In case you're homebound or have been out of town for months, you'll want to know Miami's food truck scene is growing like a fast moving, tasty rash. Different sorts of street meats, tacos, sandwiches, and desserts are being sold from trucks and carts at preplanned gathering spots, and we, the people, are eating it up.
Wynwood Food Truckers Meet Up is the newest food court on the scene, debuting this Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m. The round up is headed by Sakaya Kitchen's chef and owner Richard Hales whose Dim Ssäm à gogo truck sells Asian-inspired, organic comfort food.
The trucks are no strangers to Wynwood, having been parked out on Second Saturday art walks recently. This, though, will be an much larger weekly event organized by Hales, with 25 vendors confirmed so far. When asked about this new gastronomic phenomenon, Hales noted, "Obviously, it's caught on in a big way... We definitely want it to be closer to the national trend," with restaurants using trucks to sell food, as opposed to food trucks without a culinary base.
Hales believes that public demand will be the deciding factor in whether or not food trucks of quality will thrive in South Florida. When Short Order asked if he thought there was any hope for Miami's trucks being as diverse and delicious as other cities', he was hopeful, "We have the potential to reach that point." Running a busy restaurant and Dim Ssäm à gogo has been a huge undertaking for the chef, though it has helped bring Sakaya new business.
Hales pointed out that the food courts are like "a town square" where people are able to interact with each other, eat, and meet in a festival-like atmosphere. He called it, "an amazing mix." What's next for the food trucks? Hopefully, they'll successfully lobby the City of Miami Beach to get to feeding people on the island. Pork bun on the way home from the club sounds like a welcome break from a slice of pizza.
Saturday's event will be located between NW 22 Lane and NW 22 Street with parking on the north side of the lot. There'll be a DJ and picnic tables, but bring some blankets in case it gets too packed.
Participating food trucks will include: Sakaya Kitchen's Dim Ssäm à gogo, All Points Eatery, Caza Crepes, Cheese Me, Doggie Style, Dolci Piccati Gelato, Feverish, Grill Master Cafe, Jefe's, Latin Burger, Latin House Grill, Mexzican, Ms. Cheezious, Slow Food Truck, Sugar Rush, The Fish Box, The Red Truck, Wing Commander, The Rolling Stove, and Wrapidito.
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