T

Food Truck Forum

A newsletter for food truck lovers in the Washington, D.C. region

June 2012

Food truck fans celebrate Cinco de Mayo at this years Curbside Cookoff
his years Curbside Cookoff, which took place on Cinco de Mayo, was the biggest food truck event in history. The event, aptly named Trucko de Mayo, had over 40 food trucks dishing out their specialities at the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds. In addition to providing a variety of delicious food options, the event had live music, games, and beer for sale. Trucko de Mayo provided food truck lovers who do not have access to food trucks during the week the chance to check them out. Matthew Rotham, from Bethesda, said he traveled to the festival to have the opportunity to eat off the food trucks. I dont need to sit down at a brick and mortar restaurant to enjoy food, this is great food, Rotham said. Attendees had the chance to visit the classic food trucks, such as TaKorean and the Fojol Brothers, as well as new ones. Christopher Dunn, who visits s you wait in line at your favorite food truck, your mind is focused on the delicious food soon to come. You are probably not thinking about all the rules and regulations being followed as you grab your food and walk away. But food trucks do not have it as easy as it may appear because Washington, D.C. has a series of regulations that every

DCRA proposes improved regulations for trucks

truck must follow. Recently, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has proposed new regulations, that will benefit the trucks by making it easier for them to sell their food. Currently the trucks are operating under 30-year-old regulations that are in need of updating. In the last couple of years Continued on page 2

the food trucks during his work week, said the event allows him to try trucks he has never tried before. Its a great opportunity to get out and see what the other trucks are all about, he said. Asher Huey, a volunteer for the D.C. Food Truck Association, said it is important for the event to show D.C. what food

Jerry Huster and Chris Avery [left] with Adam and AnnMarie Harden [right] enjoy a picnic lunch at Trucko de Mayo. Photo by: Cheryl Lyons

trucks bring to the community. Food trucks bring so many food options, especially to food desserts, said Asher. Downtown they create a lot of variety where you only have restaurants like Subway and McDonalds. Trucko de Mayo gave those in the D.C. community a look into all the options food trucks have to offer.

IN THIS ISSUE

PAGE 2 New food truck regulations Kangaroo Boxing Club PAGE 3 Trucks to try this month PAGE 4 Meet the food truck owners

June 2012

isten up PORC fans! Josh pand into a restaurant space. taurant. Saltzman says he will no Saltzman and Trent AlSaltzman and Allen built up longer work on the PORC truck, len, owners of Purvey- capital from their food truck, but the truck will operate ors of Rolling Cuisine out of his new restaurant (PORC), are expanding Running a food truck their business to a brick definitely helped give and mortar restaurant. us a nice, controllable The new restaurant, starting point to expand named Kangaroo Boxinto the restaurant, said ing Club, is planned to Saltzman. The owners open in the next couple of PORC plan to put the of months. Located in quality and service they the Columbia Heights are known for into their area, this new establishnew restaurant. They ment will provide PORC look forward to providloves with all of their ing the people of D.C. with favorites, as well as a delicious food in a fresh, variety of new dishes. comfortable atmosphere. The Kangaroo Boxing Club will be located at 3412 Weve been workThe restaurant will also NW in Columbia Heights, previously Acuario. ing on ideas for a restauhave a full bar with a large Photo credit: princeofpetworth.com rant for a long time, said selection of beer and wine. Saltzman. It was definitely our which allowed them to branch For more information follow @ goal from the beginning to ex- out and establish their new reskangarooboxing on Twitter Regulations (continued from p. 1) tee started a Change.org petition Gray plans to have new regulafood trucks have taken over to inform Mayor Vincent Gray on tions finished by the beginning D.C., with over 80 trucks op- the issues that needed to be ad- of June. Food Truck owners are erating within the district. dressed in the new regulations. expecting him to take all of their Because there are so many new Food truck fans used the petition issues into consideration when food trucks it is necessary to up- as a means of voicing their optini- finalizing the new regulations. date the regulations to make it ons on solving the issues the reg- For more information visit more practical for the trucks ulations do not cover. One issue www.dcfoodtrucks.org to operate on a daily basis. is that dessert trucks are limited Food Truck Association to 10 minutes on the curb, unless President Che Ruddell-Tabisola they have a line. The new regulasaid, the sooner the regulations tions would categorize them as pass, the better it is for the com- regular food trucks, which will munity. Ruddell-Tabisola claims be allowed to remain parked the trucks are an important as- in the same area, regardless of pect to the D.C. community be- whether they have a line or not. Russel-Tabisota said that cause they bring jobs as well as Mayor Gray is in the process of tax revenue to the city. In fact, the FTA claims food trucks have looking over the newly proposed New regulations will allow trucks to opcreated over 500 jobs in the city. regulations, as well as the sug- erate in more parts of the city and have Leaders in the FTA commit- gestions voiced by the public. later hours. Photo by: Cheryl Lyons

PORC truck expands business with new restaurant

Food Truck Forum

June 2012

Jos Andrs introduces new truck, Pepe

Food Truck Forum

Pepe is an addition to Andrs ThinkFoodGroup, which owns several restaurants in D.C. Andrs opened Pepe to expand his business, but also to give back to the community. Sean Wheaton, a chef on the truck, said The idea behind Pepe is for us to be able to make money so that we can afford to give stuff away, so we can go out into the community and do charitable work. Wheaton explained that Pepe works with D.C. Central Kitchen, to provide meals to low-income and homeless families in the region.

