Browsing articles tagged with " food cart"
The wagon, formerly a hand-pushed cart, had upgraded to a motor vehicle-pulled trailer and came before the city to renew its license.
However, Howard said, the city did not have an existing ordinance that the trailer would fall under.
Now, city commissioners are looking at updating the ordinance, but are not sure how to handle larger food trucks, which compete with existing downtown brick-and-mortar businesses.
Kyle Stahl, owner of the Wiener Wagon, spoke to the city during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“We very much like being downtown,” he said. “We feel we have changed the atmosphere downtown.”
Stahl, who has sold hot dogs out of both a food cart and food truck since August of 2012, said he gets comments from customers saying they like the big city feel that the downtown merchants give.
Jose DelCastillo, owner of Jose’s Pig Gig, echoed Stahl’s comments.
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LyonsIf you see people carrying bowls of barley lentil or curry laksa ramen soup away from a mustard yellow and silver food cart on a warm summer evening, your instinct might be to pass by the first–and second–time staring in awe. Don’t walk away–you’ve located one of the most unique food carts around, serving exotic dishes you don’t know how to pronounce.
Mamak, New York City’s first Malaysian street cart, has operated for almost two months serving lunch in Hanover Square and, more recently, dinner off the corner of North Sixth Street and Bedford Avenue.
In Malaysia, carts offering a variety of curries and stews are about as common as a jumbo pretzel in Midtown, so chef and owner Erik Cheah, who hails from that country, saw an opportunity to improve upon the lunch and late night offerings for suits and skaters alike. Plus, running an outdoor food operation means you can do things like see the sunset and get fresh air, elements that are not necessarily common in stationary restaurant kitchens.
Cheah’s pedigree includes training under Chef Jonathan Benno of Per Se for several months, and he grew up in a family full of restaurateurs. His father operated a street cart in Malaysia, and other members of his family are involved with various southeast Asian restaurants throughout the greater New York City area.
This background not only provided him cherished family recipes from which he could build from but also the knowledge that a successful business comes down to a successful location. His Brooklyn spot, which long housed a stationary taco stand and recently hosted a Korean BBQ cart, is slowly developing a clientele of late night commuters stopping by on their walk home. Meanwhile, having a set-up in Hanover Square helps feed the masses of Wall Street denizens looking for a great meal at a fair price.
It took Cheah roughly seven months to finalize his diverse menu. Weekly specials are continuously changing based on the feedback received from customers, and seasonality also plays a role in the items that are featured (e.g. the current spring menu features a lighter lemongrass-based curry soup). Barley pandanus, an iced drink made with a floral plant common in Malaysian cooking and sweetened with rock sugar, has a sweet rice-like taste and makes for a nice accompaniment in the sweltering heat. Some entrees that made the final menu took into account the differentiated American palate. The ramly burger, which features a fried egg, cheddar, cabbage, and sweet chili ketchup, was designed as bridge between Malaysian and American cultures, and it can help convince a customer to come back and try something a bit more out of their comfort zone. That customer might consider the beef rendang curry, the highlight of the menu as suggested by the chef. It’s a dish that embodies the balance central to Malaysian cooking: Boneless shortrib is coated in papadum and sambal chili, doused in four different sauces, and seated next to a hard boiled egg on a bed of coconut- and pandanus-flavored jasmine rice.
Because Malaysian food takes considerable time to prepare–everything is homemade here, and the chili sauce takes at least two hours to complete–many of the challenges Mamak faces are very different from other operations. “We are a food cart that sells restaurant quality food,” Cheah notes. Dishes are prepped in a commissary kitchen and take up to five hours to finalize, and then Cheah and his team have to deal with transport issues.
Cheah’s eventual goal is to open a brick-and-mortar location of Mamak, but he’s content for the time being. “Keep calm and curry on,” he laughs, his experience in building restaurants a unique asset that is not necessarily common with all up and coming hidden gem hopefuls.
Mamak typically comes out of hiding from 12 to 3 pm at Hanover Square and from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm at N. 6th and Bedford with expanded hours on Friday and Saturday night. The cart also delivers, caters, and makes guest appearances outside of music venues. Check out @lovemamak for information on new locations and hours of operation.
