinaire, and my vegetarian partner with a big appetite!

El Chivi, you had such a big impact on us! You worked your way into our hearts and our stomachs with ease. The service was second-to-none; the team always bursting with energy while smashing out their orders, super friendly with a big smile whenever we walked up. Even through the stage-4 lockdown you guys continued your service for all of your dedicated fans (I am sure I wasn't your only fan).

Unfortunately all good things come to an end, eventually. Conditions changed and you guys took a break to raise a family, maybe to return to travelling to events when restrictions lifted. I doubt we will ever find anything like you again. You are the only place in Melbourne I have come across so far that sells Uruguayan food and I can’t believe I went so long without ever having anything quite like it!

Now, the garden supply depot is being demolished and the place El Chivi once stood has remained empty for months. I look back on our chilly trips up to meet you and enjoy your delicious heart-warming soul-food fondly. You were a ray of sunshine during a dark year - you guys were the real heroes during Stage 4 lockdown. I am sitting here on a raining evening writing this, my mouth watering and stomach growling at the thought of your food . . . if only you were still nearby! You roaming food-geniuses really spoiled our community. Ever since that memorable winter, my partner occasionally says he would like to run a food truck. I wonder if your mouth-watering food had anything to do with that?

To all my readers, if you see five food trucks at a Melbourne festival and El Chivi is one, you know which one to pick - I promise you won't be disappointed.