Award-winning chef brings Spanish sandwiches to the scene

ooking for some high-quality Spanish cuisine for lunch? Check out Pepe, the new food truck launched by celebrity chef Jos Andrs. The trucks menu offers authentic Spanish sandwiches, called flautas, which are long, thing baguettes with a range of ingredients inside. These sandwiches are made with the finest ingredients, and because of this some are pricey. The most expensive one being the Pepito de Ibrico, which is $20, and is made with seared ibrico and serrano hams with peppers, onions and aioli

More new trucks to try this month The mobile version of the restaurant located in Dupont Circle offers tasty Lebanese Kabab sandwiches and platters. An authentic Vietnamese truck. They also have spring rolls, shrimp rolls and summer rolls. This soul food-inspired mobile food truck will launch in late May. A new dessert truck, bringing more sweets to the scene! This truck serves traditional Greek food. Offering sandwiches, salates, mezedes and desserts.
For more visit www.foodtruckfiesta.com

Another day, another food truck

Kababji Truck

Pho Junkies

The Aahhs

Cupcake Joy

Souvlaki Stop

ant to go to a food truck, but too full from breakfast for an entire meal? Stop by Stellas PopKern truck for a tasty and flavorful snack! The new truck, owned my Kristina Kern, offers a variety of popcorn flavors that will leave your mouth watering. Kern says she always wanted to open up her own place, but as a single mother, did not want to risk the dept of starting up a brick and mortar restaurant. This is a terrific way of testing the market for our product, said Kern. If you are in the mood for something salty, or something sweet, or both, Stellas PopKern has them all. Some of the flavors include, Salty Carmel, Basil Infused Olive Oil with Ginger Sea Salt, and Zesty White Cheddar Cheese. Each week there are also two mystery flavors!

Steallas PopKern pops into the food truck scene

Pepe operates at different locations every day. To find when Pepe will be near you, follow @pepefoodtruck on Twitter.

My truck is different in that we offer a snack for those who want a little fun, delicious nibble throughout the day, said Kern. The truck also finds ways to give back to the community. A portion of Stellas PopKerns revenue is donated to Dress for Success DC, a non-profit organization that provides disadvantaged women with professional attire to support their career development. For more information, visit www.stellaspopkern.com

Meet the food truck owners

STIX Sweetbites

Food Truck Forum

Dorothy Moons

Jane Lyons & Leah Perez

assy chicks Jane Lyons and Leah Perez launched their food truck, Stix, last May as a way to try something new with their careers. Lyons and Perez met through mutual friends, and decided to team up to bring D.C. quality food, on a stick! Before Stix, Lyons worked in fashion retail for 18 years, but eventually found corporate America was not how she wanted to spend the rest of her life. Perez was raising two kids, but was ready to re-enter to workforce, and saw opening a food truck as a great opportunity. Lyons says she came up with the idea of Stix from the food she enjoyed eating at carnivals. We wanted to make something that people could eat on the go, said Lyons. Perez says her favorite part of working on a food truck is the customers, and having the chance to meet so many new people every day. The best part of working on a food truck is that every day is different, said Perez. To keep up with the Stix Chicks, follow them on Twitter @eatstix.

netta has been dishing out famous sweets since she launched her own catering company in 2001. In 2010 she decided to expand her business by opening her own mobile caf, Sweetbites. Panetta said her favorite part of owning a food truck is the freedom. Not many people get to be in their work all day and have their window open all day long, Panetta said Follow Sweetbites on Twitter @ sweetbitetruck.

Sandra Panetta Roman Diaz weetbites owner Sandra Pa-

ecent college graduate Roman Diaz said after getting his degree last May he was having trouble finding a job, and so were his friends. So they decided to create jobs for themselves by launching Dorothy Moons Gourmet Burgers. Diaz said he loves having the opportunity to work side by side with his best friends everyday. Favorite part of owning a food truck? Not having a boss, Diaz said. Check them out on Twitter @dorothymoon1

Find your favorite food trucks

Track and locate all of your favorite Washington DC food trucks in real-time with the Food Truck Fiesta App. For iPhones and Adriods

Food truck hot spots

Find your favorite truck on Facebook and Twitter
NW
Metro Center Gallery Place Farragut Sq. NoMa

NE
Union Sation

SW

Navy Yard