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This 6,018-sq-ft penthouse condo at 1139 W. Cordova St. in Vancouver features three bedrooms with private sundecks, five bathrooms, rooftop deck with patio and 360-degree views of the North Shore, Burrard Inlet, Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver. Take a look.
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In our quest to keep our readers up to date with the latest stories relating to the food truck industry has compiled a list of the stories that hit the wire this weekend from Washington DC, Portland, Pittsburgh, Houston and Chicago.
June 14
Orange to Introduce Emergency Food Truck Bill Next Week – WASHINGTON DC - Following on a D.C. Council session last week in which city legislators approved a chunk of the District’s proposed regulations over food trucks while empowering themselves to tweak the rest, Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) plans to introduce some modifications next week.
Orange, The Washington Post reports, intends to propose an emergency bill at the Council’s legislative meeting next Tuesday that will loosen some of the restrictions on food trucks operating in downtown D.C. The bill comes after Orange, who chairs the Council’s Business, Regulatory, and Consumer Affairs Committee, met with representatives of industry organization representing both food trucks and brick-and-mortar restaurants.
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Coming to Portland: a food cart convention – PORTLAND, OR - Portland is taking its street-foodiness to another level: It’s hosting a convention for “mobile vending professionals,” said to be a U.S. first of its kind.
The Roam Mobile Food Conference is scheduled for Sept. 13-15. Sadly, the organizers won’t be settling regional divides over when to say “food cart” and when to say “food truck,” nor will thousands of bagel Bentleys, burger buses, croissant coupes, sherbet Chevelles and haggis wagons be converging from all over the planet. But maybe a few will.
Find the entire article here
June 15
PGH Taco Truck delivers on delicious food – PITTSBURGH, PA - It was a sunny Monday afternoon outside Marty’s Market in the Strip District, and James Rich helped a new customer with his order. His face tacky with sweat, the 41-year-old owner of PGH Taco Truck had been feeding hungry patrons since noon. He wore an extra-large T-shirt emblazoned with the truck’s red, black and yellow logo. He wiped his brow as he spoke.
“You really should get the pork taco,” he suggested. “It’s especially good today.”
His truck’s daily menu consists of six tacos. Among them are the chicken, bacon and cheddar taco with Sriracha lime cream; the curried potato and guacamole taco; the braised beef and kimchi taco; and a ground beef with cheddar and salsa taco. Prices range from $3 to $5. The menu warns, “Tacos are fairly large.”
Find the entire article here
Houston gets its own food truck park — and it has monster-sized plans – HOUSTON, TX - Considering the growing popularity of food truck culture in the Houston scene (and the City of Houston’s inability to revise ordinances that restrict their operations in downtown), it was only a matter of time before someone followed in the footsteps of Austin entrepreneurs to create a food truck park where all could exist in harmony.
And so it goes: Houston Food Park will make its debut at 1504 St. Emanuel St. with a grand opening event beginning at 3 p.m. on June 22, just in time for the official start of summer. Expect Yummy’z Kitchen, Coreanos, POCKet to Meand Betton’s Comfort Food to be among the mobile eateries serving up treats at the event.
Find the entire article here
June 16
City Licenses Seven New Food Trucks Including Waffle Burger Trucks – CHICAGO, IL – Yesterday, the Mayor’s Office announced in a release that seven new food trucks received licenses to cook on-board the vehicles, and it’s an excellent list. There’s the Eastman Egg Company, a breakfast-themed truck serving egg specialties; Beaver’s Coffee and Donuts; Gelato D’Oro; Cheesie’s, a truck by the Lakeview grilled cheese restaurant; Windy City Patty Wagon, a burger truck; and Carbon’s Kitchen, serving gourmet waffles. And then Giordano’s. This brings the total of licensed food trucks up to 13.
Find the entire article here
Related posts:
- Weekend Food Truck Roundup June 15 – 17, 2012
- Weekend Food Truck Roundup May 31 – June 2, 2013
- Weekend Food Truck Roundup June 7-9, 2013
- Weekend Food Truck Roundup June 22 – 24, 2012
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A street food cart that opened in London Fields park on June 14, sets out to cater for the entire community, “not just the hipsters”.http://news
Italian-inspired Coppa Cart gained permission to trade in the public park until March 2014 through a Hackney Council scheme that supports local businesses.
