The Maitland Food Truck Cafe

Posted on by Thor

On June 10th, The Mother Band performed at Lake Lily as part of the Maitland Food Truck Cafe event. The band was just starting to set up when I arrived. My focus shifted to the long line of food trucks, so I sat down and started to sketch. A TV news crew was there interviewing food truck chefs. That made me suspect that I was on the cusp of a breaking story.  Perhaps a food truck was a front for a huge drug trafficking ring. A gun fight could break out, forcing me to sketch from behind the cover of a tree. Perhaps it is mob week on TV and I’m imagining things.

 I’ve seen the retro styled Yum Yum truck before at other Food Truck events. The Tree House Truck was new to me. A mom and her daughter ordered a meal and sat at a picnic table to eat. A Korean girl looked over my shoulder inspecting at every line as I put it on the page. The sky was getting grey with storm clouds and thunder rumbled across the lake. It began to rain with a trickle of large wet drops to start. I was under the cover of a tree and the leaves offered shelter for my sketch at first. Then the deluge started and I quickly packed away the sketch and ran for my car. By default, the sketch was done. As I drove home, I realized I was hungry. Why on earth didn’t I order some food. I’d make a terrible “Foodie” since my focus on sketching distracts me from tasting. I also forgot to listen in to how the band sounded in the distance. Strike two for my in depth reporting.

Mark your Calendars! The Maitland Food Truck Cafe is tonight, Wednesday August 21st and August 28th starting at 6pm on the shore of Lake Lily. The event is closed for the month of September and will reopen on the first Wednesday of every month starting in October.

Black & White

Posted on by Thor

The Food Truck Cafe occurs every Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm at Lake Lily Park in Maitland, located at the intersection of State Road 17-92 and Maitland Avenue in Maitland. Typically anywhere from 5 to 8 different Food Truck concepts will participate. All of Food Trucks are unique, all them are independently owned and managed, and the dishes I tried from Big Wheel were delicious. Current participants include: The Korean BBQ Taco Box, The Crooked Spoon , Big Wheel Provisions , Redeye BBQ , The Treehouse Truck, and The Yum Yum Cupcake Truck.

The parking lot at Lake Lilly park was packed but I lucked into a close spot as someone pulled out. I was there to see Black and White with Beth Black on violin and Jim Bass on keys and guitar. The food trucks were lined up along the waterfront and there were tables set up on the cement boardwalk so people could sit and enjoy their meals. Between the clusters of tables was the performers tent. I know Beth because she volunteers for the Florida Film Festival. They performed a variety of covers. Beth had a sweet singing voice. The parks department had a menacing red lock box set up to accept tips for the performers. Children took delight in the live music sometimes swaying and dancing. As the sun set, the light sparkled on the lily pad encrusted lake. Lines for the food were short and the event was very family friendly.

Tasty Tuesday Shut Down by Police

Posted on by Thor

On June 19th, Mark Baratelli, of The Daily City, gave me a tip that a food truck event in the Milk District was being shut down by police. He felt that all the proprietors in the neighborhood were behind the event since it brought in a crowd. Apparently a business in the neighborhood did complain and there were reports that Code Enforcement was there. In Miami, food truck corals draw huge crowds to the trendy gallery district. I immediately drove over to see what was going on. As I approached the Milk District, I noticed a food truck driving away. The event was called Tasty Tuesdays and involved food trucks in a parking lot at the corner of Robinson and Graham. There was a small crowd of 20 to 30 people milling about. Some people were finishing off plates of food. Two police cars were parked in the middle of the road blocking traffic. Officers stood in the road with their arms crossed waiting for the food trucks to pack up and leave. Melissa’s Chicken and Waffles food truck closed up and pulled out of the parking lot as I sketched. A camera man from Fox 35 News started shooting video.

Saigon Sizzle on the left side of my sketch packed away a table and supplies and then backed out of the lot. I asked  the guy who was helping guide the driver why they had to leave. “The police say we are blocking traffic.” he said. “We assumed the organizer had all the right permits, but I guess not.” Slowly the crowd disappeared as the sun set behind the T.G. Lee’s Milk towers. A mosquito kept tickling my left elbow. I rushed to finish the sketch before I lost all my light. The Flattery, a black food truck was parked on the sidewalk and was the last to leave.

The Daily City contacted Commisioner Patti Sheehan and this is what she had to say. “City
staff is working with Tommy to try and get the issues resolved.  There
was a complaint from a nearby business.  I was aware of parking
concerns, and I had spoken to OPD about it, but I was unaware of the
code provision that does not allow sales from the city right-of-way. 
The trucks were warned, but a few decided to pay the fine and continue
selling. I would
rather work this out so that all of the codes are understood and
followed, and the event can continue. I do not think this is a bad omen
for food trucks in general, just a hiccup with a group trying to
promote an event that needs to be a little more familiar with our
rules.” Read the rest here…

Tasty Tuesdays in The Milk District had this to say on Facebook, “One
of the businesses on the street complained one too many times. Worst
case scenario, next week the trucks will be in the Spacebar/Sandwich
Bar, Etoile Boutique/Milk Bar, and Doggy Day Care parking lots. Best
case scenario, we’re back on the street – we will keep you all updated.
Small businesses for the win!”

Yum! Yum!  I drove home and had a hot dog for dinner. I was starving.