The Truck Stops Here: Mobile Food Vendors Come to Royal Oak Farmers Market
Mobile food vendors will serve up their best fare this evening in first 'Street Eats Wednesday' event.
Mobile food vendors will growl into the Royal Oak Farmers Market tonight, where as many as six 26-foot bumper-to-bumper trucks can fit comfortably inside the confines of the market according to market manager Shelly Mazur.
The event, "Street Eats Wednesday," is sponsored by the newly formed Michigan Mobile Food Vendors Association. So far, organizers have lined up five trucks, a food cart and a popular local band, the Reefermen.
Dan Gearig, 36, will serve up eats from El Guapo: Fresh Mexican Grill. The chef said the rogue street food movement is about culture and freedom — not to mention the inability to come up with $100,000 to start a traditional restaurant.
"There are a lot of young talented chefs who don't want to do bricks and mortar where the chef is in the back of the kitchen," Gearig said. "Chefs are very passionate. We love to please. I like to look out a window and hand someone their food and make a connection. People love it."
Thanks to the Food Network and Cooking Channel, interest in food is exploding, Gearig said.
"These days, it's more than just snobby people interested in filet mignon that are paying attention to food," he said.
Who will be there
The following vendors are confirmed:
- Ned's TravelBurger: gourmet burgers
- El Guapo: amped-up burritos
- Franks Anatra: hot dogs
- Taco Mama: tacos
- Concrete Cuisine: soup and sandwiches
- Treat Dreams: homemade ice cream
Bring your appetite
- What: Street Eats Wednesday
- Where: Royal Oak Farmers Market
- When: 5-9 p.m. Wednesday
- Cost: Free admission. Menu items range from $4-$8.
Alan Stamm
9:14 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
This keeps up, it'll be tougher to tell R.O. and L.A. apart!
I enjoyed Ned's Travelburger grub at the Dream Cruise and Rail Jam in Birmingham, and look forward to hearing the Reefermen on Feb. 8 because of the band's name.
Stephanie Givens
2:46 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
This is very cool! I'm excited to check it out.
Mike
6:24 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Kind of like " The Great Food Truck Race" on the Food Network a while back. Cool.
Cheryl
11:15 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Cheryl
I am hoping this will be recurring. Tonight is basketball night in East Lansing!!
Go State!
Jerry Smokes
12:37 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I went and it was way too overcrowded. Lines looked to be an hour long for each truck. Chow Catering had the most appealing menu. Wish I could of tried them all.