The council’s choice of a trader was met with mixed responses from the local residents of Hackney, the area famous for its gentrification issues.
Will Coldwell, 24, a journalist from Stoke Newington, said: “I think it is a disappointment when the council is giving up space in a public park to private companies that are going to sell food, drinks and snacks out of price of what people will be able to afford.”
Although Coppa Cart pricing was quoted as “reasonable” and “certainly not expensive” by the owner Eliza Flanagan, £2 for coffee and £1.5 for a cup of tea turned out to be out of some people’s budget.
Bryan Eaton
Bryan Eaton, 48, who is unemployed and lives near Homerton Hospital, said: “Not everyone is affluent in this area, not everyone has got loads of money. They only cater for the people who can afford it.”
“We should have an alternative,” added Eaton. “I would rather see a lot more shops here that can offer competitive prices.”
“You need to take into consideration what people have to live on,” said Warren Philbert, 35, a leaflets distributor from Dalston.
“Some people are on benefits, some people have better jobs than others.”
Norman Saggers, 45, who works for Young Hackney and lives in Walthamstow, said that the prices were average for the area.
“But if you are in a park with kids, it will add up quite quickly,” he added.
The food van is an extension of Coppa rooftop bar and barbecue terrace that overlooks London Fields. Both vendors are the trading names of Lardo, an up-market restaurant on Richmond Road.
Flanagan said Coppa Cart was not trying to be exclusive or elitist in any way.
“We thought about our menu carefully. We even offer Halal hot dog for £4, which is pretty democratic and suitable for people who do not eat pork for religious reasons or by choice.”
Other items on the menu include sandwich with rocket and porchetta for £5 and marinated artichokes for £2.30
Lorna Ellis,
Manager, Coppa Cart
Lorna Ellis, Coppa Cart manager, said that the cart had a lot of interest from the passerby on its opening day.
She said: “A lot of people are enquiring whether we are here for just one-off day and people are surprised when we say we will stay until March.”
Ellis felt it was too early to say which audience favoured the cart most. She added that Coppa Cart would try to cater for everybody in the park.
“From 8 am we are open for breakfast and coffee- grabbing people on their way to work, then quite a few people come with their children in lunch time, and in the evening we will create a little bit of an atmosphere.”
A few passersby offered their suggestions for Coppa Cart.
Mia Buzzi, 46, a tourist from Italy, said: “I would add something to eat. The drink menu is very long but the part with food is short.”
Edoardo Ugolini, 54, senior fund manager, said: “The food cart is nice, but I’d have it re-painted, the colour looks old. And plastic mandarines are a bit cheap.”
Both Buzzi and Ugolini said they felt the prices were fair.
Coppa Cart will be changing locations around the park throughout summer.
“We have to be careful not to tear up one piece of land,” said Ellis. “We have to move as it is a public space.”
Coppa Cart will be open seven days a week in the summer. For more info visit: http://www.lardo.co.uk/
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BEAVERTON—More burgers on wheels! The rapidly growing Joe’s Burgers chainlet has launched a mobile truck that now serves burgers at the Saturday Beaverton Farmer’s Market. [EaterWire]
SOUTHEAST—More vegan bakery news! In the third NE Alberta bakery update of the day, Back to Eden Bakery has announced that construction is underway to expand into its neighboring space, turning the site into an event space and classroom. The expansion will also see an increase in the bakery’s outdoor seating. [EaterWire]
LAKE OSWEGO—More restaurants in Lake Oswego! Maybe. For interested restaurateurs looking to expand, Gramor Development has announced plans to erect a 65,000-square-foot development dubbed Kruse Village. The site will feature space for retail and restaurants. [OregonLive]
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Japadog became the first Richmond city council-endorsed sidewalk vendor to open for business at the corner of No. 3 Road and Westminster Highway on Thursday, as part of a one-year pilot project. Japadog has had food carts in Richmond before, on private property, and also has a food cart at Vancouver International Airport.
