Garabedian, though, stresses the comida: "I'm taking full advantage of the local produce here, as are most of the trucks." According to the entrepreneur, buying from local farms is just one way that food trucks suppor the community.
Though lately Garabedian has met with some roadblocks to hosting food truck gatherings, he's not giving up. His Tuesday-night roundup is one of the few with a community willing to allow the mobile units to commune without permit hassles. "Johnson & Wales and North Miami have embraced these things."
"I would like to invite all the city officials," specifically those who don't love the idea of these meetups, "to come out and check these out," he adds. He wants them to see families enjoying their time with the trucks. He'd like everyone to benefit and asks that authorities "lighten up and give us some sort of guidance."
Garabedian believes the trucks provide not only joy but also employment. He notes that 30 trucks employ about 150 people.
Short Order recently spoke with Gerard Philippeaux at Miami-Dade County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson's office. It seems the District 3 commish is willing to help these businesses break down some of the barriers.
The Jefe's owner notes that when you prepare food in a restaurant, you can't see people's faces as they enjoy your food. When you work on a food truck, you can watch their smiles and hear their praise. If you enjoy the food trucks' presence in Miami, Garabedian encourages you to make the trek to North Miami for a bite and to comment about these posts on Short Order.
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