Earlier this year, city council approved a one-year pilot project to allow vendors to set up shop on sidewalks at Westminster Highway and No. 3 Road, near the Canada Line terminus.
Japadog’s most popular hotdog is the Terimayo, a beef sausage and white bun dressed with teriyaki sauce, julienned seaweed shavings, Japanese mayonnaise and fried onion.
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Portland is taking its street-foodiness to another level: It’s hosting a convention for “mobile vending professionals,” said to be a U.S. first of its kind.
The Roam Mobile Food Conference is scheduled for Sept. 13-15. Sadly, the organizers won’t be settling regional divides over when to say “food cart” and when to say “food truck,” nor will thousands of bagel Bentleys, burger buses, croissant coupes, sherbet Chevelles and haggis wagons be converging from all over the planet. But maybe a few will.
Along with a conventional slate of conference speakers, exhibitors and seminars, there will be a boot camp for aspiring mobile food folk. The conference headquarters is the Doubletree by Hilton in Portland’s downtown Lloyd District.
It’s a good bet that all the usual Portland food cart gathering places — pods, the locals say — will be hopping. The city is said to have more than 500 food carts and trucks, clustered in more than two dozen pods. Just within a block of Southwest 9th Avenue and Southwest Alder Street, local authorities say, about 60 carts are typically found.
In fact, for an overview of Portland’s food pods and related pleasures, check with our local authority, a.k.a. Food Carts Portland.
Oh, and if you’re holding out for a street-food convention with a more global flavor — apparently we just missed one in Singapore. Maybe next year.
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June 11, 2013
Need another reason to be stoked for this summer’s imminence? The awesome outdoor extravaganza so deliciously seared into our memories as Food Cart Fest is set to make its tasty return every Sunday this summer – starting June 23rd – at a new location: 215 West 1st Avenue. It’s going to be bigger than ever before, with some 20 food trucks parked laager-style around communal tables with community markets, live music, and all manner of ancillary vendors besides making it the raddest bit of real estate in the city ($2 entry charge). We mentioned this excellent eventuality back in March when the old Waldorf team announced the launch of their new agency, Arrival, but now the deets are locked in and we’re super exited to share! Here’s the full skinny, complete with a map that comes free of drool stains…
The Arrival Agency and the Streetfood Vancouver Society are pleased to announce the second annual Food Cart Fest. Beginning Sunday, June 23, at its new home at 215 West 1st Avenue, the festival will run for 14 weeks until September 22. Boasting one of the largest gatherings of food carts in North America, this year’s festival will highlight Vancouver’s exploding street food culture.
Not strictly for foodies though, Food Cart Fest is also about enjoying the summer with friends and family. Building on what many considered a highlight of last summer, each week over 20 food carts will be complemented by community markets, live music, DJs, craft food vendors, and kids’ activities.
After a successful first year, where attendance was upwards of 5,000 each week, the festival is expecting even more people in its new, centralized location. The Arrival Agency worked with Mayor Gregor Robertson and the staff of the City of Vancouver to find an ideal location for the event this year. “We are really excited to be in the heart of the city, connected by so many transit options and right along the Seawall,” says Arrival’s Ernesto Gomez.
The festival’s new location is adjacent to the Cambie Street Bridge and the Olympic Village; between West 1st Avenue and the Seawall (where Cavalia: A Magical Encounter Between Human and Horse took place). The site is a short walk from the Canada Line’s Olympic Village Station; the Aquabus’ Spyglass Place Dock; and bus routes along Broadway, Cambie, Main, and West 2nd Avenue.
Vancouver was recently named one the top three cities for food carts in North America by Travel+Escape and has been drawing international praise for its diverse and delicious street food. “We’re excited to have the entire summer to showcase why we do such a damn fine job here in Vancouver,” says Kaboom Box’s Andy Fielding.
FOOD CART FEST 2013
Launching Sunday, June 23 | 12pm-6pm
Happens every Sunday until September 22 (14 weeks)
215 West 1st Avenue
Admission is $2
Children 13 and under get in free
www.foodcartfest.com
www.facebook.com/foodcartfest
Scout Magazine is a proud sponsor of Food Cart Fest. We’ll be seeing you there!
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